I've got a mysterious popping (sometimes) coming from my right front. It only seems to happen when I'm on the brakes or driving slow.

Last weekend when I did the brakes I found that my lower ball joint was shot so I replaced it, but that didn't make any change. I had the tires rotated and balanced a few days later and was advised that my shocks were weak, so this weekend I replaced them. while I was loosening the shock while the truck was in the air, The coil spring shifted and made a popping sound. On further inspection the top side of the spring appears to have a air gap around it with the wheel off the ground, and the cone that's on the inside of the spring has about a 1/4" gap all the way around the spring. And it is tightened all the way down. Is ths the normal way they sit? the drivers side didn't appear to have the gap at the top, but the bottom was similar.

I have all the ball joints to replace the originals, but when the spring moved like it did, I'm thinking that's my problem now.

I don't get any noise by turning the wheel till it locks left or right.

 

did u check the coil thoroughly to make sure it isnt cracked or even broken? also, check your radius arm

 

I didn't go over them thoroughly, but I didn't see anything obvious. I didn't check the radius arms, because I'm not sure what they are. I'll have to check my Haynes. I did grab almost everything and pulled and pushed to see if there was any movement.

 

How do I tell if my radius arm is bad? Will it be something obvious?

 

Yeah, it'd be bent or more likely cracked up towards the axle. Sometimes rust will cover the cracks.

Also I don't think the coil would be causing your popping as the full weight is one it plus some when you're braking. You said coil only moves with wheels off the ground.

 

Yes, but it's hard to watch it going down the road. I tried to tie a midget to the hood, but he was half blind.

 

Lol nice but what I meant was the spring shouldn't be moving around with all the weight on it.

Good midgets are getting hard to find these days.

 

It's hard to describe. If I'm setting still and turn the wheel left and right I hear nothing. If I roll forward without turning it pops. If I'm turning at slow speeds it pops. Sometimes I don't hear anything popping unless I'm riding the brakes, like when driving in a parking lot.

I've had the spindle off to replace the lower ball joint. I had the rotors turned and repacked the bearings at the same time.

I looked at my radius arm and bushings, and at a glance they don't appear to be in bad shape. I still have to get it in the air and give them a good look.