Hello,

Let me first think everyone who participates on this forum. I have learned so much just reading what you all have to say. The search feature is great and I have used it many times but I just cant seem to find what I'm looking for.

My truck ('99 4x4 SC w/ off road package) makes some loud clunking and banging noises while driving over potholes and rough roads. It is predominatly on the front passenger side of the vehicle as far as I can tell. By way of the search feature, I have learned to check the swaybar links, check for lose ball joints, and other lose parts (brakes, shields, etc). What I have found I cant seem to find on the search forums though.

Question 1:
On the passenger side, I can replicate a metalic bang or clang when I put the truck up on jack stands and pound the upper control arm with a rubber mallet. When I do this, the sound appears to come from the bushing where the front of the upper control arm attaches to the truck. Do these go bad? Here's a picture of the bushing I am talking about.





Question 2:
My passenger side tierod seems to be connected to the hub carrier at an odd angle... see picture. Is this normal? I can roatate the entire tierod about 1/8 turn on the passenger side but not at all on the drivers side. Should I be concerned. I have read about tierods just popping off of the trucks and I really do not want that to happen.



Thank you all for your help.

 

To figure it out, you will have to disasemble them one at a time and check for looseness. Start with sway bar bushings & links, then tie rod ends, then ball joints, the a arm bushings. How many miles ont the truck?

 

Sorry, I know better than that... should have posted it the first time.. 135,000, I've owned it since 133,500 (bought it in July and it's the second vehicle / tow vehicle so it doesnt get much use). The noises just started since I bought it.

 

Well my guess is that it might need everything replaced. That is alot of miles on a front end, and most likely it will be worn out.

 

Can anyone else provide insight? I mean, looking at the picture of the tierod, doesnt anyone have any suggestions or comments. While the truck may need several items replaced, I am not one to throw parts at a problem (cant afford to live that way)... I would like to diagnose a problem using logic, deductive reasoning, and other people's experience. Anyone?

 

Any goop seeping out from the tie rod? All I do to check is twist it to see if it does, often hard but it breaks loose. Then I grab it and push and pull, in relation to the truck, up and down, then front to back to check for any play. If it's totally solid, no worries, but don't be surprised if they're crap. Get greaseable ones if they're shot. The angle it's sitting looks bad, I'd have them checked, and don't forget to check both inner as well as the outer. My outer surprised me going down the street. Since I don't like surprises, I kept checking the remaining and one day the inner went. Funny thing, only the driver side ones have went, passenger side is fine, knock on wood. Check you're ball joints too, by raising the vehicle just a bit off the ground and grabbing the top and bottom of the tire and pushing and pulling. They too should feel solid. Again, prone to failure. I just wonder if you have what I have, but it's hard to explain so I won't.

 

Well, I am still trying to figure this out. Last night I put a torque wrench on the upper control arm bolts becaues that's where some of the noise was coming from. I found out the passenger side was pretty loose both front and back. I drove it and now the rattle is still there but not as bad. I will check the drivers side next. I have a couple of torn seals on the tie rod ends so I will replace those soon. Thank you all for your suggestions and help.