It's been a nice quiet wet winter and my front end "Clunk" was completely gone. Last few weeks it is drying out and the clunk from drivers side is back. It sounds like it is coming from the top of the shock mounting area. When it starts to come back it sounds just like a creak we all have turning into driveways and such, then with a few weeks gets much worse .. more of a clunk and sometimes like metal snapping.

What I've done to date is took truck to two different shops. Both indicated they could not find anything wrong with the front end. I replaced bushings in both front leaf springs and also replaced the front shakels with new ones. Original leaf springs as far as I know .. two leafs each, have about 1 3/4 inch spacing before bumper stops. I also checked for maybe bad rivit's (spelling) on frame and can't find any evidence or dust marks.

I think I'm down to just worn out "sliding / slipping" leaf springs. Could that noise be coming from that area? I did notice I can see spacers on the passenger side between the leafs .. front, center, and rear. On drivers side I have those spacers .. front and rear, can't see one in the center mount, where I think the noise is originating though. Are those spacers replaceable? I probably can do that.

Not a front end expert and never will be, that is why I took it to shop(s), but willing to try anything once? Thanks, Jim

 

sounds like balljoints to me. but i would have to see/ hear..

 

That is what I thought too .. you would think the shops would love to take my money and I was willing to pay if they indicated I needed them .. but maybe.

 

Did you check the body mounts? maybe a mount is broken

 

I checked the four on the cab only. Not really sure how to check though as rubber mounts and bolts seem secure. When this thing (sound) get really bad it sound like a 22 firing off. Not at this poing yet this early in the year, more of a very bad creak and approching the clunk stage.

 

Try shock bushings.They can do it and be hard to detect.

 

Put new shocks on also when did leaf spring bushings. Sure sounds like it is coming from that area though. Maybe I'll just take the shock off and back out/in of the driveway. Need to get a buddy and find remote driveway somewhere where maybe I can pull in and out to see if I can localize the noise. Just thought it might be the old leaf springs wearing out since I can't see a rub guard in the center of the driver side leaf spring.

 

check your ball joints and tie rod ends. Wait a min. check your U joint or joints on that side I had one seize and it would bind then release on a turn sounded like a cap gun!raise your front end lock your hubs and turn your wheels by hand with steering wheel unlocked of course.

 

Also I have a steering shaft that passes though the firewall that is loose and hits the firewall sometimes and causes a loud clunk.

 

Could not find a creaking sound from my front end but the mecanic did. loose fender. Cluncking sounds more like a ball joint.

 

My truck clunks when I'm maneuvering around a parking lot and moving the wheel around a bit... haven't investigated further though... I'm sure it's going to be $$$

-Robb

 

Also check the play in the tire maybe a bad wheel bearing I had this happen it wore out the spindle and would Clunk almost sounded like a ball joint

 

Thanks, will check all. Raining cats and dogs right now so will have to wait until after work tommorrow. Supposed to be nice week coming up so I'm sure it will just get worse. It usually occurs going over big inclines such as in / out driveways. The worst is a store I go to and turn right down a 20 degree incline. As I go over and down the incline it clunks then as I come out of the incline, maybe 15 feet I turn left and clunks again. Gets peoples attention! I have not noticed it on normal rual type roads, turns or not.

 

had a similar problem, turned out to be the bell housing was coming loose. loud pop when turning right or turning up or down curbs. took a long time to find.

 

hm, mine picked up a similar clunk over the last couple of days, the front end is tight so I am going to start with body mounts, and work towards the bellhousing, hey TJ, I asked about the steering shaft and I was told the shafts are specific to the type of cab you have, reg, extended, and crew, it doesn't seem correct to me, can anyone varify it one way or another??