Front End Goes POP! help!

[Kirby N.]

My front end has been popping ever since I put the duff 3" lift on it. When I back up down hill with my wheels cranked to the right, as soon as I get on the brakes pop! It sounds like something is shifting. It also does it when I get on the brakes hard sometimes. I had radius arm drop brackets, and It made the noise, and I recently switched to Duff extended arms and it still pops. When I switched to the Duff arms I put in spacers and 4wheelparts did an alignment and wanted to do upper and lower ball joints on 1 side and bearings on 1 side- so they did- but it didn't help. Is it normal or is it a ball joint? How do you check a ball joint? My wheel bearings are tight- I check them every 5,000 miles. THANKS

 

[nak4af]

Hey Kirby

I have had the same problem for a long time. I have replaced all ball joints and tie rods, spring seats, radius arm bushings, axle pivot bushings and repositioned the springs several times. Basically...I've rebuilt my front end. And I still get the same thing. I have been wheeling several times since and have had no problems. I have just accepted it. I was hoping it would go away when I get my "real" lift installed! Guess not?

Good luck.

 

[gwt]

My 96 is still stock but the front end pops alot you can feel it in the steering wheel but I cannot locate the source, it dose it really bad in the summer. I have also changed alot of the front end. good luck

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks for the replies.

Hmm, Doesn't sound like I need to care! It wouldn't bother me if I knew what was making the noise- then I would know if it wasn't a big deal. Any chance that it is from where the radius arms attach to the I beams? Seems like that mount could have a bit of play. Top or bottom. You guys are obviously as concerned as I am. I wish we knew what was doing it. a 96 probably has a different problem with a different front end though, don't you think? I wonder if I need a drop pitman arm. any recommendations?

 

[nak4af]

When my truck started to make the noise was when I first installed the coil spacers. I wonder if removing the coil springs from the factory seats is the cause of this? Maybe there is a sweat spot that they sit in. You could try bending the tabs that circle around the upper coil mounts in against the coils a little tighter. When I repositioned my springs, it seamed to help a little but it still pops.

Happy hunting!

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks, I never thought about the Coil Buckets that could be it! I'll check them, but if they are the problem then I don't care!

 

[X-1]

I would check coil alignment, where they sit in buckets, and also the bolt that holds the radius arm to the axle.
There also may be some internal play in the radius arm buhings, as far as diameter inside bushing to outside diameter of radius arm.

 

[nak4af]

Hey Kirby!

I have an idea! Do a front straight axle swap. If you still hear the noise...then FREAK OUT!!

Later

 

[Positive Vibes]

Mine has done the same thing for years. I learned to not worry about it (even thou it turns everyone's head). I believe it has something to do with the coil reseating it self???

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks for all the help.

Yeah, I would do a SAS, but my wallet would freak out, and my wife, and me everytime I drove it to anywhere but the trail! I have been keeping up with RangerD's project and FARKWEEs, someday.....

I can't tell if there is something up with the coils or what. My brothers Cherokee makes a simular noise, which I would attribute to the coil seating because his springs are not attached on the top mount, and even come all the way out when he flexes it, but ours are attached so that doesn't really make sense. I don't know why the coil would reseat??? It does turn some major heads on obstacles, "He broke something, Uh he's still going. Guess not."

Also I maybe getting **** or just listening too much, but I have little pops when I am stopped on pavement and turn from one side to the other. - might be tie rod ends?

I am scared my front end is gonna go plop and fall out!

 

[nak4af]

kIRBY

Rember what I said earlier! I have replaced all of my front end components and I get the same thing! Even when sitting still and turning the wheel. ?? If it's not the coils it may be the steering box...but all my hardware is tight and secure. Mabe just a characteristis of the X.

Just to give peace of mind, I get the same noise after rebuilding my front end.

This noise will drive you insane eventually. After all I have done, I sill think it is going to fall out from underneath me while driving. But it's still brand new and strong as an Ox.

Again. Good Luck!

