Clunking sound after Bilstein shock replacement

[steveo714]

I had my shocks on my 07 4x4 f150 replaced with Bilstein HD's by a shop yesterday. When I drove the truck home I noticed it has a clunking sound coming from the front end. It didn't have this sound before the shock replacement. The clunking sound happens when going over bumps. I got under the truck and checked all the bolts including the sway bar ends, I didn't see a problem. I'm not sure if the mechanic tightend the suspension when it was loaded or off the ground. I believe he tightend everything when it was off the ground. Anyone have this same problem? I'm going to take it back to the mechanic and have him loosen and retighten the suspension while loaded. The Bilsteins works great by the way, I noticed the new feel of the truck as soon as I drove down the street, then I noticed the noise.

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[steveo714]

Problem solved.

The top nuts on the front shocks were not tight, at least not enough. I used a 17mm socket held with vise-grips to turn the nut and an allen wrench through the top of the socket into the top of the shock to hold the shaft. I was able to turn the nut almost two full turns. Took the truck for a test drive and have no clunking sound.

The only other problems I have with the truck now is a bad left front speaker connection, its not the speaker, I switched the left and right and still have the problem. And a fuel gauge that does not move when filling up with fuel, although if I shake the bed back and forth when fueling the gauge goes up. When the gauge is stuck it takes about 50 miles of driving to register correctly. Good thing I bought the 85,000 mile extended warranty when I purchased the truck.

[donbeeler49]

Good catch on the hardware! I have the 5100's and never have had any problems and you are right, it does make the truck feel better. If the truck feels better, I feel better.