front end "klunk"

[JGAMBLE]

ok, for about a week now the X has been making some funny noises up front. Anytime I turn or hit a hard bump in the road the front suspension makes a clunking noise. This morning when making a turn it felt like the entire ttb unit shifted about and inch or two. I replaced the R.A. bushing about 4 months ago. The sway bars are still bolted up tight, the steering linkage looks right. The springs are still in their perches and the shocks are relatively new. Was hoping maybe somebody had an idea before I jack this thing up in 40 degree weather.

 

[88vert]

How are the balljoints?

 

[JGAMBLE]

good question.... guess I'll have to find out tonite when I jack her up. Was really hoping to not have to, it's cold out there

 

[88vert]

I take it you dont have a garage

 

[JGAMBLE]

we got one, but it's full of wood furniture I'm working on staining. Haven't been able to walk through for close to a year

 

[88vert]

That sucks Keep us posted on your progress,I wish I was closer I would give you a hand,I have done alot of balljoint work on ex's in the past

 

[tenikiwon]

Sway bar?

My brothers Buick makes that kind of a noise and his swaybar is broken off on one end.

 

[JGAMBLE]

well this is ticking me off jacked it up last nite and crawled underneath it for a good look. couldn't find one thing wrong. ball joints are good, r.a. bushings are still good, sway bar all hooked up, springs in their perch. I'm a faily competent mechanic, but I'm stumped. I've never had to take a car to a mechanic before, but starting to think there's a first for everything. Any other ideas are appreciated but thanks for the help thus far.

 

[88vert]

I wonder if the axel pivot bushing could be making that sound

 

[JGAMBLE]

Ok, maybe this is a stupid question(probably is) but isn't the axle pivot bushing the same as the radius arm bushing. First 4x4 so some of this suspension stuff is new to me. just don't wanna pay someone else to work on my truck when I know I'll eventually figure it out.

 

[JGAMBLE]

think I'll just find some place to take if 4x4ing and beat the crap out of it til something breaks, then I know what it was

 

[88vert]

No the axel pivot bushing is not the same,I know where it is at but I have never changed it

 

[Robb]

How old are the shocks?

Robb

 

[JGAMBLE]

shocks, about a year and a half. I hate a problem I can't diagnose. Rarely happens. I've owned around 30 cars built more motors than most people will ever own cars. Every once in a while they throw you a curve though. Think this is my wife getting revenge for always talking about what a beating the X can take.

 

[JohnFornaro]

I had the same problem last year on my 93X. Solution: Loose wheel nuts allowing loose bearings, diagnosed by manually shaking tires vertically while on jack stands. Problem solved? Nope. Next solution? Radius arm bearings. Problem solved? Yes... for about a year. Now the klunking noise is coming back slowly, most noticeably up my gravel driveway. Shox about a year and a half old. Springs in their sockets.

Have visually inspected balljoints, but not sure how to accurately diagnose. How do you determine balljoint problems? I don't think that this is my problem though.

I do believe that it is related to my front end vibration issue however. Could the bearings themselves be deteriorating?

Will monitor my vehicle and this tread and observe and report my progress on this as yet mysterious problem.

 

[JGAMBLE]

have checked wheel bearing, r.a. bushing, shocks, tire rods, and sway bar. Checked the axle pivot bushing last nite. I know it's not the wheel bearing. It sounds like the springs are loose from their seat. I've jacked it up and looked, they right like the factory put em. to be honest I've exasperated every avenue I know. The r.a. bushing still look and feel tight, Is it possible they've gone bad after just 4-5 months???? If so I'm really steamed

 

[JGAMBLE]

well still haven't figured out what the F*@k is wrong with this thing. Funny thing is, it makes more noise the colder it gets. They're predicting snow today, so if we get enough, I'm gonna take her out beat her til something gives

 

[88vert]

Any updates?

 

[JGAMBLE]

oops, my bad, fixed it about 2 weeks ago. The auto locking hubs had gone bad and were causing the noise. Have since converted to warn manual hubs. though I had updated guess that happens when you work 60-70 hrs a week and are drunk the rest of the time