Recently heard my truck making a clanking noise when I go over bumps. So I got under the truck and noticed this long screw(both front wheels) just hanging there? I bought this truck last year maybe it was modded before. What are they? I want to replace them with the appropriate ones. The truck is a 2001 f150 XLT. Thanks for any help. Pic attached.

 

Other pic

 

It's your away bar link, I they are cheap to replace

 

It looks to me like your sway bar links.

 

Why are the screws so long like they don't belong there? Can I just replace the screws or did something break?

 

There should be one bolt 4 rubber grommets four washers a spacer and a self locking nut. Yours looks like the bolt is too long or you had a second spacer that fell off along with the nut. Is the truck lifted? I'm only familiar with the stock 2wd set up.

 

You can get new links with all hardware for less than 10 bucks per side

 

From what I see it looks like someone removed the sway bar and left the end links there.
Probably some misguided scheme to increase articulation

 

I really wanted to say that it was the V-tech control linkage but figured two funny posts in a row might seem like I was trolling. lol

Sway Bar End link as they said. Look on the bright side, as soon as you hook you the sway bar, it's going to feel like a completely different truck. ...at least when you're rolling around a freeway on/off ramp.

 

You can get a good set of aftermarket bolts for around $12.00
Heres a how to
https://www.f150forum.com/f6/how-rep...spacer-205653/