Clunk in the front end. What broke?

I was backing out of a loading dock, turning the wheels as I dropped over a steep entrance. There was a load clunk type noise that sounded like it came from the front end of the truck. As i started to drive it forward, it was making clunking noises. every so many feet. I had to have it towed, and the driver complained about it being so difficult to pull up on the truck. It was dragging like i had the brakes on.
What are my possibilities as to what my problem is?

 

This maybe a stupid question but did you get out and look underneath?

 

Yes i did, I jacked up each front side and turned the wheels. Nothing obvious, what I am looking for?

 

I would look for concrete particles or scrapes on the mechanical parts of your truck to help identify what was damaged for starts.

 

Yeah, I did look, but it did not hit anything, it was more like the truck twisted. And that caused the issue. I have it on jacks with the wheels off now, so I will check again. Thank you.

 

Without knowing exactly what part of your truck contacted something - and without pictures - it's extremely difficult to diagnose noises over the internet.

 

Which end dropped over the end, and how much did it drop? You might have damaged a lower control arm, wheel bearing, sway bar, broken CV shaft (if 4wd), or any combination of these or related suspension/brake component. If you don't know what to look for, call a mobile mechanic.

 

Clunks and clicking makes me think CV-Axle.
That’s what I’d look at first.

 

This reminds me of one of my favorite early truck experiences. First 4x4: 1971 jacked F100 beater. Driving down muddy dirt road in the rain, drinking beer of course. Saw a break in the trees and thought "lets explore". Turned onto the "trail" which turned out to be a drop off of 3 feet into a ditch filled with water. Truck frame hung up on the concrete culvert retaining wall, nose down at 45 degree angle. Damn, spilled my beer! Got out, locked the hubs, but lost one flip flop. Got back in, put her in 4 wheel drive and gunned it forward fast enough to avoid hanging up the rear bumper. Don't remember where that ditch went, but got back home without any significant damage.
Pardon the off topic, but I"m sure some of you can relate.

 

I can, Hit a 2’ high snow pile in a CJ5 jeep at 30 mph that I thought was just plowed. I was wrong! It had been there a while and a frozen into a ramp. It launched my Jeep on 2 wheels, almost rolled it.

 

Thank you, Would this make noise when free turning the hub by hand?

 

The truck has been sitting a bit, I really need to get it going. I am good with my hands as a master carpenter, and over 40 years of high end construction. But it has been years since I worked on my vehicles. I did do the brakes on this years ago. I would be happy to give any advice on home projects, or commercial construction to anyone. If this was a construction project, I could fix it. BTW, It could be maintenance, it was out of my hands for a couple of years.
Thank you all, for your input.

 

So has the truck been sitting unused for a long period? Year? Those shocks look like they were stored in the cargo hold if the titanic. I am thinking something in the drive train is seized

 

I do not think anything hit, it was more like twisting, binding. Like something torqued.

 

Yeah, I was given a company car. I was using the truck to help move my son and I after work. It was unloaded at the time. It was barely drive able after this happened, so I took it to a nearby parking garage. I was tight at the time, and unable to get it fixed or moved. 5 years since then. Before that, I thought it was running well.
My son said he would be surprised if someone didn't say something about how rough it looks... Ha! I think it would be a good project for me, during these times.

 

I have been reading more about CV-Axles, and sounds when bad. With the twisting front end as it dropped, would makes sense. This sounds like a good place to start, I am thinking its the right side. Thanks again!

 

Unfortunately, the pics you uploaded would not be areas that likely are the culprit. You have to look at areas such as CV axle, wheel bearings, brakes, ball joints, ujoints, etc.. First, I would do would be pull and install new shocks, change the oil, and even change the brake pads since it's been sitting.

 

Will do, Thanks!

 

Very first pick right hand side. Take another pic of the CV axle and boot. May just be pic angle but does it not look like CV shaft is not lined up right with boot

 

Could be a simple problem such as your sway bar end links...I don't see those in the picture and I highly doubt it would make a noise when you jacked up the truck and turned the wheel (like you said you did to try and diagnose the issue).