This isn't my first post, but it is my first question on FTE.

I noticed the other day after driving through some deep mud in my driveway that my truck has developed a clunk when I come to stop. It isn't when I'm all the way stopped, but when I'm almost stopped and seems to be related to the amount of braking I apply. I have only heard the clunk once when not on the brakes. I also tried to see if I get it when stopping while backing as well, which I do. I'm thinking it may be my ball joints, but my truck only has 88,000 miles of light use on it. So my next guess would be the bushings on my anti-swaybar. I would look into it more carefully, but the weather here has been horrible and I have no garage to work in. Plus our daughter, our first, is due any day now. I guess my question is does anyone think it's possible that it could be my ball joints after less than 90,000 miles of light use?

Since I don't have a signature yet, my truck is a late '99 F-350 4x4 V10 CC that has always had stock tires.

Also, I just want to say that these forums have been a great resource since I started researching months before I even bought my truck. Many questions I've had, and some I didn't know I had, have been answered in the past several months.

 

Sounds like the driveshaft slip joint needs greased. Does the clunk happen when you pull easy out from a stop also?

 

That was my first thought since I know that's a common problem, but it doesn't happen when starting from a stop, only when braking.

 

MY 99' had the same clunk. I replaced all the ball joints at 70 000 miles.
I bet your wheels have a bit of negative camber. Lift the front off the ground and check the ball joints.

 

Well since you had to do it at 70k, I guess I need to just accept the fact that it's probably the ball joints. I know it's not terribly expensive, just time consuming if you've never done it before. It was the last thing I wanted to worry about right now...especially since our washing machine just blew up and now I have to fix that when I get home from work. I'll have to jack it up and do the typical ball joint test. I was looking forward to working on this truck the first time, I was just hoping it would be on my terms.

 

Yea I have that, my ball joints have been replaced, got undere there the other day and the anti sway bushings look like they have allowed movement.

I'm quite sure that's my issue. and I bet it's yours too.

If I were u that's where I would start. it's cheeper and easyer.

Best of luck, and keep me informed.

I think I'm going to tackle mine this weekend I will post pics, if anyone thinks a job this small is worthey of it.

 

My sway bar end links are making the same kind of clunks. You can see the bushing is tore up. Riffraff Diesel has the best pricing and replacement bushing kit that you cant get anywhere else. Clay is an awesome guy, if your needing anything check with him first. He has the best prices, best customer service, best everything!

 

have to agree. my 99 does it and it had ball joints replaced.the sway bar link bushings are shot.just did'nt get a chance to fix them yet.

 

if your low on bucks and your sway bar bushings are clunking,you can wrap the bushings with electrical tape,reinstall and get more miles out of them without the clunk.

 

That may be helpful to some of us just to see what's involved, although I'm sure it's very simple.

I climbed under the truck last night, and after chipping the mud off (and into my eyes ), the rubber is cracked on at least one of the bushings. It doesn't look that bad though so I'm still not 100% sure that's what my problem is. It may be a couple weeks before I get around to it, but I'll post an update when I figure it out for anyone else that's researching this problem in the future.

 

You would be surprised what a "little bit" bad looking can do. Sometimes it can look "fine" and still be bad/make noise. Thats a lot of weight up front and it will slam up and down, back and forth with a lot of force.

As far as pulling them out and taping them... Thats not going to work on end link bushings that are stock. Those need to be pressed out with a shop press.

Their are many many tests and procedures to find out whats wrong and where. Front end problems are almost as bad as electrical problems in my book! I dont like them!

 

i would install energy suspension bushings in your stock links. i did my 04 and my dads 2000 diesel and its never been better. especially since my dad put stocks on two years ago and they blew again so i installed the poly's. all u need is a shop press. theres a great write up on how to install them ill try and find it for u

 

2004 F250 Sway Bar Bushing Replacement .: Articles

 

Hey - pull off in your yard tonight and put the water sprinkler on the hose - put it under your truck & move it a couple of times to get all the bottom clean... Don't move the truck until the AM or the woman will be POed at the ruts in the lawn...

 

Yard? What yard? My yard consists of tumbleweed, creosote bushes, and rocks . At least my landscape upkeep consists of roundup and a rake. That's a good idea with the sprinkler though, I'll have to give that a try.

Seriously though, my dad is visiting from Alaska and is a mechanic up there. I took him out for a drive to see what he thought and what do you know? The clunk is gone now. I'm waiting for it to come back the day after he leaves. He doesn't think its ball joints though.