Truck clunks like a train...
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Central, NY
Truck clunks like a train...
Well I thought I might of had a wheel bearing going on my truck because it was a slight vibration and was speed dependent.. but after jacking up the truck and checking each wheel all is tight and smooth. Well the noise got alot worse after I was on my way home from hauling a van trailer. It almost reminds me of a train chug. Noise is coming from the front.. So I'm thinking U-joint of some kind? Any way to check this? I would imagine if I locked the hubs and put it into 4wd it should get worse? Are the hubs supposed to completely free float, or is some differential/front drive shaft movement normal in 2wd?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: San Diego, CA
Since the outer portion of the front shaft is supported by the needle bearing in the hub, there will be a little drag and the front shafts will turn (even when the locking hub isn't engaged).
What is the clunk like and when does it happen?
A common source of front end clunking is the front sway bar end links (from the frame to the sway bar). The rubber bushings wear out and the link and bar clunk together over bumps and when turning.
What is the clunk like and when does it happen?
A common source of front end clunking is the front sway bar end links (from the frame to the sway bar). The rubber bushings wear out and the link and bar clunk together over bumps and when turning.
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From: Central, NY
It happens when the truck is in motion and on any surface. If I drive it down the newly paved driveway here.. anything over 5mph I just notice like a chug sound, and I can envision in my mind a stuck U-joint. Like it's going up, then thumping back into place. It's worse at slower speeds... (or it was earlier during the day). Now it just sounds so bad that it needs to be parked.
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From: Central, NY
I'm going to check those in about a 1/2hr when I get out of work. The truck is about 100ft away, but 'the man' still has me chained to my desk. LOL. I'm assuming this is the answer.
What exactly should I be looking for?
What exactly should I be looking for?
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From: Central, NY
Well I checked it out, and had the mechanic at work take a look. The U joints up front aren't seized. I can move them by hand with the wheel turned lock to lock. Really can't replicate the noise. The joints don't have any slop in them.
Only slop I could find was in the rear carrier bearing... you can move that about 1.5".. but the noise is coming from the front...
Only slop I could find was in the rear carrier bearing... you can move that about 1.5".. but the noise is coming from the front...
