Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Mystery clunk

[jdooner]

My 98 24v 2wd with 98k miles has developed a, gradually getting worse, inconsisent, clunk when turning the wheel at low speed. Yesterday I packed the wheel bearings and all was ok in there, nothing in the front end seems to be loose or have play in it.
Anyone have an idea of what might be going on? Sitting in the driveway turning the wheel lock to lock doesn't cause the noise, it only does it when it wants to. Any help will be gratefully appreciated!
TIA,
jdooner

 

[hsmith]

I'm having a similar noise. Now I think it is coming from the steering column bushing. The lower one. A bit annoying for sure.

 

[PRohr]

Check the track bar but I had a wierd clunk like that one when turning and it was usually when the truck would go up a slight grade or off camber type situation. It turned out that the transmission mount was bad. New mount from Advance Auto and 15minutes later and there was no more clunk. I found it by bench pressing the tail shaft and it made the noise... .

 

[VolsFan]

man, the transmission mount is something I would have never guessed. I have been tracing a mystery clunk myself, and I'm taking it to a shop this weekend to have them find it. I have done Lukes Link, maxx links, dss, new control arms, rock solid steering bushing and it still hasnt solved it, getting worse. It seems just as your situation PRohr, its really bad sometimes when I go in reverse in an off camber situation. Almost feels like a loose balljoint or something.

 

[PRohr]

I chased that trans mount for months... . changed tie rod ends, track bar, added the BD brace... I was under the truck greasing u-joints and thought I should check it... and sure enough it popped.

 

[VolsFan]

I am going out to check that right now. However, it feels like it is on my drivers side, I can feel it under my left foot, which is making me think its a tie rod end.

 

[BILLVO]

The auto transmission shift linkage can cause this where the linkage crosses from the cab to the frame mount also. I have had this on a couple of my second gens. Just need to grease up the ball socket a bit on the linkage and it will go away.

 

[Midnite]

Is the steering box on the 2nd gens mounted to the frame via a bracket? I had a clunk when steering my '92 at low speed, and it turned out the steering box bracket had an extremely fine crack in it. Replaced the bracket and the clunk went away. The shop I used had to magnaflux the bracket to find the crack.

Dunno if that's what you're running into, but thought I'd throw it out there.

Mike

 

[VolsFan]

I checked the linkage on the transmission where it crosses over the frame and there was play in it. I threw some grease in it and that has apparently solved the problem. Thanks a lot!

 

[BILLVO]

Glad to be of service. Not what you would think could cause a thump in the floor but it does.

I had it happen twice and it still did it right after a track bar swap so I really had to dig and then found that and was a super easy fix.

 

[jdooner]

clunk

Rolled around under the truck for awhile, everything is rock solid, no play in the shift linkage. This is a 2 wheeler, is there any difference in said linkage compared with the 4 wheeler?
Well. . what else can go wrong. Replaced the apps a couple weeks ago and p0122 just came back. Oh yeah! My block's a 53, altho no problems so far. Oh, dear!

 

[BILLVO]

I didn't notice any play in the linkage either but it was dry and should have grease put in it to prevent wear anyways so I gobbed it full and that is how I found out it helped.

 

[jdooner]

mystery clunk update

It turned out to be the adjustment nuts on the top of the control arm, they were loose and getting looser. The noise and feel indicated it was on the right side but it turned out to be the ones on the left. With the hood up, looking down at the control arms they are visible. Realignment was necessary.