Clunking underneath

My Ford Explorer has started developing a horrible “Clunking” noise when I go over bumps and pot holes (WHICH ARE EVERYWHERE THIS WINTER) it sounds like it’s directly beneath my feet area. is this an Axle problem? Can it be dangerous to drive?

Knowing how old and how high mileage the vehicle is would be a help, but generally these thing end up being worn/shrunken/dried up busings or rusted/rotted exhaust hangers. With the occasional bad strut mount.

The vehicle needs to go up on a lift. ASAP. Until you discover otherwise, it’s always a good idea to assume that an unknown chassis problem is a possible safety issue.

Have someone take a look at the front suspension for a broken stabilizer bar end link. When these break, it can cause a clunking/banging noise when hitting bumps.

Tester