Source of popping finally located...

[HGDMARTN]

Team,
I am the one that bought the Y2K 2500 that had been hit in the pass side front. Have had the popping noise ever since I bought the truck. After many trips to the dealer and several new parts, I took it to a local "pro" and he determined it to be the lower ball joints. Dodge graciously bought me a set of lower arms and paid to have them installed just to shut me up. Well, I drove it home and it popped again. Same noise. I finally did what I should have done all along and crawled under while my wife turned wheel back and forth. It is very obvious. The upper control arms are moving about 1/16" on the rod they are mounted on. When they move it makes the clunk. I checked and all 4 bolts(both left and right arms) were under the spec 125 lbs. I torqued properly and play is almost gone. Still a minute amount of play and noise. Should I overtighten just a hair to eliminate play? Or should I leave alone and live with it? This was very easy to find. Sure seems like dealer and other "pro" would have found this and saved alot of time and money. I am happy though.
Anyone else had this or is this somehow related to the front end hit my truck took?

Thanks in advance.
David

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'00 2500QC-LWB 2WD 6sp. loaded with a bunch of goodies that I would not have ordered if I bought the truck new.

 

[Bumble]

hg,
Glad to hear you fixed the problem. You know the old saying... "if you want something done right, do it yourself".

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2001, 3500, 5sp, 3. 54LS, 4x4, pyro and boost on the A-pillar, 165 watts of backup lights, Thomas powered on-board air system, Grovers.