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Checking ball joints/wheel bearings. Questions..

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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 01:31 PM
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89dieselkong's Avatar
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From: On the road...
Checking ball joints/wheel bearings. Questions..

I have heard a clunk in the steering when I turn the wheel at low speed (only on initial start up though) I lifted the truck to check ball joints and wheel bearings. There is no play at all on the up/down, push in/pull out part. When I wiggle side to side though, eveything on the steering assembly moves. including the steering shaft. The whole thing only moves maybe 1/8th of an inch total, but it was to my understanding that there should be NO movement at all. There is none from the wheel to the hub assembly, just the system moving. On the road she rides great. Runs straight with little vibration unless the road is bumpy. Just want to make sure. Thanks Eric
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 01:54 PM
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From: Southern NJ
I have the same exact problem Rusns straight no vibrations every things tight but when I turn tight right starting out on dirt or uneven roadI hear 1 or 2 loud clunks My truck is 2wd I also would be curious to any ideas
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 04:23 PM
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From: port crane, NY
My guess would be worn leaf bushings and/or stabaliaer bar bushings. Everything should move when you wiggle the tire since it's all attached A better way to look for bad tie rod ends is to have someone saw back and forth on the steering wheel (engine off, key on) while you run around and look at the TRE's and drag link ends.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 05:08 PM
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From: klamath falls, or
I thought I was having issues with the front end, but it ended up being the molding aorund the wheel wells. The edge of the tire would rub or just catch it and make a thunk sound. It doesn't happen all the time, just depends on how I hit a bump and what angle I was turning at the time.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 05:32 PM
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From: On the road...
I figured everything was going to move I was just wondering if the system was supposed to have a little play in it or not...
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Old Jan 1, 2007 | 07:16 PM
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From: Bristol Michigan
Check for a crack in the frame behind the steering gear box and check your u-joints in the front axle shafts on the 4x4. Also check your king pin bushings up top.
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Old Jan 7, 2007 | 06:47 PM
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old dog's Avatar
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From: Marion ,Michigan (Snow Belt Area)
WELL FRONTEND MY REBUILT LAST SUMMER , AND FRONTEND ALINGMENT,
i`VE HAD A LOUD CLUNK IN THE FRONT END ON FULL CRANK WHILE BACKING UP FOR YEARS, I THINK IVE COVERED MOST OF THE BASES, (ONES DESCRIBED IN THE FORUM) NEVER HAVE FOUND ANYTHING , NOR DID THE MECHANIC THAT ALIGNED THE FRONT END . fOR NOW I`M GOING TO WRIGHT IT OFF TO THE BODY TOURKING ,OR SOMETHING SIMULAR TO 4X4 WIND UP UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS,(IT MIGHT BE CAUSED FROM HAVING A LOCKER REAR END )
REDLEG, look at what they did to me (while parked leagally) at an accident on Dec !5 on M115.
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