Hi my names Eric...I'm a newbie here...I have a 99 Ford Ranger 2.5 2wd and have recently in past couple months developed a popping noise in the front left tire? Any idea what this is? I had the wheel bearings repacked. It did not help. Thanks for your help!

Check your sway bar bushings. Mine is doing the same thing. I had a buddy oush up and down on the truck while looking underneath to see what it was. Thankfully, it wasn't a ball joint.

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2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed MT, 3.73 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
1999 Honda CR-V EX, RT4WD, 2.0L, 5 Speed MT, 4.56 open differential
1998 Ranger XLT, 4X2 Regular Cab, 2.5L, 5 Speed MT, SWB, 3.45 7.5" open differential, RABS, Leer 122 "High Boy" Cap

I'm new here and found this site because I have the same problem. It sounds as if something is loose and clanking in the front driver's suspension and it's getting worse.

It seems like the shocks are bad because the stabilizer bar is flexing but the shocks are not compressing. I was hoping to find someone with the same problem and solution.

The bushings for your shocks might be shot and are rattling off the mounting point then. I had that happen on a previous vehicle.

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2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed MT, 3.73 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
1999 Honda CR-V EX, RT4WD, 2.0L, 5 Speed MT, 4.56 open differential
1998 Ranger XLT, 4X2 Regular Cab, 2.5L, 5 Speed MT, SWB, 3.45 7.5" open differential, RABS, Leer 122 "High Boy" Cap

i have that problem with mine also but on the right side. i am pretty sure its the top ball joint because i recently replaced the bottom ball joints, sway bar links, and repacked the wheel bearings. also check your calipers as it is possible that one is loose.

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just my opinion.....

1998 ranger extended cab, 2wd, 4.0 ohv, 5 speed, sony xploid 52 4 way watt radio, 2 pair of pioneer 240 watt speakers, air horn, Cobra 29 LX LCD CB radio pushing 100 watts, k&n air filter, 15 inch exploder wheels, dual exhaust with 4 inch stainless tips, 2 10 inch subs with a 300 watt amp just for the hell of it!

I know what it is.... i had this problem on my old explorer, well a mix of two. you want to
get a friend to help you. first look under the truck at the tierod end on acount of it might be loose. next thing to check arethe motor mounts. locate the motor mount
and check for unusual ware, put flat tip screw driver or small prybar and try to move it.
the 2.3 and the 2.5 have alot of vibration and can ware out a mount pretty quickly.