Pop and crunch

[KyleC]

Since I am new to the world of 4WD (my '93 XLT is my first truck) I have a few problems I need help with. Just recently it developed a popping noise from the front pass. side when I turn right. It is very similar to when a front wheel drive car's CV axle goes bad. U-joints??

My second problem is when I am going slow over speed bumps or curbs and the front wheels are coming down off of whatever I am on, it makes a crunching noise that sounds almost like scraping metal when the front suspension compresses. It will also make this noise when I jack up the front and let it down too fast.

Any help or comments on either of these problems would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[tiessen]

Check your front bearings. Jack up a wheel and try to wiggle from top to bottom, if there is significant play, tighten hubs and/or replace bearings. If there is wiggle side to side, look at steering components. You should also be able to check your U-joints by hand, reach in a check for play...

Cheers

Dale

 

[FMNavajo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial ">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KyleC:
Since I am new to the world of 4WD (my '93 XLT is my first truck) I have a few problems I need help with. Just recently it developed a popping noise from the front pass. side when I turn right. It is very similar to when a front wheel drive car's CV axle goes bad. U-joints??

My second problem is when I am going slow over speed bumps or curbs and the front wheels are coming down off of whatever I am on, it makes a crunching noise that sounds almost like scraping metal when the front suspension compresses. It will also make this noise when I jack up the front and let it down too fast.

Any help or comments on either of these problems would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What's probably causing the noise is a worn RAB, (radius arm bushing), on the pass side. If you look through the other items you'll see alot about the pass side RAB's. These are no easy task to change unless you completed a suspension lift and have the option to unbolt the RAB brackets, otherwise you be taking off most of the front suspension to get the RA off and replace the bushing's.

Hope this helps.
FM

 

[KyleC]

I already changed the RAB's a few months ago. One good note, the "crunching" noise is starting to go away. Who knows what causing it but if it's going away then I ain't gonna complain.