Help isolating noise

[MrSho]

Hey everyone, I need some help figuring out a noise. I installed some AL SFB's a while back and about two weeks later I start hearing this noise.

I am getting a creaking noise that only happens when the engine loads or unloads. It's not a clunk like a broken motor mount, but more of a quiet metal on metal creak. Quiet in the sense that it can't be heard with the windows up. In the sense that it can't be heard over 10 MPH.

I thought maybe the subframe wasn't being clamped properly by the bushings so I removed them, checked them over, and reinstalled but that was not the problem. I have also not heard it in reverse.

So whadda ya think? Motor mount, Tranny mount, Torque limiters? Something else? And how do I check?


Thanks,
Mike

 

[Eric VerValin]

Well.. I can tell ya when I first installed mine years ago.. I torqued it down to what the old mounts were, but it took almost a week or so, of me snugging those bolts back down at random times until it was finally still. And I added a flat washer, and lock washer too..

For me, when I hit the right pothole, or bump in the road, it would jar it loose on a corner. But since then I havent heard anything.

 

[MrSho]

Thanks for the input. Doesn't a lock washer need to be on the nut side to work? Well probably not... Anyways what did you torque them down to? I did 95 ft./lbs.

Mike

 

[Eric VerValin]

Oh ****.. a lot more than that... I really can't say. I used a big peice of pipe and my 1/2 drive ratchet. I just kept doing it by feel until it was snug, then would drive it.. if it got loose, the next time I tightened it a little more.

As big as that bolt is.. you really can't break it unless your nuts with it. I might also sugguest finding new bolts possibly. I did mine back when they were doing the recalls, so I got the rears fixed for free (new bolts), and bought another 2 kits for the front from Ford. Anti-seize the crap out of em too.