Clunk in front end after KORE install

[MegaRocks]

Have a clunk in my front end now, and I can't figure it out, nor Les Schwab Tires. Thought it was something loose, checked everything we can think of.



Track bar is tight, but tie-rods are looser than they should be. Truck drives nice and straight, no funny pulling or anything, just a clunk you can hear and feel.



It is very frustrating spending 3 grand kinda money on my truck and ending up with this problem. Truck rides better than stock. I guess that is a small victory.



Anyone with similar woes, or fix it ideas?

 

[AKAMAC]

Make sure the upper and lower shock mounts are tight and the top washers aren't hitting the towers when under compression.

 

[jrobinson2]

The lower front shock bolts had to be extremely tight to properly clamp the heim spacers on my truck, (I had this problem with a set of Rancho shocks also) I had to have someone bounce the truck very hard while I felt all the joints for movement to find the problem. It can be difficult to find a loose shock on these systems because the high pressure precharge loads the shock bolts enough when the truck is parked that it wont clunk unless the bouncing is quite aggressive. I ended up putting anti seize on the bolt and using a long breaker bar to tighten it. I have also seen a loose control arm bolt cause a clunk.



Jared

 

[RWS]

Did you get the drop down blocks for the sway bar? Mine clunked until I added it. Just my . 02 YMMV. .

 

[Tinman]

Cavitaition?

I have the same issue with my Bilsteins. I called Kent and he said it sounded like shock cavitation. I don't completely understand cavitation but it has something to do with the oil in the shocks. Kent suggested I increase the nitrogen charge so I am at 275psi in all four now. Didn't help the clunking much (if at all) but it sure made the ride more plush. I am thinking of going to 290psi. I am still looking for loose fittings/mounts but all seems good. It is kinda aggrevating. Kent said he could revalve them to lessen the problem but it doesn't bother me enough to tear apart the front end to send the shock back to Kent.

 

[JCleary]

I found the problem with my front end clunk.



It's due to the shocks being mounted on heim joints. When my right front shock compresses, the shock twists, and the fitting for the tube that goes to the reservoir hits the shock tower and clunks. I zip-tied the hose to the A/C hose with a piece of foam in between and it went away. I didn't like the zip-tie, so I lowered the reservoir to place some tension on the hose and it has cured much of the clunk. Only when I hit a speed bump at 10 or so do I get a clunk now. It's quiet at all times unless I'm on a washboard road.



My shocks are at 250. If I can find a source of Nitrogen I'll try 275 to see if the ride softens up a bit.

 

[JCleary]

I also have a clunk in the rear end, but it seems it only happens over speed bumps. If I go too quickly (over 10mph) the rear tops out with a BANG!



Needless to say it only took once or twice to figure it out. I just hope it doesn't cause any damage when I'm flying down a dirt road and it happens.

 

[MegaRocks]

Thanks guys for the help. I tightened my track bar down as tight as I could get it, seems a little better.



Will the Bilstein Race shocks ride better with more nitrogen pressure than what I am running (200 psi?)



I thought that getting up around 275 or 300 would stiffen up the truck?



What works best? BTW, my truck is the Desert Racing Concepts version of the Kore Race System, that's why the front shocks are Bilstein's instead of Fox's.

 

[JCleary]

You're supposed to run a minimum of 250psi. The higher the pressure, the better the shocks will work.



The digressive valving in these shocks are supposed to work better with higher pressure (I've been told)

 

[geusterman]

I am running an aluminum flatbed when camper off so pretty light back there and KORE Fox shocks make ride pretty rough especially if tires over 50#. Is it acceptable then to increase the nitrogen pressure from 200lbs for the Fox to 275 for a ride enhancement? George

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

It is suggested that the pressures are maintained at 200 psi for the front Bilstein shocks. More pressure does not mean a better ride. The 2. 5" Race shock in the DRC system is not a digressive piston. It is speed sensitive and doesn't function the same as the 7100 shock. Keep your pressure at 200. I have run mine at 200 psi for almost six months of heanous abusive testing. No need to bump up the pressures.



Greg