Got a '99 4X4 and on the passenger side I have a clunking when I hit bumps and potholes. You can really feel it on the floorboard when riding on that side.

There was a little slop in the lower ball joint so on that side, I replaced both upper and lower joints. I also replaced the sway bar links. The track bar and shocks were replaced about 50K ago all because they showed signs of wear.

I just cant find this clunking noise which seems to be getting worse. Everything seems tight. I have suspected the control arm bushing but they "seem" tight too though the rubber has a little bit of cracking. Im at a loss............

Any ideas fellers ?

On a side note , i have a popping noise in the steering column, I am pretty sure it is the little u joints on the steering shaft, sound like a guy cracking his knuckles. Am I on the right track with that diognosis?

Thanks,

Dew

 

Check the lower shock mount bolt on that side, crank it down.

 

Also check the Track Bar... lower, axle bolt. Depending on your replacement brand, the bushings could be wearing at 50,000 miles. If that's it, should show up in hard turns also.
If just up & down knocking... shocks are a good bet.... have made that noise for me before.

RJ

 

I will check all of that again , but most of it has been replaced and the noise didnt go away.

RowJ, the lower axle bolt,? Is that where the control arm hooks to the axle ?
I do plan on looking at the whole control arm connection tonight. Prying on things to se if there is any slop. There is one of them, the upper one that is connected to the axle that i cant see very well.
Has anyone had these bushings wear out ?
Thanks for the input all !

 

Lower, passenger side bolt on the TRACK BAR. Where it attaches to the Axle!
Do you get the clunk when turning also?

RJ

 

OK, gotcha on the track bar.
Not when turning just the over the bumps/washboards on the road.

 

The lower shock bolts are pretty prone to not being tight enough, especially if the shocks are replaced. It's a good size bolt that'll handle quite a bit of torque, so you can put a wrench and a cheater bar on it and crank it up pretty tight. Ditto for the track bar bolt where it attaches to the axle bracket.

 

bump on this, im having the same problem

 

When I had a similar noise on my truck it was the bushing on the axle end of the trackbar, as a couple of other people have previously mentioned. I replace the stock rubber bushing with a 2 part urethane bushing. Problem went away and hasn't come back.

 

new ball joints and track bar.... so that rules that out!

 

Control arm bushings are an easy fix. If you can, have someone move the trk fwd/rev and watch axle/control arms on both sides, there s/b no slop/movement or rotation of axle. If cracked, I'd replace either way.

 

stupid question, but whats a control arm bushing?

 

The two big arms coming from the frame attached to the back lower/upper front axle. They keep the axle centered in the wheel well. There will be a total of 8 bushings, 4each side upper and lower. Factory replacements run about $70, aftermarket about the same price but they do not interchange.

At one point, mine were clanking and making noise and you could see the axle rotating back/forth when shifting fwd/reverse.

 

ill have to try it! thanks!

 

My noise ended up being the lower shock bolt. I did as was suggested here....tighten with a big breaker bar VERY tightly. That solved my problem. I didnt believe it until i did it. The bolt/ shock seemed tight. Hope it works for you.