2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Poping Noise in Front End

[stg2500]

I just completed installing Lukes Links on all the tie rods, new Skyjacker steering stabilizer, and Rancho RSX shocks on the truck. I had wandering steering and a poping noise in the front end when I turned the wheel. The new parts solved the wandering problem but the poping noise is still there the same as it was before installing the new front end parts. Any ideas what to check next? The truck has 115k on it. I have the DSS and DT track bar installed on the truck as well.



The only thing that I can think of is the steering shaft. I was under the truck with someone turning the whel but could not see anything that was out of the ordinary. Any ideas would be great.

 

[Rman]

Mine has it as well. I'm pretty sure I narrowed it down to the driver side trac arm that attaches the axle to the frame. I think it is worn and the slop will cause the noise. Check that on yours and see if that may be the culprit.

 

[Dane]

Check the DT track bar on the passenger side. Mine was doing the same thing till I cleaned and retightened the bolt and nut. The problem is the fitting on the truck. The bolt hole gets enlarged.

 

[Rman]

I've read similiar posts about the DT trac bar (which I have BTW), the hole on the passenger side gets wallowed out a little and the slop in the bolt bangs around in there.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I've found even with less than 1/16" movement on the track ball will cause loud popping in corners.

 

[jwgary]

something else?

I don't know if you have checked for it, but I have a popping in my front end caused by worn out shock bolts. Check out this thread I just posted.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131982

 

[DAWG-1]

Shock

The design of the lower shock mounting hole does not allow for the metal to flex inward towar the shock bushing. When installing aftermarket shock you need to crank the lower shock bolts very tight. Check to make sure you have the correct metal sleeve the shock slides thru, it should be snug as you slide the bolt thru. Sam

 

[rivercat]

hey I have had the poping since I lifted the truck with the replacment trac arms

Once one of the castercams came lose and wore the hole so that I had to tighten it more than a lug nut for it to stay on the right adjustment the poping I think comes from the frame side of the track bars



I have tried several four wheel drive supplyhouses for the energy urathane bushings to put in the track bars on both ends to no avail summit sent me the wrong ones and I quit trying.



I think that with a good bushing kit and in my case new caster pins on both sides and the other steering enhancements that are available like lukes link, that the second gen ctd would be second only to the 3rd gen trucks. fords even if everthing else was equal (yeah I know must be delusional) still suck to drive/steer



by the way duramass' s have a poping simular but I think it is in the hubs somehow seen several with it early like 30-50k might have a recall on them not sure



If any one can find some aftermarket bushings better than rubber post below THANKS

 

[rono]

Mine had the popping noise after installing a 2" levelling kit. I had read somewhere on this site about this problem. I thought I had tightened the lower shock bolts enough. I went back and retightened them to 100 ft. lbs. like the book and the posts on this site said, and no more popping.

Ron

 

[LandShark]

Popping noisy while turning can also be caused by bad axel u-joints.

 

[rivercat]

I get the poping mostly in 4 hi or if I just came out of it turning and binding the system gets me pops forwards or back even In mud. Like if I use 4 high or low to pull out of a steep boat ramp (easier on the clutch) as soon as I hit the brakes again it pops



I hope my u joints arn't already bad