I have a 2001 screw. My problem is I installed bilstein shocks a few years ago, and I started hearing a clicking or clunking noise when I would go over bumps. A shop told me that it was my ball joints, but everything felt tight to me. Anyways I have traced the noise back to my front shocks not being tight enough on the top nut. They are barely compressing the bushings. I tried to tighten the nut but it is rusted on. Tried wd40 a few times, letting it soak for hours. Then I tried heating up the nut with a torch but didnt want to get it so hot that it melts the bushings. The little flat spot on top of the shocks stud is now rounded over so I dont have a good way to keep the stud from spinning when im trying to break the nut loose.

Any suggestions??

Thanks, Brandon

 

if i remember from my bilstein install, there is an internal allen head inside the tops screw to hold the stud while you turn the jam nut- go take a look and see.

 

My rears had an allen on the top of the shaft, but my fronts dont. They only have a little flat spot that you can get a tiny wrench on...around a 5mm or 6mm, and it didnt take much to round it over trying to get a seized nut off.

 

You could possibly cut it off if you competely rounded it off.

 

I want to keep the shocks on the truck. I just need to tighten the nut down to compress the bushings more. Oh and I tried visegrips after the wrench rounded the flat spot on the shaft, but they just kept slipping too.

 

Can you post a pic? I'd like to see how much the bushing is compressed; those things don't have to be completely flat? How long have you had them on? It's unlikely that nut came loose.

 

I have a pic of then towards the bottom of this thread. I dont think the nuts came loose but i just never tightened them enough. https://www.f150online.com/forums/su...ng-shocks.html

 

cut it off with a cut off wheel, Ive had to do it before, not a ton of space to work with but its do able, just cut under the big washer on the top nut.

you could probably use a sawzall with a metal blade as well

 

The ones I've used came with nylock nuts and instructions to tighten just until snug, not to squeeze out the bushings which breacks up the bushing and shorten the life.

I have a set on my '01 Mercury Gran Marquis that are 10 years old, bushings like new still. I just tightened untill the washer was harder to turn by hand telling me all slack was gone and then went one more turn. No clunks.



Bvette85 .... They make a special socket just for those ends that are round with two flats, check out NAPA or Advance or Snap-On or Amazon.

I see you double nutted them, looks OK. Might could use another round or two? Should not "thunk" unless you maybe didn't get the bushings centered in the hole?

I guess you took the top nut off first?


What does the lower eye bushing look like now? I have in the past replaced those on some HD shocks of a different brand (they were not Bilstiens), shocks lasted, but bushings gave up .... I got some urethane replacements off I-net.

 

Yea, they could be a little tighter, but I don't think that's horrible. Also don't believe that alone is the cause of the noise.

 

Agreed...when was the last time the ball joints were replaced? I would guess the bj's are the issue as well.

 

Just re-reading your message ....

.... did you yourself use a floor jack under the lower control arm to jack the front wheel off the ground and place a long pry bar under the tire and lift up on the bar feeling for slop in the lower ball joint ...
... and then grab the top of the tire while still in the air and jerk in and out to check the top ball joint?

Also, take a hammer and tab the front sway bar with the truck resting on the ground, tap at both ends and along center. Should sound solid. If it vibrates much there's a good chance of loose or worn end links or mount bushings.

 

The ball joints have never been replaced (85,000 miles). I have jacked up the front end and checked for freeplay on the wheels by tugging and pulling, but I did not jack it on the lower contol arm :o Guess I should try that. Is that the proper way to check the ball joints? When the mechanic checked them out he said they had just a titch of play, but were not bad enough to replace. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

If they have 85k they were gone a long time ago.

 

You jack under the lower control arm and get the wheel a couple inches off the ground to "unload" the ball joint. If you don't unload it, the weight of the truck will prevent you feeling any play.

Those big tires are tough on front suspension parts like ball joints and tie rod ends.