Clunk in the front with SPC and Kings

I recently installed new suspension in my 2018 OR. I went with Kings and SPC UCA. I've got it aligned and driving well. I've noticed a distinct clunk/click when driving forward over a bump. I can't get a good audio clip of it but it's noticable at 45 over a pot hole or rolling over a curb.

Its 100% driver front corner. Also only occurs when the black bar moves (my wife talking about the UCA moving). I suspect it may be the UCA bolt or bushing. The gaps between bolt, washer and UCA don't look quite right to me. Anyone here happen to be able to tell if these gaps look correct:

Edit: found several SPC threads. Guess I should have searched first. Still wonder what's odd with the pics below. The passenger side has gaps on both sides.

 

Did you compare both driver and passenger side and notice a difference? Those UCA bolts should be torqued, so I would definitely check them yourself or take it back to the shop that did the install for them to re-check everything.

 

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately this is a driveway install so I have only myself to blame. Tonight I'll fully loosen both sides and retorque. The passenger side has gaps between the washer and the bushing consistent with the second picture(above) on both sides of the UCA. But since I installed it all I don't know if I have 3 that look wrong, or 1, or none. I do appreciate the response and the bump.

 

Did you grease your ball joint?

 

I’m having a similar issues with my spc UCA’s on my 2019 OR. I have washer has gaps around all 4 due to the steal bushing I believe. Please let me know what you find out. The clunking noise is annoying, started making the noise every once in a while and now it’s more frequent.

 

My balls are sufficiently greasy.

 

Just bc the UCA looks odd, don't expect that to be the culprit. I would look at everything that was changed during the install and do your best to narrow it down.

 

Thanks, that was starting to be my line of thought. I've been scouring the internet for pictures and I've seen enough both ways that I'm not sure it matters much.

I'll get it back on jack stands and check everything this weekend. I saw a mention in a couple threads that tightening the LCA cam bolts in the air can result in clunks, and I wasn't present to watch the alignment guys work. Or maybe the sway bar wiggling in the mounts, or maybe a dozen other things. Probably best to start at the beginning and walk through it all instead of poking one or two bolts a night. Hopefully I get it resolved and can post a somewhat shameful 'forgot to tighten xyz to spec'.

 

Thanks for the pictures and that's my experience also. While I'm sorry to hear your issue, it's nice to hear a similar story with a different looking gap (means that like Accutune mentions it might not be UCA) Left the alignment shop and remember finding every little bump I could hit to listen for rubbing and didn't notice any clunks. Took it for a first shake down and thought I heard a little clunking. Checked to make sure everything was still torqued to spec after the shake down. Went out last weekend and now it clunks over everything and very obviously. I'll keep this updated with what I learn. I'm going to tear down that corner and put it all back together this weekend and if that doesn't help I'll take it to a pro. I'll keep you updated.

 

Do you happen to have an aftermarket skid pan? A buddy's truck started clunking after he lifted it. Turned out his skid plate was contacting the front diff mounts. Totally un related, just showed up after he lifted it for some reason. A couple spacers fixed it.

 

Well, it turns out this was entirely on me. Not UCA related in the slightest. The sway bar linkage nut had shaken very loose (ready to fall off). I took the wheel off and immediately saw the issue. Bright side of this is that was a quick easy fix. Unfortunately I feel like a bit of an idiot for starting a thread and not finding it quicker. Clunk is now gone.

In retrospect the fact that the clunk only happened with forward movement should have pointed me this way. So I'll document my results/shame here for posterity and Google results. Thanks everyone for the contributions.

 

No shame in solving the problem. Nice follow through!

 

All good, sometimes it just takes a few others to point you in a different direction.

 

Glad to hear it was a simple issue, mine still clunk in forward and reverse, this is my second set of SPC UCA. The first set was a “manufacturing error” the issue was do to the bushings and I am wondering if it’s the same issue. I’ll have to take off my tire and maybe try tightening the UCA and seeing if that fixes the issue.