Tightening Lower Control Arm

Good evening TW peeps,

I've developed a thud\clunk in my floorboard that seems to happen every so often and only on smaller bumps at lower speeds. I've checked all skid plates, rock sliders, UCAs, sway bars, suspension mounts and about every other bolt I can access and it's still there. I'm also hyper-sensitive (and a bit obsessive) so it could be normal... The one thing I haven't looked at yet is the lower control arms primarily because I don't know how I can tighten them without messing up my alignment. So, is it possible and if so what procedure should I follow?

 

Have you check cab mounts? (You didn't list those and they seem to be a common issue)

 

LCA cam bolts being loose seems to be a common source for clunks around here lately, check those especially if you've had an alignment done recently.

 

Now you say sway bar but what did you check it for? And what skid plates? Any mods?

I ask this because if you have a sway bar relocate like what comes with fox coils and mobtown skids it rubs on the bracing.

I had to grind some of the bracing down. Same thing as you heard a clunk going over bumps.

 

...or just ditch your sway bar like all us cool kids

 

Ah, I did have to replace the front rad support mounts some time ago but perhaps the torque came loose. I'll check those and cab mounts.

 

Can I just put a wrench to them and tighten them up or will that cause alignment issues?

 

Can you reproduce the sound if you stand on your door sill and rock the truck?
Curious if the clunk that you hear on the road becomes a squeak when you rock the truck.

 

So essentially I took the front skid plate off and tightened every bolt holding the sway bar on. BP-51 also came with a relocation kit and I failed to check that...might be wise to try tightening those up. I think I'll throw a GoPro under the truck and see if I can get a recording too. I have full skids from RCI.

 

Make sure the alignment cam doesn't move while tightening, maybe mark it so you can keep any eye on it at least.

I had a knock that I couldn't figure out for a few months and it turned out to be that my sliders were hitting the pinch weld on the body. Maybe check that - look for paint rubbed off on the sliders.

I also have RCI skids that will make a popping noise while flexing. Best I can figure is that the frame of the truck will twist but the skids will not which leads to a "pop" every so often

 

Good question...I can make a squeak by rocking the truck. Squeaks seem to come from leaf springs and TC UCAs.

 

Thanks...will do.

 

Ok, take some spray lube and spray the shit out of your coil beds. where the coil rests in the strut and rock it some more to work it in and see if the noise goes away.

 

You're making it harder than it has to be if it's the skid look in the side if anything is making contact or close. Or pull the plate and see if you see any rubbing marks on the sway bar. If your skid has bracing like the mobtown you're probably rubbing.


You can see where I had to grind. For what it's worth this wasn't enough I had more clunk on fast speed bumps and when I pulled the skid I could see where it was rubbing

 

Clean the uniball and lube it

If you have dakars they're legendary for squeaks.

 

Good point. I did look on the "inside" of the front skid and there is a decent amount of room between the supports and the truck itself. I might try some grease paint or something and see if it contacts while driving.

 

Mine looked clear when it was mounted but short drive and it was not.

Put it on the whole sway bar. See if you see anything touched