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Creaking noise and clunk in front suspension


lvwill

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92 ranger with 5.5" superlift suspension and steering. It has this annoying creaking and sometimes a clunk noise. The clunk feels like it's coming from around my left foot when driving. I have went over every nut and bolt and everything is good. The truck also has all new ball joints and suspension bushings. It was in for an alignment a couple months ago and they checked everything as well. Any ideas what could be causing this?
 


scotts90ranger

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Mine does it from time to time usually when braking or changing directions especially in 4 wheel drive. Being right under your foot the only thing there is the radius arm bushing. Is the radius arm bushings included in what you say you changed?
 
lvwill

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Yes radius arm bushings are new. I'm actually starting to think it may be body bushings.
 
Bird76Mojo

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Could also be a beam pivot bushing.

Check for frame cracks around the steering box as well.



GB :)
 
4x4junkie

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A friend's truck recently was making some pretty annoying creaking/popping noises (it was most noticeable when torque was put on the steering, such as if rocking the steering back & forth while sitting still).
We found the upper bolts on the pivot bracket for the driverside axle beam (the bracket on the p-side frame rail) with insufficient torque. Tightened them up and noise gone.

That said, both of my trucks as well as his also make a very occasional snap noise from somewhere around the steering gear it seems (again while torquing hard on the steering wheel). Gear bolts are tight, no frame cracks or other issues to be found. This particular noise has never changed (been there since the beginning), so that one we've just learned to ignore.

Similar to what's said above, the beam pivot bolts are another potential source, which I've had happen in the past too.
Pivot bolts should get 120-150 ft-lbs,
Bracket-to-frame bolts, 77-110ft-lbs.
(I usually shoot for the higher end of those ranges on rigs with modified suspensions)
 
lvwill

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Thanks for all the good info. If I can find a couple hours this weekend I'm going to go back through everything with the torque wrench again. I'll let you know what I find.
 
adsm08

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Bird76Mojo said:
Could also be a beam pivot bushing.

Check for frame cracks around the steering box as well.



GB :)
Click to expand...
This is what I was thinking. I used to work with a guy with an F150 that did basically that. It creaked a lot when turning, and while going left, every time, you got to a certain spot and it would go "thunk". We found a big crack in the steering gear bracket.
 
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