When I turn the steering wheel back and forth, especially to the left, in my '78 F-150 4WD SWB (33x12.50 tires, 15x10 wheels, ~3-in. suspension lift), I have a popping noise that I can't locate. I've looked for cracks in the frame and can't find any, replaced the bushings in both ends of the track bar (saw some slack there), and tighten the front sway bar end links. It's coming from somewhere on the left side, and I can put my hand on the track bar, track bar bracket/shock bracket (has dual front shocks), steering box, frame, and I can feel the noise in the metal when it pops, but so far, I can't locate it. I don't see any movement. I'm wondering if the coil spring end is slipping just a little when it gets a load on it from turning. That's the next thing that I'm going to check. The truck has always been very tight and quiet in the frontend, so this new noise has got to go. The first time that I noticed it was two days ago going around the McDonald's drive thru. Any suggestions? Thank you.

 

get a buddy to sit in the truck and crank the wheel back and forth (asumeing you havnt already done this) and just watch and feel around for the culprit