phox_mulder

Truck was fine this morning, no hint of any strange noises.

Took it to the dealer for a lube and oil, and now I have a serious clunk while turning.
Doesn't seem to be related to the position of the steering wheel, just one clunk when you first start to turn it, then it's fine through the rest of the turn till you reverse direction,
unless you stop, then continue in the same direction, it clunks again.

Got home and had my daughter sit in the driver seat and turn the wheel back and forth and back and forth while I watched the normal trouble spots underneath.
No looseness could be seen in any front end part.
Even popped the hood and watched the steering shaft, and it too looked fine.

It's enough that I could feel it in the bumper when it clunked.

Outsiders can hear it disticntly over the rumble of the engine.

Doesn't seem to do it when the engine is off and one is using Armstrong power steering, just when it's running and you have actual power steering.
This could just be due to not much movement is possible when stopped and Armstronging it.

Is there anything the service tech could have done while lubing it which would create this problem?
Over filling a zerk somewhere and popped a seal?
It doesn't look like there's excessive grease anywhere.


phox

BigBlue

phox me and my roommate have been having the same problem for a very long time. We've pretty much gotten it narrowed down to the track bar and the bracket it connects to (we both have the same lift as you). A lukes link solved mine for a while until I went wheeling and then it came back and I can't stop it. Just like yours, everything is tight, there's grease in every joint, nothing abnormal. I've got a DT track bar on the way and hopefully that'll fix it. I'll let you know how it goes. If you find out what it is then please let me know. Mine is really annoying and actually has me a little worried.

phox_mulder

Mine sounds bad enough that I'm afraid to drive it.

Very afraid to take if offroad especially.

I just find it odd that it started after the Dealership had it.
Not saying they should be responsible for it or anything,
just curious as to why it chose then to start, and so suddenly.

I know for dang sure that it won't be covered under any kind of warranty,
I accepted that fact when I put the lift and bigger tires on it.

If it was something they did, then I might be able to find a cure for it easier than just throwing parts at it.

I'm going to spend a bit of tomorrow hitting every nut and bolt with the torque wrench,
maybe I'll find something I'm not seeing.


phox

J BODY

I've chased a noise similar to what you've described and it was also track bar related. Had to tighten the bolt where it attaches to the axle.

Mike D

It also might be the drag link. Another member on the site had a clunk, that was the problem. You could try lifting the front end and have someone turn the wheel in both directions to see whats making the noise.

smokeyram

I too had a noise, did the trak bar, then lukes link (which i am very impressed by).
Then finally took it in, ended up being the mounting hole on the fixed end had ovaled out, from so many trak bars going out.
ANyway, welded smoe heavier plate on, withthe hole size corrected, end of story

Txwelder

Mine was doing it and tightening the track bar on the driver side made all the difference. Mine was due to faulty installation but it was the track bar clunking around. Very annoying.

phox_mulder

I threw a wrench on every bolt and nut under there, and the only thing even slightly loose was the drag link adjustment sleeve.
Not close to loose enough to allow movement though.

Couldn't budge either of the trac bar bolts, or the bolts for the trac bar extension, so they aren't doing it, and I can't see any movement there with someone turning the wheel with me under the front.

Started it up and turned the wheel back and forth, clunked on the first turn but didn't clunk on subsquent turns.

Haven't driven it today, so will have to see tomorrow, unless I go for a night ride.


phox

torquefan

Did you check that the steering gearbox-to-frame bolts were tight? Seems to me that may be felt in the bumper, as you stated. Also make sure the clamps on the drag link adjustment sleeve are oriented properly so they don't contact anything as you steer. And, lower shock bolts like to loosen off and get noisy, but you probably checked those already.

BigBlue

How would a loose lower shock bolt pop when the truck isn't moving? Not arguing here just curious.

phox_mulder

As the front wheels turn, the axle shifts to one side slightly, also there is slight front-to-back movement as well, so the shock ends change position slightly and could pop, theoritically.

It's gotta be something in the steering box, the bolts to the frame are all tight, so I'm thinking internal.

I'll be going somewhere anytime now and will put it through the paces trying to narrow it down.


phox

BigBlue

Please do and let us know what you find. I hope it's not internal.

243

Mine is popping too, when my daughter "saws" the steering wheel I can feel it with my hand on the bumper. It is odd because the frame moves from side to side in relation to the axle just as it does when the trackbar has failed. But in this case, neither end of the track bar is moving.

I also wondered if a part inside of the gear box is worn out.

I currently hate the dang truck....

phox_mulder

Well, I went for a drive last night and the popping is gone.

I don't see how it could have been the adjustment on the drag link, because the bolts weren't loose enough to allow any movement,
they only tightened about an 1/8 of an inch is all.

I'm glad it's gone, but I still want to know what it was in case it comes back.

Maybe I'll find time to go beat it a bit offroad this weekend and see what happens.


phox

BigBlue

Bump