Front end help, please
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2004
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Front end help, please
Did a search and couldn't seem to find the info I need. Last summer I had a clunking noise in the front wheel area. I mainly noticed it when I hit small bumps or rough road. I replaced upper and lower ball joints on both sides, but the clunking was still there. I thought it might be the shocks, but today I replaced all four shocks, rotated the tires, and replaced the front rotors (for the third time). While I had the truck up on the jack, I grabbed the tire at about 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock, and I think I noticed a little side to side freeplay. I remember reading on this site, that up and down movement is likely balljoints. But, I can't remember what side to side movement is. I have seen it on this site before, and know I can't seem to find it. Can anyone tell me what side to side freeplay could be? Thanks for any help, Chad
F-350
4x4
v-10
no lift
F-350
4x4
v-10
no lift
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 30
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Thanks for the help. I went out and jacked it up again, and didn't get any up and down movement. Side movement was still a little noticeable. Is replacing a tierod end a big deal, and do I tell the parts guy I need a tierod end, or is it called something else? Sorry for the stupid questions, and thanks again for the help.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,859
Likes: 7
From: USA
You should grab the tire at 12and 6 and try rocking in and out any movement its wheel bearings .
In your test if the steering wheel wasn't locked you will get some movement in the steering linkages side to side ,normal .
If you get under the truck and grab the tierod ends where they attach to the knuckle try to move them they should be tight on their pivots not loose.
Chk that and get back to us.
Rich
In your test if the steering wheel wasn't locked you will get some movement in the steering linkages side to side ,normal .
If you get under the truck and grab the tierod ends where they attach to the knuckle try to move them they should be tight on their pivots not loose.
Chk that and get back to us.
Rich
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,859
Likes: 7
From: USA
well the list for noises in the front is
Caliper bolts
Ball joints
Shocks
Trac bar attachments
Springs (tip isolaters,shackle bushings, u-bolts)
Swaybar bushings
If you still have the blocker bar on the truck chk its bolts also.
Rich
Caliper bolts
Ball joints
Shocks
Trac bar attachments
Springs (tip isolaters,shackle bushings, u-bolts)
Swaybar bushings
If you still have the blocker bar on the truck chk its bolts also.
Rich
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 213
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From: Maryland
Disconnect the sway bar from the bottom bolts on the end links, both sides. Use some wire to tie the sway bar up so it doesn't drag the ground. Then drive around and see if the noise is still there.
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Mountain Pass
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From: Illinois
Just put sway bushings in my 03 @ 60k miles. Ball joints were done in the spring. I heard the clunking this spring and found ball joints a little loose. So they were replaced but the clunk didn't go away. Thats when we realized it was sway bushings.
Didn't worry about it too much til it got real bad.
Didn't worry about it too much til it got real bad.
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