I need help. I'm trying to figure out where this noise is comming from when I turn the wheel.

When turning left, and sometimes right, there is a loud clunk/pop that comes from the front end. I can feel it through the floorboards/steeringwheel. Driving straight and hitting bumps doesnt do it. But taking a left hand turn will caus it and I can do it at will if say the wheel is at 10oclock and I quickly jerk it to 8oclock it will make this noise. It seems to be getting worse. I cant hear any noises or howls when cruising. I've checked everything I can think of. Shock mounts, body mounts, control arm bolts. I checked the ball joints yesterday and did not feel any play or notice any movement up or down when prying on the tire. I really dont think it is the tracbar because I just did the lukes link and poly bushing and have it torqued down so tight out of frustration that I really dont think it could cause this.

Any way to really check the ball joints? Ujoints look OK but could one cause this? Maybe the steering box is going out? Any of these symptoms match anything you guys know of?

Thanks
Zach.

 

This might be worth trying. While you look at the front tie rod etc have someone else turn left right quickly. On my Jeep cherokee which is the same system just smaller I have had the resistance of the steering stablized cause the tie rod to twist or roll back and forth causing a clunk as the rod maxes out in its ball travel. The slight angle of the stablizer compared to the tie rod causes this. I would say the axle U joints might also be worn and binding. Also eyeball the steering box for movement on the frame or cracks at the mounting points.

 

Check you’re wheel u-joints, with the wheels straight grab the u-joint and if there is any play on either wheel

 

Last time I seen that happen it was the front axle shifting back and forth as you turn the steering wheel. Get someone to watch the front axle as you turn the wheel and see if it moves either way, even just a fraction of an inch can cause a lot of noise.

 

I had the same issue. It ended up being the front u-joint on the drivers's side. It was the ungreasable type. When I took it off, the needle bearings all fell out along with just rust, absolutely no grease whatsoever. I also recently changed the ball joints, and while I was in there, I changed the front bearing on that side.

No more vibration either!

Good luck.

 

Track bar......

 

Found it. Dunno why I never noticed it but my front sway bar links were bent badly. Removed the sway bar now almost all of the noise is gone.

Also found that the bottm end of the coil spring itself appears to be "popping" back and forth about 1/2" as the truck rocks side to side in the lower spring perch/bucket. This also makes a small noise. Guess I need to save up for some D25's.

 

I bet this is part of the problem - does the "clunk" happen when you move the steering wheel?

 

After drivng around and down some rutted roads today the noise is completely gone. Went over the trackbar again, its tight no movement up and down at all. So now I'm sure it was the sway bar. Truck drives the same without it, I dont tow much of anything so I'm just going to leave it off.

 

I need help with my 93 12 valve!!!!!!!!!!