Dealership Service?
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh
Dealership Service?
My 1995 F150 4WD extended cab long bed has a clunk/pop noise that I can't seem to find. The truck passed safety inspection at an independent shop less than a month ago, and I told them to keep an eye out for anything that might cause a clunk while it was up on the rack. They told me everything looked good. I've replaced the ball joints, both slip yokes and all three u joints on the rear driveshaft. I replaced the rear shocks, brakes, clutch discs in the rear axle, and the rear axle bearings. The spring hangers and shackles appear newer as do the radius arm bushings. Ive spent hours on a creeper underneath prying on things and trying to find any play anywhere and I can't.
The noise is driving me nuts and I'm ready to take it to another mechanic to see if they can figure it out. I'm debating on whether I should take it to a dealership or another independent shop for diagnosis. I'll probably do any repairs myself. WWYD?
The noise is driving me nuts and I'm ready to take it to another mechanic to see if they can figure it out. I'm debating on whether I should take it to a dealership or another independent shop for diagnosis. I'll probably do any repairs myself. WWYD?
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 292
From: Laramie, WY
That sounds very expensive... Take the radius arm bracket off and have a look at the area where the bushing rides, they tend to rot there and get loose in the bushing bore. There is a lot of torque on those radius arms, so they might seem tight upon inspection but still clunk while driving, usually can feel it somewhat under your feet if it's the driver side. Do you have any notion of where the clunk might be occurring? Could it be a frame rivet? Loose front fender? I vaguely recall having to tighten my lower front fender bolt to stock a pop.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,716
Likes: 583
From: Chillicothe
Can double check the radius arm bushings by lifting the truck with a jack right in front of the bracket. Watch for movement, I did my bushings and still had play because like stated above, the brackets were worn out. Could also be the pivot bushing, I may have missed where you said you replaced it.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 168
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From: Pasquotank, NC
I have a 90 Cherokee that I lifted, replaced all of the suspension components. It has a clunk when I make left turns. Has been making the clunk since I bought it. Two years ago.
What would I do? Let it be. Turn the radio up.
What would I do? Let it be. Turn the radio up.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh
That sounds very expensive... Take the radius arm bracket off and have a look at the area where the bushing rides, they tend to rot there and get loose in the bushing bore. There is a lot of torque on those radius arms, so they might seem tight upon inspection but still clunk while driving, usually can feel it somewhat under your feet if it's the driver side. Do you have any notion of where the clunk might be occurring? Could it be a frame rivet? Loose front fender? I vaguely recall having to tighten my lower front fender bolt to stock a pop.
As for where it's coming from, it seems to come from the right hand side of the truck, but it's hard to tell if it's front or rear. The noise happens most often when turning right an slightly uphill at the same time.
I'm getting to that point.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,338
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
Sit in the cab. Get 2 pair friends/family/or draftees walking down street...
Have them hold each side of bed & progressively rock truck back & forth as severely as possible.
If you can roll it around in a parking lot at same time, even better.
Have them hold each side of bed & progressively rock truck back & forth as severely as possible.
If you can roll it around in a parking lot at same time, even better.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,786
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
That's gonna cost at least a 12 pack of beer! 
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 296
Just a few months ago I had a clunking when turning right and in to a parking lot or similar area where the truck has to flex when rolling over the sidewalk.
Couldn't find what may have been loose, but I would have sworn that it was coming from the front end.
One day I was outside and for some reason decided to rock the truck side to side near the front of the bed (I have a ladder rack on it) and low and behold, the clunking noise was the bed slightly moving around on the frame rail during the frame flexing.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Pittsburgh
I owe you a beer. When you mentioned tightening up your fender, I remembered that I left the rear center bolt out on the front fenders. So I looked at it, and I was able to see that the rear fender lip was touching the dogleg part of the door jamb. So I loosened the bottom bolt, shimmed it out a bit, and reinstalled with all the bolts replaced. Clunk GONE. Thanks all who replied and especially goinboarding.
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Elder User
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From: Pittsburgh
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