Front end 'pops'

[DJb]

My 92 dually 2wd frontend pops just about everytime I drive it. All the rubber bushings in the uppers look excellent and so do all the sway bar bushings and strut rods. I haven't done a ball joint check yet but I've had ball ball joints on other vehicles over the years and never heard any pops. Had a few people say that it sounds like a spring that's not seated but it doesn't have that 'ring' to it. The truck drives fine and the tire wear is good. A friend's truck does the same thing and still did it after he rebuilt the whole front end and this truck looks like someone has already done that. I pulled the large washers off the strut rods and the bushings look brand new and from what I can see, the lower control arm bushings appear to be ok. I've gotten used to it although it can be annoying at times but I'm also trying to sell it and well, you know how that goes.

 

[jrjuday]

Check your steering gearbox. If it is loose if can make a "pop" or "clunk" type noise, especially when turning hard at low speed.

 

[JAyers]

My 93 4x4 does that too. I just put on the 2. 5 add a leafs in the front so the steering wheel is off a little. Need to take the time to fix that. I cant figure out what that noise is either. Everything has been rebuilt on mine also and all the busings are good along with a new steering shaft. Mine pops when ever im turning even just a short turn and its really annoying. Any info would be greatly appricated.

 

[DJb]

Steering box seems to be tight... . and can pop at anytime, but mostly going straight. Haven't looked at the brakes yet... .

 

[RailroadJim]

The w250 i just bought popped when turning only to the left, it was ball joints.

 

[Paychk]

When does this poping occur and the frequency??

 

[DJb]

Doesn't seem to matter. It never pops when stopping tho, only while driving and it doesn't matter if the road is smooth or rough. At first I thought it popped mainly after a stop and it may be doing that but I can take off and drive for a pretty good ways and then all of a sudden, it'll pop like something hit it from underneath. The sound is always the same. It's like something shifts. The way the truck drives doesn't change. Is it possible that the spring doesn't fit the seat just right and moves a bit as the suspension works? I've pulled the wheels off and everything looks ok there and nothing is loose.

 

[Paychk]

From what you describe I would bet on the ball joints, you need to get them checked right away, because if it is the ball joints then they are severely worn and the stem could break off.



One other possibility is a corrosion crack in one of the control arms, try pullling the tires off and pressure washing the arms completely and do a visual inspection.

 

[DJb]

The arms are fairly clean and don't see any cracks... . but I'll go over it again. Someone has been in it before because everything is pretty clean. Well, the whole truck is pretty clean for that matter. I pulled the strut rod nuts off and the strut rod bushings look new. The bushing washers (or caps) were new looking and the roll pins were gone so that shows someone's been there already. The washers were on backwards so I flipped them. Doesn't seem to pop as much now but it still does it. I'm going to find this!!

 

[Paychk]

The washers were on backwards so I flipped them.

Which way do you consider right? ----(--)---- or -----)--(----?

 

[DJb]

Well, they had "this side towards rubber" on the face and it was facing outward away from the bushings. I would think that (--) way would be correct but with the way they are marked, it's this way )--( I've done a few front ends before on Mopar cars and trucks and the orginals looked to have come from the factory like this (--) but all the aftermarket ones were opposite. What way is correct?

 

[Paychk]

Go with what is printed on the strut rod retainer.

 

[DJb]

I did..... and it seemed to make a difference... slightly. What about the stock ones? This way (--)?

 

[Paychk]

I believe the stock ones should match the new ones you have, the FSM doesn't specify and the pictures aren't clear enough to tell.

 

[PToombs]

Mine are on this way )-( . I changed my strut bushings because they were whipped. The next year I started hearing the pop when I started to turn left, backing up into the driveway, every time, sometimes elsewhere also. I looked and found the A-arm bushings were shot (AH HA i thinks to me self). I changed both sides, and the ball joints on the left (little loose, not bad). I drove it for 2-3 weeks, no noise. Then, pop! backing into the driveway again. I didn't think to check the steering box.

I just tell myself older trucks have character

 

[TKingsbury]

Have you thought about checking your engine mounts and trans mount? Another source of popping is loose bolts in cross-members. Even if they look tight, make sure. Things could be moving just enough to make noise.

Travis. .

 

[Mhannink]

eh don't worry about its your truck is just getting old and its joints are poping now lol

 

[Chris and Sam]

time for some jointritis..... LOL

 

[DJb]

Have you thought about checking your engine mounts and trans mount? Another source of popping is loose bolts in cross-members. Even if they look tight, make sure. Things could be moving just enough to make noise.

Travis. .

Thought about em but never had a loose engine mount make a noise like this before but the crossmember is something I haven't thought about. Can't remember but isn't the front crossmember welded in? I've looked the common areas for cracks but haven't gone over every inch of the frame etc.

 

[TKingsbury]

Thought about em but never had a loose engine mount make a noise like this before but the crossmember is something I haven't thought about. Can't remember but isn't the front crossmember welded in? I've looked the common areas for cracks but haven't gone over every inch of the frame etc.

By crossmember, I meant trans crossmember. Sorry about that. I've had trucks in the past that needed all of the frame bolts tightened once in a while to keep them from making a ton of noise.

Travis. .