when i turn, it pops
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From: Livonia
when i turn, it pops
i have a 1996 f-150 4x2 the front end seems to crackle or pop when i turn the wheel or go down a curb, etc. the truck does not hold the road like it used to and metro 25 tire told me there was play in the pr steering box but i don't think the cracking sound was from the steering box. what should i check or do. i don't know where to start 
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From: CT
I think all fords of this era suffer from the same problem. The engine crossmember rivets loosen up and when you turn the crossmember slides and bangs withing the loose rivets. Mine does it to, Way to fix this is grind out the rivets and replace with grade 8 bolts.
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From: Livonia
if you are talking about the crossmember under the tranny, it has bolts instead of rivets that must have been put in by the previous owner. could it be the radius arm bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends or the pr steering box???
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From: Vancouver WA
He was talking about the crossmember the engine and front axles attatch to. And, yes, it could be the radius arm bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends or power steering box. Get under the front of the truck while someone else turns the steering wheel back and forth slowly and look for any movement that shouldn't be there.
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From: Livonia
if those rivets are loose could i just run a bead of weld around the crossmember? if the radius arm bushings are bad will it pop and wander on the road. it wanders alot, could it be something else?
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From: CT
If it wanders that could be ALOT of things, yes, old worn radius arm bushings will cause a pop when turning and will cause wandering. Wandering could also be cause by bad wheel bearings, bad tie rod and drag link ends, loose steering gear box. To fix the frame rivet problem you have to grind out all the old rivets and replace with grade 8 bolts, welding will work, but not for long.
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From: CT
On a TTB setup, which you have you have one rod that run from the pitman arm to the passenger side knuckle, part of the way down there is another rod that runs to the drivers side. At each connection point there is a tierod end, which is just a ball and socket joint that allows rotation, after time they wear out and get really sloppy and allow side to side movement, which will cause wandering.
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