Clunking sound as I turn

I recently used silicone lubricant on the control arms in the front and back of my truck to stop a squeaking noise. I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it but a week or two after doing that I can hear a clunking noise whenever I turn. The noise doesn’t happen if I turn the wheel at a low speed or while parked. I was thinking about using lithium grease in some of the same areas I sprayed with the silicone grease. Is that a bad idea?

 

The lower CA bolts are known to loosen up. Check them, they may have already been loose. The silicone might have just made it slick enough for it to finally clunk.

Mine would clunk under hard turns.
And more often than not at full lock in reverse.

 

Could you take a picture of what you are talking about

 

LCA/Alignment cam bolts/nuts need to be torqued to 130ft#'s or else you will experience popping sounds. Get your toeque wrench out and make sure they are tight.

 

It is the smaller out side bolt.

 

I think it’s 100 ft/lbs.

 

There was no tightening to it

 

Yes, factory spec is 100, not quite enough. 130 gets the job done better.

 

You do all 4?

 

Yes

 

don't use lithium grease, attracts dirt not good for rubber

 

You only hear it when turning?
How about fast stops or fast take off?

 

I did hear it during a fast stop

 

pretty sure its the alignment cam bushings going bad the start to give away from the cam alignment shaft and move around making that clunk, mines doing it too on the passenger side, silicon spray quiets them up for a while

 

I used silicone spray a week ago and the sound started two days ago.

 

when you making turns those cam bolts/bushings are moving around making the clunk, the silicon is a temporary fix cause the noise starts to get irritating after a while

 

I used the silicone spray a week or two ago and the noise started 2 days ago

 

FWIW, bad Cv axles can also make a clunking sound while turning.

 

I just recently got new tires. I tightened the lug nuts and I haven’t heard the noise since. Some of them were pretty loose. All of them tightened easier than they should have

 

Might be a good time to get a torque wrench..