2001 Tarus clunking sound

check for control arm bushes and ball joints problem
check for struts bearing and rubber mounts if struts

Check the cv shaft boots, if they are torn the grease inside will have come out and now the joints inside are worn out. Worn cv joints will cause noises when turning.

Ford engineers should be shot for this. You can buy the special tool shown below. Use it to lift the strut and knuckle up enough to get the ball joint on. Or, loosen the engine cradle bolts on that side and drop the cradle down enough to bet the ball joint stud into the control arm. Ford engineers should be shot for this bad design.

http://www.freedomracing.com/strut-removal-set-6584.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnazLBRDxARIsAECdausVMQQttQlO0jefdGrbgC_BE8Bv-a-UC5E0w1OSdkKdZaGolyAklK8aAqa-EALw_wcB

Lower control arm bushings and lower ball joints can cause a noise like this. But I have fixed a few that sounded like the front end was falling offf. It turned out to be the air conditioning plenum under the dash. There is a tube that comes loose some how. this tube stretches all the way across the dash. you can see part of it under the drivers side, it disappears in the center. I take a piece of thick foam and wedge it under the tube towards the center column. Most times this gets rid of the noise or most of it. No one wanted to pay to take apart the dash to fix the passenger side.

Front struts are bad needing replaced asap Safety concern

Hi.

I use one of these and it does the trick every time. You can get them at the local parts store for about 20 bucks. You have to be very careful not to rip the boot on the ball joint when you are using this though. You place it between the knuckle and the ball joint and hammer away. It will pop it out after a good working. I hope this helps!! Thanks!!

It could be a couple of things.
Loose or worn out strut - (jack up car, remove tire and shake the strut really hard to see if it's loose. Check for signs of leaking or damage to strut)
Missing rubber isolator under front spring (visually inspect the suspension while tire is off).
Broken sway bar mount or missing rubber in the mount on the frame. (Lay under the front and look for where the sway bar mounts to the frame. Make sure everything is tight and the rubber is still in it.

Please be mindful to carefully note the position of the old parts as you disassemble the suspension, then follow these steps to do the re-installation:

REMOVAL

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.

3. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.

4. Remove and discard the tension strut-to-control arm nut, then pull off the dished washer.

When separating the control arm from the steering knuckle, do not use a hammer. Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot seal.

5. Remove and discard the control arm-to-steering knuckle pinch bolt. Using a small prybar, spread the pinch joint slightly, then separate the control arm from the steering knuckle. A drift punch may be used to remove the bolt, but be very careful not to damage the ball joint boot seal.

Do not allow the halfshaft to move outward, or the tripod CV-joint internal parts could separate, causing failure of the joint.

6. Remove and discard the lower control arm inner pivot bolt and nut.

7. Remove the lower control arm from the frame and the tension strut.

INSTALLATION

Make sure the front washer is at the strut-to-lower control arm attachment.

8. Insert the strut into the inner bushing.

9. Position the lower control arm into the subframe bracket, using a new nut and bolt. Tighten to 73-97 ft. lbs. (98-132 Nm).

10. Assemble the lower control arm ball joint stud to the steering knuckle, making sure the ball stud groove is positioned properly. Be very careful not to damage the lower control arm seal.

11. Insert a new pinch bolt and nut, then tighten to 40-53 ft. lbs. (53-72 Nm).

12. Clean the strut threads to remove dirt and/or debris.

13. Install the dished washer, with its dished side away from the control arm bushing. Install a new nut on the strut and tighten to 73-97 ft. lbs. (98-132 Nm).

14. Install the wheel and tire assembly, tightening the lug nuts to 85-105 ft. lbs. (115-142 Nm), then carefully lower the vehicle.

I hope this helps.

sounds like sub frame bushings or front lower controll arm bushings
usualy they will clunk also like a binding sound

could be a strut, frame bushing or balljoint