Front End Clunk

[700 sportsman]

Hey guys, so I have been noticing a fairly loud clunk coming from the passenger side somewhere in the front end. It usually happens when turning off camber (backing out of driveway up on to the road) and sometimes when I apply the brakes rather hard, or when driving with the windows down the other night, I hit a pothole, and it made a pretty good clunk then too. I tried prying and jiggling and trying to hunt it down, but I didn't come up with any thing. I did notice that one of the control arm bushings isn't making full contact with the mount, but I don't think that's it. But I had someone say that it may be the control arm bushings.

 

Any ideas are welcome, I'd like to get it fixed soon, it's startin to get on my nerves clunkin around.

[formerlylifted]

Hey guys, so I have been noticing a fairly loud clunk coming from the passenger side somewhere in the front end. It usually happens when turning off camber (backing out of driveway up on to the road) and sometimes when I apply the brakes rather hard, or when driving with the windows down the other night, I hit a pothole, and it made a pretty good clunk then too. I tried prying and jiggling and trying to hunt it down, but I didn't come up with any thing. I did notice that one of the control arm bushings isn't making full contact with the mount, but I don't think that's it. But I had someone say that it may be the control arm bushings.

 

Any ideas are welcome, I'd like to get it fixed soon, it's startin to get on my nerves clunkin around.

Could be a bad ball joint. Jack up the clunking side and push and pull on the top of the tire. it shouldn't wiggle any at all. You can also put a pry bar between your spindle and the control arm and pry up and down, just be careful not to damage the rubber boot/seal. Pretty crude and neanderthal ways of checking but hey, it works.

[solarjustin]

Great questan sportsman, I was just getting on the site to ask the same question. Have the same front end clunking on my 2004. I jacked up the drver side on monday and could not find anything out of place. I was going to check the passanger side, but it was 95 out and after the drivers side i had enough. Be sure you post what the problem was if you figure it out.

[700 sportsman]

I'm sure it's not the ball joints, they are very tight, when moving the wheel, so I'm leaning towards the upper control arm bushings. I'll be sure to report back when I get it fixed

[Willshire]

If you try backing up and turning the wheel left and right, and it clunks, it may be a broken sway bar or sway bar link. I just snapped the 1" thick sway bar on my 2000 sierra. I went with an addco (185usd from summit 270 can from local speed shop). Comes with new links and hardware. If that is the problem make sure you change it with the front wheels on the ground. Hope this helps.

[700 sportsman]

Well I guess I didn't inspect the whole sway bar, I was just looking for the ends being broke, and missing bushings. I'll have to check that out as well Adam

[700 sportsman]

Well I inspected the upper control arm bushings, and they look fine, and I also inspected the sway bar, and it looks fine also. But while I was backing out with my door open, I could hear the clunk. So when I can get a hand, I'll have someone stand by and watch and listen

[Willshire]

wheel bearing, brake binding, broken spring. Well, i`m outta ideas

[solarjustin]

Well I got up under the truck today and couldn't find any that felt loose or looked out of place. So I'm still stumped currently what is making this noise.

[hockeypro1411]

Sounds like it could be a wheel bearing. Is it making a squeaking/grinding at low speeds? Try jacking the truck up and grabbing the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock and giving it a violent shake. If there's any kind of excessive play, it's probably a wheel bearing.

[700 sportsman]

my truck only has 56,000 on it, and there's almost zero play, and it doesn't sound like a wheel bearing, it's more of a clunk for sure.

I'll post back if I figure it out

[solarjustin]

Same here, only 63,000 miles on an 2004.

[mtiffinal]

Have you looked at the auto locking hub?

[khancock]

I know you said that you have already ruled it out but the noise your describeing is exactly what my bad ball joints sounded like. It maybe worth a second look?

[cghbuilder86]

I've been getting some clunking in my 2004 silverado. It only has 59,000 miles on it. I'm not sure we are having the same problem. Mine is like a real light rattling/clunking sound and I can feel it in the steering wheel. I called my dealer today and scheduled to have it looked at tomorrow. He told me on the phone it is probably the intermediate steering column shaft. Said it just needs greasing every so often. But he said he could put a new design on it and I'd never have a problem again. I googled it and there is tons of info on it. Sounds like a very common problem. Anyways, this may not be at all what ya'll are dealing with. I'm not that smart about it, I just thought I'd throw it out incase.