Have you tried jacking up the rear to see if there is any side to side movement with the wheels as in pushing and pulling on each wheel ?? Could be movement there signaling a bearing (axle) going out, but not yet making noise.

 

I had a strange pop in an older truck of minethat would resurface from time to time and it was never the same thing twice

u bolt had backed off some
drop shackles were installed too tightly and put in a bind
u joints
bed was loose on the frame

foot on the brake put it in reverse and load the suspension then go to drive keeping it from moving, have a friend listen for the sound or you listen friend in truck, etc.

you may have to put the truck in the air and "drive" it w/ BOTH wheels off the ground to chase it down, i found a few things this way, if you do it, be smart about it or have a camera handy, one of the 2.

 

Do you still have your spare tire? Mine bounces off the frame and makes a "hollow" noise.

 

My spare is high and tight.

I'm thinking it's the sway bar end links. I got under it today and bench pressed one side up and down and I could hear the links creaking. I sprayed them with deep creep but that isn't going to help, wish I could inject some grease in them. I just need to get some new ones.

 

Hope ya found the problem. I was pulling in my driveway the other night and heard it and thought that might be your problem. Just was a thought....

 

Sway bar end links are common on our trucks for wearing out. Go to RockAuto and get the MOOG units that are greasable if that's your problem

 

Def going MOOG. All my other replacement parts have been MOOG. Not a single complaint.

 

Holy smokes the truck was really making noise last night. After the city fireworks we had to take an old undulated country back road. the links sounded like hell. I know it's them now because every time one front wheel would move to rebound I'd get the pop/clunk sound. On flat city streets there's no noise.

 

hope you find it man i traded mine in on a roush lol

 

Well...

I changed the sway bar end links. Though they definitely needed replacement it did not cure the noise.

 

OK. I have greased everything up and still she makes the clunk noise. I decided to get my wife to help me test the steering. With the truck parked and the key on engine off I had her move the wheel quickly in short bursts side to side while I held the tie rods. It was clunking and I could feel it in the tie rod. Over the past year or so the only part front end wise I haven't changed yet is the inner tie rod ends and either they are bad or the steering rack is bad. Hoping for the inner tie rod ends. :o

 

Inner tie rods replaced. The stock ones were pretty loose and were definitely in need of replacement. After that, I still have the noise.

Got a tip from another member to focus on the calipers. Going to give it a try.

 

Wow, you're going to have a brand new front end!

 

Already do, now! :o

All I need are front wheel bearings, but they are still good.

 

Tighten up a strut bolts especially the top one! I remember a member with the same problem a while ago & that was the fix.....