2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission knocking noise in front end

[Eric Lee]

Don't know if this will help but my rythmic 'tapping' came after a turbo change over and ended up being the exhaust tapping a crossmember under certain conditions. Pryed it over without loosening the downtube and Wa La. I could also feel the tapping in cab.



- Eric

 

[LHartman]

I had what you are describing when I turned or braked. Checked the shock bolts etc and found nothing. What it turned out to be was the cam bolt on the lower control arm. It had come loose and was turning, allowing the axle to shift when I turned or braked.

 

[RDHamill]

I had that mystery clunk as well, I changed sway bar end links, shocks, added a luke's link, all seems to help but the felling never really went away until I changed the steering shaft to a borgeson. That put an end to it.

I'd advise that you check your steering shaft very closely, either the slip joint or the ujoints will produce that clunk effect.



good luck

 

[PPettit]

I went out and bounced the truck up and down and could not see anything wrong with the lower shock bolts, no movement or anything.

Did you try having someone sit and turn the steering wheel while you watched things under the truck? That is how I found my last clunk.

 

[cmills]

Not yet, but I will have my wife turn the wheel while I lay under and look and hope she doesn't take off.

 

[The Red Goat]

I tried laying under truck still could not find anything.

 

[Crowhurst]

Cmills, did you try Phil's original suggestion about the rubber bushing end of the sway bar? I got under the truck when it was parked on soft ground so the steering wheel could be turned by my wife with the engine off. I could hear the clunk but it was difficult to locate. Eventually I jammed a wooden hammer handle near the rubber bush end of the trackbar to stop it moving up and down, and the noise stopped. I tightened the bolt through the rubber bush (130 ft lbs in the shop manual), and the clunk has gone. What a difference! I'm still going to change to the Solidsteel bracket and the 3rd gen bracket. Nick.

 

[cmills]

track bar

I assume you mean the track bar, the one on the in front of the axle that runs parallel with the axle, I didn't put a wrench on it I just crawled under and checked by hand but I'll go out tonight and check with a wrench.

 

[The Red Goat]

Cmills



did you ever find your problem? I have not.



Curtis

 

[MamthTorq]

I was/am feeling a clunk when I would back up, and also when I would stop, I found it was the upper track bars, so I really cranked them down, and it help, but I have order new polyurethane bushings to replace the worn out rubber. Also about the sway bar, they also make polyurethane bushing for that too. might help.

 

[cmills]

Curtis, no I have not found the problem either, I guess I'll just have to wait until it is really bad or something breaks, I hate to have to do that but I just can't figure it out. If you find something, If you would write me a PM and let me know.



Thanks,

Cory

 

[Herman8r]

you might check your pitman arm. I have replace 2 so far. Another suggestion would be to take it to a good front end shop.

 

[gbm]

cmils,

It is amazing how many potential knock / pop sources there are on our trucks. My 2001 2wd had a knock / pop when I would go over small bumps or dips. I really showed up as I would turn a corner that had a dip in it.

I eventually tracked down my knocking / popping to the front ball joints. I was going to replaced them, but I checked them for wear and they were still tight – just dry. I drilled and tapped my uppers and lowers, both sides, and installed grease zerks. The noise in my truck is now silenced.

The total time to drill, tap, install, and grease, was under an hour.



Just one more suggestion to check on your truck.



Geoff

 

[cmills]

I just replaced the steering box and pitman arm last weekend

 

[jandtjil]

you might check your pitman arm. I have replace 2 so far.

What wears out on a Pitman arm? I would think they are a non wear item.



JJ

 

[JJ Jackson]

I had that mystery clunk as well, I changed sway bar end links, shocks, added a luke's link, all seems to help but the felling never really went away until I changed the steering shaft to a borgeson. That put an end to it.

I'd advise that you check your steering shaft very closely, either the slip joint or the ujoints will produce that clunk effect.



good luck

Hey cmills, I think he may be on to something. Mine did the same thing as yours. Try www.borgeson.com/TruckProductDodge.htm. It may be the intermediate steering shaft( the one behind the power steering unit). Good luck!

 

[McCRam]

I had a noise coming from my front end that I chased for a coule of months. I finally found it in the body mounts. The left front mount had rustedand every time it flexed it made a noise. I hadn't seen this option in the thread yet so I thought i would throw it out there.

 

[PPettit]

Cmills, Have you grabbed your trusty torque wrench and checked all the bolts on the front end? Any of the control arm bolts, track bar bolts, etc. can be hard to see moving while you are uder the truck but could be loose.

Happily my clunk has not come back. After my KORE spring install I tightened all front suspension bolts to torque specs. The axel end of the track bar was once again loose. I applied a good dose of loc-tite to it this time. I am wondering if I have been hitting the flag nut while on various off-road adventures and loosening it that way. With over 100 ft/lbs torque I just don't expect these things to loosen up on thier own.

I feel your pain. I have chased this off and on for over a year.



Phil