The front end of my '95 F150 4x4 (120,000 miles) is making popping noises on turns and when I hit a potholes in the road. I'm not sure if I should be concerned or not.

A year ago, I took into a Les Schwab (tire, brake, and suspension shop), and they said I could do an entire front end rebuild, including the roller bearings and all the rubber for $800. Nothing was really that bad, but it was going. The noise shouldn't concern me. I didn't do anything.

Finally, it was making a lot more noise than I was comfortable with (lot of groans on cold mornings), and the ride quality was getting unbearable. I took it into another local shop that replaced the radius arm bushings (they were shot). I also requested that the drag link be replaced to fix the blown grease seal. The ride improved, but I still hear some pops coming from the front end.

Is this the roller bearings? Something else? Should I be concerned, or forget it?

 

What "roller" bearings are you talking about? The wheel bearings? They rumble - not pop. There has been a continuous TSB every year from '80-97 on the frame rivets popping, so that's by far the most likely cause. You can have the front crossmember welded to the frame to find out, and that's probably the best first step if it's really bothering you. It certainly won't be wasted money, even if the popping is still there, because it WOULD have become a source of noise eventually.

 

My 87 makes the same noise. Searched on the net and found the TSB that Steve mentioned. I haven't fixed it yet, but sounds like Steve has a pretty good idea.

 

Sounds alot like the noise I'm getting on my '95. Kind of a "clink, clink, clink" sound when the wheels are turned sharp at low speeds, i.e. pulling into a parking spot. Also, a sound that I can best describe as a spring going "boing" when I hit a big bump with the right front tire going any more than 5 miles an hour or so. The "boing" sound is only from the right front, the left is fine.

 

Yeah, that's the same "clink,clink" I get on my 87. Its also on the right front. Left side never does it.

 

COuld be the u-joints at the wheels. I know it's a common prob on chevy.

 

I tracked my noise down a couple months ago. Mine comes from the rivets in the radius arm bracket.

 

Yep, I bet it is the rivets on the crossmember to the frame. The sound is coming from the right side only, and makes a sound like I would expect to hear if that was the problem. Not really a "clink", but more like the sound of a mild blow of a hammer to the frame.

Thanks for the info.