When going up slightly elevated ground/terrain, the left front side tends to make a "pop" ing sound..
The right front side of my truck has had the ball joints replaced (I think, just because that side has grease zerks.. Or maybe the factory ball joints were greasable and the other side was replaced, I'm not sure..

Do you think ball joints are the problem or do other things in the front end make this sort of noise as well?

Wheel bearings, tie rod ends, and sway bar are all good..

I do not have death wobble anymore, since I installed a set of BALANCED tires, but the caster adjustments are still not quite as high as I want them (based on Cowhand's specs)
If they do indeed need to be replaced, should I get the adjustable ones right off the bat?

Let me know what you think..

Thanks in advance.

 

I would start with the ball joints. To check them, jack that side up just enough to get a long bar or pipe under it. Then lift up while someone else is looking at the ball joints. If you see play, it's time to have them changed. I would also take a good look at the trackbar. They are also a ball and socket and will pop when bad.

 

My guess would be axial u-joints , get wheel off ground and try to move u-joint by hand , after replacing many , I've found that every so often you'll get a bad one bound up and not be able to feal any movement.

 

My vote is for axle u-joint too. Look for rust colored dust on the joint.

I was getting a popping/rumbling noise when mine went bad.

 

To update this, the ball joints are good, as are the u-joints, and the trackbar is good as well (lukes link). Still have the popping noise.

 

My 96 has a ticking noise, which I thought might be the LS unit, mostly noticable when turning sharply right. Friday I had someone else listen, from outside the truck, as I turned, and he said it was coming from the front, maybe a u-joint. I put it in 4WD and turned as sharply as I could. The ticking went away. I will be looking harder at the u-joints for final diagnosis.

Chris