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Clunk,clunk,clunk

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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 10:32 AM
  #1  
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Clunk,clunk,clunk

I have had this clunking noise on both sides down around where the bed and cab meet.I have changed the shocks.I have taken a 6 foot pinch bar and tryed to pry between the body and frame rail.In order to check the body mounts.All tight there.What I do see is the overload spring(The spring on top)has been hitting up on the frame stops.They are always rubbed clean.I almost always travel empty.I got the truck for the amount of miles I travel.This drives me nuts.Oh I also droped the tire pressure down to 60# it was up at 75#.I think that helped some but minimal if at all.Please help am I overlooking something.
Thanks as always.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 10:41 AM
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had a similar sound in my '97 I found a couple of the bed attach bolts loose letting the bed bounce.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 10:49 AM
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I dont think its that.I checked all of them.I also pryed between the bed and the frame rail.no movement.Thanks for the reply
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 01:19 PM
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Do you have a lift? My trucks overload springs used to hit the stops when empty and i really got on it, its because i had a block lift in the rear, and this trick is called AXLE WRAP. Where the axle has enough torque on it to actually roll over allowing the springs to hit the stops. With the vehicle in park on a flat surface grab both sides of the tire and see if you can rock the truck back and forth and see how much play you have and or if anything is clunkin when you do this. If it is, maybe you ur center pin for your leaf springs has moved, broke leaf spring, or broke u bolt or something to that effect. If you have no lift some of these might be your problem.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 02:47 PM
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Thanks for the reply I'll go out nd check for that.And no I do not have anylift.But this usually hapens when I hid bumps and potholes.It doesnt have to be a big one.I live on a dirt road and its like going over a washboard.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 02:56 PM
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Just came back from the garage.I rocked it back and forth.The axle rolled a little makeing the overloads to come within 2" of the stops.Everthing such as the u-bolt.springs and any hardware sems to be in good shape.besides the u-bolts wich hold the spring to the axle.The only clamps holdind the springs together is on wrap around type clamp forward of the axle.Is this correct or should there be one to the rear of the axle also.There is none one either side,after the axle.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 03:38 PM
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What about the sway bar? are all the bushings on it in good condition. I know on the front for sure it can cause all sorts of noise. You might take it off and drive a few to see if your clunks dissapear.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 03:46 PM
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Yea they look to be in good shape but ya never know.I'm geussing there probabally cheap so maybe thats my next move.One thing though.If the sway bar bushings are bad would that help in letting the overload spring hit.I'm almost certain the clunk is comeing from there.I just cant figure out why it hits.LIke I said I travel empty.I would figure it would have to be loaded for them to hit.Dunno just thinking out load
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 03:50 PM
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The only time I ever hit the overloads is either really big bump, or carrying load in bed and hit a bump. I have never hit them empty. You could always take a little grease and put them on it or the pad stop, go for drive and as soon as you here the noise stop and look to see if the grease has transferred.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 04:01 PM
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good trick,Ill try that now
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 04:16 PM
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well I tried and no grease transfer.So I geuss thats good news.So I was wrong on the overload springs bottoming out.It may just be as you say.The sway bar bushings.That and the body mounts are the only thing left I can think of.I'll go with the bushings first I'm sure there cheaper.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 06:39 PM
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Just had the same thing, changed the sway bar links and bushings holding them to the frame. Man no noise now, then changed the shocks and New truck. Good luck finding the problem. Could be anything.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 06:45 PM
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yea thats what I'm going to change.The sway bar links.Cant be much else.thanks for all the replies and I will post what the fix is.A soon as I can say its fixed
 
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Old Sep 10, 2007 | 07:04 PM
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You can go easier than that, just take the bar off for a while. If the noise is there, your bushings are good, if it dissapears, then you know it is with the bushings. Mine, it was the bushing that holds the sway bar, not the drop links that were bad.
 
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