 

[ajevenson]

Well I'll throw in my two cents here. I have the same pop that everyone here has described, mainly on sharp turns and hard braking. The reason mine pops is due to the RA's. When you take the big nut off the end of the RA and pull the rear bushings out, the metal lip that holds the bushings has been hammered out after hitting several large potholes with crappy bushings. The new bushings will not seat correctly now and causes the RA to move just a hair forwards and backwards under stress. The popping noise comes from the threads on the RA binding on the bracket. May not be everyones problem but if you're bored you can check yours and see if this is your problem.

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks for your $.02. That might help some of the other guys. That is not what is going on in mine though, because I have Duff radius arms and they use EB type bushings and ends- no threads except on the very end.

 

[Bionc Marsh.]

Mine was making the same noise. I simply tightened the nut and stud that is in the bottom of the coil spring. It stopped for a long time (about 100,000 miles) then came back. I just tightened it again. I do wheel my truck quite a bit and in some rather rough places so the suspension gets a workout.

Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks, Bionic Marshmallow. I'll have access to my dads tools in 3 weeks, and I'll try tightening the thing. (I don't have any manly wrenches). By the way, I know you wheel your truck hard. Every picture I have seen you are. Your truck is awesome, but how come I can only find a few pictures of it? Do you have a website?

O.K. I've done some investigating. My wheels had none of the slop that indicates bad wheel bearings, but it started making road noise. I took out all the wheel beaings. The nut was a bit loose on the drivers side, on the passenger side, the inside bearing was comming apart! There was all of these particles and junk in it. I put in new lifetime warranty ones - we'll see how they do. It took the road noise out, but I don't know if it cured the loud popping yet. but...

New problem. I have a different, quieter popping when I am sitting still and turn the wheel. Sometimes it pops every 1/4 of a turn, sometimes less- Ball Joints? If not how do I check the ball joints? It sounds like something in the drivers side and maybe in the steering. I am driving this thing 1200 miles in 2 weeks, so I don't want to be stuck half way like last time Could this be the tierod ends? I don't have a dropped pitman arm. Thanks for the response fellas.

 

[nak4af]

The poping you are hearing could be your ball joints. Since your truck is a '93, they could be bad. If they are the factory ones then chances are they have no grease fittings on them. If they do, then grease the heck out of them. That should quiet them a bit. But if they are bad then they need replaced. 100,000miles is the norm for those type of parts. Make sure you get good replacement ones with grease fittings and keep them well lubed. That is if you decide to replace them.

If your truck doesn't have a lot of sway while driving, then your tie rods may be O.K. Again, high miles on your truck would be a good indicator they are going bad as well. If you do decide to replace, do it all at once. More money but you only have to tear into it once. It will however,give you another 100,000 miles of assurance.

I am very glad I replaced everything at once. I have a lot more confidence in my truck now. Especially when off-roading!

Good luck!

 

[Bionc Marsh.]

Kirby,

Thanks for your kind words about my truck. I don't have a web site. I don't have the time to maintain one or learn how to put one together. I don't post many pics either, no real reason.

About your latest problem. My truck makes so much noise on the road I'm not likely to hear much of anything. I guess that comes with the 235,000 (tough) miles. I do know that you must make sure you get the nuts on the wheel bearings tightened to the right specs., especially if you are running big tires.

Good luck.

 

[Kirby N.]

I drove my Ex today and Still the loud sring type popping with the new bearings.

I am thinking about putting some auto hub nuts in place of the manual conversion kit thingy to prevent the hub nut backing off problem. Ford engineers are idiots.

I don't want to do the ball joints. They were checked and 2 replaced in July, so I guess I am OK.

 

[92exp4x4]

When my truck makes noise, I just turn the music up louder!

 

[jrgaylor]

Reviving a old thread, courtesy of the search feature.
Is anyone who is having this problem running a droped pitman arm?
I just started having the same type of problem after installing f-150 spacers (already have a JD 2.5" and extended radius arms) and I can see that my passenger side outer tie rod is binding, I think that without the droped pitman arm there is just not enough movment left for the outer tie rod joint to have full range of movement.Tomarrow I am going to order a 4" drop pitman arm and see what happens.