Front End
 

High guys/gals,

My problem: Front end doesnt feel that tight.

My truck has about 30000 miles on it mostly highway driving at 85 mph. I installed a two inch spacer kit on the front end at about 5000 miles I also have run 315 mounted on h2 rims since about 5000 miles.

I noticed the stock shock seem to have been "overextended" possibly when i installed the two inch spacers.

I am tired of the clunk that is made when I hit a two drop after an overpass. I think once i have that taken care of I wont perceive the front end to be "loose" so i guess ala in all I am in need of shocks. I live near philadelphia pa. There are no snad dunes to race through (i wish there were) so for the avaergae highway driver that likes to build things correctly the first time. What is the way to go? Shocks? springs and shocks? urathane bushing?

get a DSS stabilizers it helps alot with wonder and loosness

Could it be those 315's and the fact that they aren't E rated?

I understand the question of the 315's but i dont understand how a weight rating could cause a "clunk" (noise) in the suspension. Honestly I know the 315 arent e rated however I have tried many other tires and the bfg have handled all the terrains i hit the best.

Now that I've reread your first post, maybe it's just wear on the front end components. You've had bigger, heavier tires and wheels on there for 25k miles. Maybe it's ball joints, etc...

longer shocks would be a good thing. not sure if a 2" drop you will bottom them out, but they can get overextended.

also where do you think the clunk si comming from? Left, right, floor...

also did you do a alignment when you put the spacers on?

Yes I did do an alignment after the spacers

I think the noise sounds like its at the top of the shocks. It is definetly a metal to metal clunk.

Whats the lifespan of the front end (ball joints etc..) with the tires and wheels on there?

Is there a after market producer of poly parts or better parts for that matter. I would much rather pay double the price if i only have to do it once and do it correct the first time?

Shocks, should i go to the bilstein 5100's or spend the dough to upgrade the springs (getting rid of the spacers) and put better shocks on now?

many threads on how long the parts last. there does not seem to be a trend yet. some people 100000+ miles, some 25000 miles.

no poly that I know of yet.

easy steps, imho, would be shocks. though a leveling kit is sub 600 and wont be that much "more money" I kinda laughted as I wrote that. I am personally not a fan of the spacers, but more people run them than people who do springs.

as for the sound, could be teh shock, could be teh spacer and spring movement.

When I went with new shocks, springs..... I ended up with a front end clunk. It felt like it was coming through the floor and control arm area. It was just that I did not tighten the shocks down tight the first time. The reason I asked about where the sound was coming from.

my quick thoughts as I get ready to leave for work.

I guess the easiest and least expensive way would be to start with the shocks. Stock shocks are about as cheap as you can get anyway, so I'd upgrade to a Bilstein at the least. I've had stock Dodge shocks go out on me on other pickups I've owned in the past and it sounds like a clunk when they're bad. While you're doing that, give a good inspection to all the other front end parts and grease em' up too...