I guess we are talking about a 4x4 right?
1st thing to do is check the track bar bushings, control arm bushings, tie rods, unit bearings for play, etc for wear.
Also check the track bar frame mount for an elongated mounting hole.
ALL these suspension components must be TIGHT and all fasteners must be TIGHT.
Does it seem to come and go with temp. change?
Let me know on these suggestions. eliminate these and I have 1 idea I'm also working on.

 

I have been also chasing similar noise, if the track bar frame bolt is elongated is that repairable???

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Check your shock bushings, see if it has beat the rubber out of the lower connection.

 

I currently have this problem on my 03'. Took me awhile to figure it out but just got in Bilstein shocks to take care of the problem. Just an excuse to buy something and upgrade my shocks :thumbsup:

 

^^^ i had this happen to me on a dakota that i had. i will never buy rancho shocks again. also check your sway bar end links too. just check all connections and bushings to be sure

 

Control arm bushings. Happened to me. I replaced mine with greasable arms from tgc. All better

 

+1
(10 char)

 

Get under the truck and just start tugging on stuff to find whatever is loose. Have a buddy crank the wheel back and forth and watch for play in your steering parts.

Thats about all the helpful advice I can give without physically seeing your truck...I've had similar sounds and everytime it's been something different. Once it was the sway bar end links. Another time it was the center link. Most recently it was the track bar bushings.

 

You might want to check out your u joints, this is sounds like a noise mine was making.

 

I had a similar issue that turned out to be control arm bushings.

 

My swaybar endlinks rattled like hell on small bumps until I replaced them with maxxlinks.

 

Mine had a clunk in it too. I took the sway bar off and most of it went away. The bushings were trashed. I still have a clunk in it, I thought it might be something in the front end, now with free spin hubs it still does it. No idea what it is

 

i had the same clunk.... my sway bar rounded out the rubber bushings and also ruined one of the sway bar links.... got them all replaced and shes good as new!

 

You should try driving it without the sway bar all together. I planned on putting mine back on after I replaced the bushings but once I drove it without the sway bar I'll never put it back on

 

Thanks for all the advice guys, been a few days since i got a chance to sign on. I think it is either the shocks or the control arm bushings. I have Maxxlinks sway bar end links which are about 2 months old don't think it's them. Anyone know how difficult it is to replace the control arm bushings? I like to avoid the mechanic shop if necessary.

 

I haven't been able to find just the bushings for a 3rd gen. I think you have to replace the entire control arm.
Try this, take the bolts out of the control arm (1 control arm at a time) and put some grease or graphite on the frame mount, diff mount and inner bushing sleeve. Re-install and CRANK the bolts down tight! What I found on my (near as I can anaylise what's happening) is the rubber bushing looses it's elasticity (especially in thecold) so it's "winding up" between the inner and outer bushing sleeve. When it gets to the point that the inner sleeve has to "twist" it lets go suddenly making that banging/creaking noise as it rotates against the frame mount.
The lower control arm will drop right out after taking out the bolts the uppers are a little harder.
They (bolts) MUST be re-tightened with the weight of the vehicle on the front suspension.
When I did mine this way, voila!, the noise went away.
I be interested to (probably alot of others would be too) to find out if this works for you.
To do this you do NOT have to take the control arms out of the truck.
Just remove the bolts and move the arm enough to grease the areas I indicated.
Below are the factory procedures for the upper control arm R & R.
UPPER SUSPENSION ARM REMOVAL
REMOVAL - LEFT
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Remove the upper suspension arm nut and bolt at the axle bracket.
(3) Remove the nut and bolt at the frame rail and remove the upper suspension arm.
REMOVAL - RIGHT
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Disconnect the exhaust system at the manifolds.
(3) Disconnect the rubber exhaust mounts at the muffler.
(4) Support the transmission.
(5) Remove the transmission cross member.
(6) Lower the exhaust system down in order to gain access to the removal of the upper bolt.
(7) Remove the nut and bolt at the frame rail and remove the upper suspension arm.
(8) Remove the upper suspension arm nut and bolt at the axle bracket.
(9) Remove the suspension arm from the vehicle.

Install reverse, duh.
Uppers 120ft/lb; lowers 160 ft/lb
If anyone does know where to get just the bushings for STOCK control arms please chime in.

 

Common problem, tighten the living snot out of your track bar bolts. Kinda tight won't work.

 

Transmission mount? When i broke mine I would hear a clunk when accelerating and occasionally over bumps

 

I think y'all have named about every feature in the front end of his truck... LMAO!!! So by goin with that, might as well check every nut, bolts, bushing, mount, tie rod, upper and lower control arms, drive shaft, shocks, springs, u-joints, wheel bearings. If I forgot anything please add to this.. hahaha

 

my vote is u-joints, i had a bad one and had the same problem but the u-joint also made a clicking noise while driving also. good luck

 

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One thing is for SURE looks good doesn't get it!!!
Gotta get in there and check EVERTHING!!
Can't see it from my house, looks good!

 

My old 2nd gen had a problem with that despite me rebuilding the front end. The deal ontop of the upper control arm that is adjusted for alignment was slipping. Even when i tightened it down. Cross hatching the surfaces with a grinder should fix it.

 

adjustment for caster (cam) on a 3rd gen is on the front end of the lower control arms.

 

I fixed mine like this: post#10

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/3rd-gen-powertrain/858722-snap-steering.html

 

FWIW that isn't much of a "fix".
disconnecting the ANTI-sway bar and 'most' of it's gone.
Fixing it would have entailed re-placing the anti-sway bar bushings and ALL the noise was gone.
sorry, do it right, do it once.

 

Same noise.
Replaced the sway bar end links, cured the thunk.
Fairly cheap from GENO'S.