Hello everyone. I have a front end 'clunk' over bumps or dips. Ordinarily, I'd say ball joint, but this ('95 f-150/4.9) is the first truck I ever owned w/ a steering stablizer. I was told when worn, these can sound like bad ball joints. Since I can't "bounce" the wheels like a bumber to test, how do I know when this is shot?

 

I cant jack the thing up and pry the wheel to test ball joints, as everything here in new england is a sheet of ice, and will likely be that way 'till june.

When driving at slow speeds, it sounds more like a "clack," as if a there is a bad shock bushing.
When doing my search, I heard lots of advice to not to try to change ball joints myself, if that is the problem. I changed ball joints in 2wd cars, but never 4wd.

 

On the older IFS 4X4's there was a rivit that was not always tight from the factory. It is one of the pivot points, left or right. The fix was to drill the rivits and put bolts in.

You still may have a bad joint though. Another possibility is that the springs are loose. The earlier trucks had a retainer at the tip.(Or did I put those in when I lifted it)

It's been awhile since I've messed with 4x's. I had an 88 F150, and a 96 F250 with the clunk.

Mike

 

Thanks mike...I'll look at those things you mentioned. It is strange...sometimes sounds like ball joint, other times like a bushing, and seems to get progressively worse...too much so for a ball joint, I think

 

When I worked at the ford dealer, there was a TSB about a clunking noise.The fix was to install these plates under the seat area and drill holes and use bolts.It was quite while ago so I am not totally sure why.