[Quiverfulmama]

We just bought a used Transit 350 and whenever I go over a bump (sometimes even just a rock) or if I turn the wheels while braking, and sometimes even when I simply brake, we hear a loud knocking noise that's so loud, we think we might have run over/into something. The first time we stopped the van and got out to see what it was that we hit. Nothing there.

I've only had the transit for a week, and I plan to take it in to the dealer tomorrow and would like some info on how to address this quickly.

BTW, I rented a Transit for a few days before we bought one, and it had no knocking sound--it drove beautifully.

 

[bicyclist]

Certain vans had the rear calipers installed wrong. The dealer should have the tsb that addresses that. Dunno whether that's your problem.

 

[Quiverfulmama]

Interesting. I'll bring that up to them tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[Andre Jones]

Can the knocking be felt in the steering wheel? How does the brake pedal feel?

 

[Quiverfulmama]

When I hit the brake pedal, it pops, creaks, and groans. Nope, don't feel a thing in the steering wheel. They're bringing me back in next week, as they ran out of time today.

 

[EddieZ]

Interesting. I'll bring that up to them tomorrow. Thanks.

Since they'll likely deny it, here's one page of a scan someone made: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwfloyd/27653852882/sizes/o/

 

[alarmist]

Clunking over bumps usually means a suspension element is loose or broken. Since you've not mentioned any issues with handling, if you have a rear sway bar I'd look there first.

 

[Quiverfulmama]

We got it solved. The front bar was apparently "very loose." They tightened it up and no more problems.

 

[Andre Jones]

We got it solved. Th

e front bar was apparently "very loose." They tightened it up and no more problems.

Any idea what/where the front bar is? Hopefully it doesn't loosen up again.

 

[Quiverfulmama]

Any idea what/where the front bar is? Hopefully it doesn't loosen up again.

He called it the front cross bar, I think? He said it was connecting the two front tires.