I have a problem with something clunking in the front end of my truck, it almost sounds more like a popping noise. Could this be something ready to break in my axle? Possible U joint? Shocks? It has been happening for about a week so i cant be sure when it happens but i think it happens when i make a fairly sharp turn at slow speeds.

Thanks

 

does it happen when you are in 4WD? Cause if so then you have a bad u-joint somwhere inside the axle.

 

A better question might be...does it happen only when the hubs are locked....or does it happen only when the hubs are locked and in 4wd? The more specific you are the better response you will get from us

 

Check your tranny mount. I had this and the tranny mount bolt had broken and it was mainly when I was turning. I looked all over the front end trying to find it and........ Let me know.

Terry

 

It clunks in 4x4 and 2x4. Hubs locked or not, no difference

 

Jack the front wheels off the ground and check the ball joints and wheel bearings, make sure the wheel is nice and tight.

 

Here is what i replaced on my truck 3 months ago
-ball joints
-wheel bearings
-tie rods
-steering box
-brakes
-coil springs
-shocks
-tires
-radius arms
-Every hydraulic clutch component you can think of

Jumping your truck will cause this

 

Ive got a 93 f1504x4 doing the same thing?I thoght it was ball joints ,Dont know??

 

Same thing on mine to, if i turn the wheel all the way to the left then a little to the right it makes a loud pop. I'm starting to think it's my steering box..

 

Same thing here, and I dont have a clue. I've put on new upper and lower ball joints, wheel bearings, radius arms, wheels, tires and tie rod ends. Still pops...

 

Check the rivets holding the front crossmember to the frame, I would bet they are loose. It is a fairly common problem that will cause the popping during low speed turns just like you describe. Get under the truck and have somebody you trust turn the steering wheel back and forth. Watch very carefully where the crossmember meets the frame. Mine moved around 1/8" to 1/4". While you are under there, check the crossmember itself VERY carefully for cracks around and above the axle drop brackets. You didn't say what brand of lift you have, but the Tuff Country lift that was on my truck when I bought it caused some major cracks. Cost me some serious $$$ to get everything welded up.

 

I had two 93 F-150's that made the same sounds. Popped when turning and when going into driveways. It was the rivets holding the crossmember just behind the motor. Start your motor but leave it in park then turn your steering wheel all the way in one direction then all the way back the other. If you hear the poping then have someone turn the steering wheel again while you look under the truck at the cross member between the door and the motor and you will see it move ever so slightly. If you can't see it then you can feel it move. If it doesn't pop just by turning the steering wheel while sitting still, in park it will when the rivet wares somemore. The solution is to have it reriveted or welded. I was told that the weld would brake after sometime so I had mine reriveted at a bodyshop, Stop the noise immediately.

 

My frame is cracked and welded too,Sorry lift kit.I had a Skyjacker lift on my other truck with no problems.I guess its time to look at rivets and weld joints????

 

Does having the TTB affect the popping? I have a solid D44 under my F150 and it still pops, i don't think the frame is cracked but the rivets could be loose...i'll have to check that out...how much would having the crossmember riveted run me?

 

both my Bronco and my F-150 popped as described and they were both due to a bad radius arm bushing. The bushing is split into 2 parts, the forward and aft part. In both cases, the forward part had disentigrated, but still looked fine when I crawled under the truck. I only found the problem when I installed the lift kits and was replacing the bushings. They retail for about $10.00 in town and even if they don't need replacement, the aftermarket ones are a ton better than the stockers.