Pops and cracks in front end

[Skandocious]

So I've been getting some really nasty pops and cracks in my front end for a while now. It got really noticeable after the 4-wheeling trips (go figure). I remember after the snow trip, on the windy roads, every left turn was silent then I'd swing back around the right turn and POP!! Left turn... Right turn POP!!! etc etc.

I can now notice it does this when making a ride hand turn into a driveway (flexing the suspension a little bit with wheels turned to the right). It pops and clicks a lot when I doing a 3 point turn in a parking lot, etc (ie, cranking the wheel fairly hard/fast without moving very much). It'll even do it sometimes if I'm just pulling up to a stop sign and braking moderately.


Tie rods have been replaced with Moog parts. Shock bushing were obviously replaced with the new shocks. Body bushings do look to be pretty cracked/deteriorated, though they're still in place. Ball joints are the original non-greaseables from the factory. 115k miles on the truck.

What's your take?

 

[O'Rattlecan]

subscribing... I get the same pops, usually in the driveway but sometimes when I am in parking lots doing sharp turns (to the extent that the truck turns sharp. )

Ryan

 

[TexasNomad]

I hear white trucks are prone to this problem, most of the time they take them out back and put a few 45s in the intake manifold.

 

[Skandocious]

I forgot to mention that I have jacked up the front tires and checked for play in the ball joints. Even used a cheater bar under the tires to try and pry on it. Nothing budged at all.

 

[john112deere]

Popping on low-speed turning/parking lot stuff is classic ball-joints...

I'd jack it up and put a bar under the tire, see if there's any movement.

EDIT: Just saw your second post- "even used a cheater bar..." makes me think you may not be applying enough force to wiggle 'em- try a bigger bar. No way you're going to see play without using a cheater, unless they're totally shot.

 

[LEB Ben]

Well since it happens while turning, I'd assume steering related. So if I were you, have some one turn the wheel quick in a 'jerky' fashion, and see if you have any play in anything. I had a similar popping when turning on my Bronco when my trac bar bushings were shot. When I went through the previous steps, I could see the bushings were wallowed out, and allowed a 1/4" of play...and that contributed to my thunk.

 

[Skandocious]

Popping on low-speed turning/parking lot stuff is classic ball-joints...

I'd jack it up and put a bar under the tire, see if there's any movement.

EDIT: Just saw your second post- "even used a cheater bar..." makes me think you may not be applying enough force to wiggle 'em- try a bigger bar. No way you're going to see play without using a cheater, unless they're totally shot.

I think I put plenty of force on it. I was using a ~4 foot metal pipe (cheater bar, not breaker bar). I was putting enough force on it that it made me uncomfortable with the truck teetering on jack stands.

 

[Skandocious]

Well since it happens while turning, I'd assume steering related. So if I were you, have some one turn the wheel quick in a 'jerky' fashion, and see if you have any play in anything. I had a similar popping when turning on my Bronco when my trac bar bushings were shot. When I went through the previous steps, I could see the bushings were wallowed out, and allowed a 1/4" of play...and that contributed to my thunk.

Yeah... Problem is that it doesn't often do it when the truck is stationary. So having someone do it while the truck is parked might not help much, but I'll certainly give it a try.

Brad already suggested trac bar bushings in a phone conversation until I reminded him that I've got a TTB-- no trac bar

 

[TexasNomad]

Our 86 did this all the time, drove my dad bonkers trying to fix it, the only thing that helped was he lubed the hell out of every thing..

 

[LEB Ben]

Yeah... Problem is that it doesn't often do it when the truck is stationary. So having someone do it while the truck is parked might not help much, but I'll certainly give it a try.

Brad already suggested trac bar bushings in a phone conversation until I reminded him that I've got a TTB-- no trac bar

Holy hell...I thought you had a straight axle under there. Nevermind on my suggestion then, but it sure won't hurt to give the process a try any way.

 

[Skandocious]

Other stuff that I've done:

-I put on new Timken bearings with my last brake job about 10k miles ago
-Hubs are also new in the last 15k miles. Warn Premiums.

 

[smokey]

Sounds like radius arm bushings to me. That is a classic symptoms of one going out.

 

[Skandocious]

I'm under the impression that the radius arm bushings and pivot arm bushings were replaced when the lift kit was installed (by the PO) about 30k miles/5 years ago. That may not be a safe assumption... The lift kit did not include new radius arms, just drop brackets. You think a Pro-comp 4" kit came with new RA bushing and pivot arm bushings?

 

[O'Rattlecan]

Mine still does the same pops and clicks with brand new bushings 100 miles ago...

Ryan

 

[smokey]

I have seen RA bushings go bad in less than a year. some are brittle and crack long before they should.

 

[Skandocious]

There are plastic covers on my RA bushings that look like Reeses peanut butter cups rofl: no I'm not kidding). So I can't see the bushing unless I take the damned arm apart, which I hear is a real hassle.

 

[LEB Ben]

You think a Pro-comp 4" kit came with new RA bushing and pivot arm bushings?

Some do, some don't...depends on how much coin was dropped on the kit, some are all inclusive, some only contain the basics.

 

[Skandocious]

I've got the receipt for the purchase with a model number on it, let me dig it up and then research the kit number online.

 

[polarbear]

Mine did that. I lubed the heck out of every bushing, and it went away. Never really did find out what caused it. The Mercury does it too- much be a Ford thing.

 

[TexasNomad]

Mine did that. I lubed the heck out of every bushing, and it went away. Never really did find out what caused it. The Mercury does it too- much be a Ford thing.

Thats what stopped it in our old 86, dad lubed that thing up like a drunk Sorority girl, and every thing was Oh Tay'....