front end swim / clunk

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Nov 10, 2002 | 04:24 PM

b1rdjx88

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Joined: May 2000

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front end swim / clunk

My 82 f-150 2wd 300-6, has been having some handling problems on the road. It seems to wander on the road a little. Also, when I hit a bump, I often hear a "clunk" from the front drivers side. I have replaced the ball joints and the shocks and this helped the handling slightly. But the clunk is still there. The tie rods/ steering box are tight too.
I suspect the radius arm bushings (that rubber doughnut thing?). actually I think I remember notcicing they were sloppy when I jacked the truck up a while ago. How hard is it to change the radius arm bushings? Do I have to unbolt the whole front axle and the coil springs to get at them? Has anyone tried grinding the rivets off of the radius arm mounts so I can just remove those (then replace them with grade 8 bolts)?

thanks,
Alan

Nov 10, 2002 | 07:01 PM

1984_355w

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Joined: Jul 2002

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From: Illinois

front end swim / clunk

Yea grade 8's will be plenty strong. I would use a torch though to cut off the rivit heads. Will take maybe 1/8 the time that it would with a grinder.