Noise And Ball Joint Replacement

[Fenn]

Guys I'm having trouble tracking down a front end noise. Bought the truck and shortly after I installed a RC leveling kit. I didn't notice any noise when i purchased the truck or the few weeks after.

 

I put a RC leveling kit on the front and started hearning a clunk noise while backing up and having the wheel cracked most of the way.

 

The truck is a 2008 but with only 16k miles on it.

 

Everything was torqued to spec when reinstalled.

 

Now I replaced the front sway bar bushings and the noise is still there. The only thing left is the ball joints.

 

if i take the lift out to see if the noise goes away then I have to have it realigned which costs 140. If i replace the ball joints I can get then from rock auto for 70 bucks a piece.

 

should i take the lift out and see if the noise goes away or go ahead and replace the ball joints.

 

Now also I'm not sure but if i replace the upper ball joints and control arms do i still need an alignment?

 

any suggestions are appreciated

[ruggedlife]

if you replace the upper arms yes you will need an alignment. i feel as though something isnt installed correctly. with that low of miles the balljoints shouldnt be going out of it. you can check them and see if they're clunking though. are you 100 percent possitive you tightened every single bolt you touched, upper strut? lower strut? sway bar? ball joint? anything else you may have done? wheels torqued down? beer bottles rolling around in the bed?

[mhenshaw]

If you replace the upper ball joints you have to buy whole new control arms. Get Moog they will outlast anything else you buy and have grease fittings in them. Also the upper control arms have alignment bolts in them so yes you have to get an alignment. Some people have had ball joints go out in 20k miles bone stock. They don't make trucks last anymore.

 

Jack you truck up and see if you have any play in the front tires. Also wheel hubs are bad about going out so if you do have play don't rule that out either. The leveling kit is not the problem you just made your problem more noticeable with the leveling kit.

 

Look at my garage for pics of my Moog control arms.