thumping sound over washboard roads?

[sammidog]

2005 2500 --When driving over washboard roads or hitting a pothole something in the front end is thumping. 97,000 miles most tie rods have been replaced in the last 35,000 miles ball joints about 40,000 miles ago. Granted my tires are shot but I don't think that is the thumping sound.

 

[run2trouble]

Loose nut behind the sterring wheel?



Just kidding.

 

[Blakers]

How loud is the thumping? Any thoughts to what area it is coming from.

 

[SRadke]

Drag the brakes and see if it stops.

 

[Blakers]

Drag the brakes and see if it stops.

Yeah, that's a good idea. Mine now has a tinny rattle somewhere in the back. Stops when I drag the brakes though, so I figure it's a rear pad that's chattering. Either that or a pebble got thrown up into the brake somewhere.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Sway bar end links are the only thing that ever made noise on the front of mine.

 

[Blakers]

Yeah, that's a good idea. Mine now has a tinny rattle somewhere in the back. Stops when I drag the brakes though, so I figure it's a rear pad that's chattering. Either that or a pebble got thrown up into the brake somewhere.

I found out today that there's a crack in one of the rear rotors. Every time the crack passes the pad it squeaks.

 

[sammidog]

Pardon my ignorance but sway bar end links are those 2 tiny rods that are verticle? That was my guess as well as that is the only thing in the front end that is original. Brakes made no difference in the noise.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Pardon my ignorance but sway bar end links are those 2 tiny rods that are verticle? That was my guess as well as that is the only thing in the front end that is original. Brakes made no difference in the noise.

Yep, thats them. The little ball and socket end wears out which is a pretty common failure from what I've read here. I installed aftermarket parts.

 

[Blakers]

Yep, thats them. The little ball and socket end wears out which is a pretty common failure from what I've read here. I installed aftermarket parts.

Has anyone just taken their sway bars off for more axle articulation? What were the results? I know the older trucks didn't even have them. I had to take the sway bar off my F-150 to put a plow frame on and I never noticed a difference.

 

[Blu-meanie]

Sounds can be deceptive. Did you consider tightening your spare?

 

[sammidog]

I'll check it but I'll bet you $20,000 that aint it.

 

[sammidog]

Nope. that ain't it.

 

[JFought]

when i changed my track bar bushing, i lost a noise (when axle moves lrft and right, with bad busings) with the new ones. (luke links bushings). i have a very heavy bumper and winch.

 

[SRadke]

I had a strange noise once that turned out to be a loose downpipe. Sounds can be deceiving.

-Scott

 

[WMoroni]

Intermediate steering shaft. The one between the steering wheel and the gearbox, It's a two piece shaft. I've had to replace a couple of them.

 

[bigblock_doc]

I had a banging noise over big cracks in the road. It was upper ball joints.

I live in Michigan and it was a 17hr. job in the driveway. Replaced all ball

joints, axle joints and the hub and bearing assy. Had to burn the bearing

assy. out. Not fun.

 

[Mark31]

To save a long story, I'll just ask: Have you checked the rubber sway bar mounting bushings? Mark

 

[sammidog]

It could be the bushings but I think I narrowed it down to the sway bar links. The passenger side actually rattles a bit when you grab it. Genos sells them for $89 and it looks like it is just 2 nuts to remove. Is replacing them easy? Do you lift the frame to release tension on the links or can they be removed with the wheels on the ground? Are there better ones than genos?

 

[Prairie Dog]

You can do it on the ground. Just unbolt them and install the new ones but be carefull, that sway bar wants to rotate downward (just under its own weight - there's no tension on it) and wack you good!