2nd gen suspension clank - with video!

I have been having this front end pop when I’m turning at slow speeds. I notice it almost every time I back in to a parking spot. Below is a video. Any ideas?

2009 DCSB 4x4
244k miles
Replaced upper and lower control arms in the last 10k miles



I believe it started around the time I replaced the upper and lower control arms but I am not sure. I have tried the sway bar relocation mod but it still seems to be happening. Any thoughts welcome!

 

From your description I'd be looking at brake pad movement in the caliper, it could be sticking, or too loose and shifting.

Are they aftermarket?

Just my observation. It's an odd one, a CV joint could technically do this as well.

 

Check your lca bolts and nuts, they have to be pretty dang tight on there. I had this happen to me twice where I didn’t torque then correctly, and it made pretty much the exact same noise.

 

100% I see after the video he says it started after install. Good call.

 

You are hitting your sway bar
Get a sway bar relocation kit. Cheap monies

 

The brakes are stock (other than the pads of course)

 

I checked the lca cam bolts and ensured they were torqued to 100ft/lbs

 

In the post I mentioned I already have a relocation kit and I am still getting the popping.

 

Why not take the sway bar off and see if it makes a difference?

 

Could be the front body mounts by the radiator. Mine were making all sorts of noise and I thought it was the suspension. Had my front end apart and retorqued so many times trying to find the noise and it turned out to be the body mounts.

 

I’m starting to lean this direction. I’m thinking that the factory “skid plate” is hitting the LCA cam nuts. The skid has a little damage from past wheeling and I can’t help but think that’s exactly what the noise sounds like. I’m going to try taking off the skid later today and do some testing.

 

Okay so it wasn’t the skid plate. I took it off and I can still replicate the clanging issue.

Im going to try this next to see if it makes any difference.

 

I know the LCA bushings are designed to flex a little, between the inner and outer sleeves, but in that first video, I see more movement of the LCA, than I think I should. Did you do your initial torque of the LCA hardware with the wheels hanging in the air, or was the weight of the truck on the suspension?
This is a total spitball but if they're torqued while hanging, the bushing will be in a bind at ride height and the natural flexing of the suspension will eat up the rubber. I don't know how long that process takes but the back of that LCA sure looked like it was moving too much to me. In all fairness, I've never seen a video like that before so I don't know what 'normal' should look like.

 

So I ended up taking off the sway bar completely and the noise seems to be gone. There is still a little squeaking at full steering lock but that is most likely the lca bushings needing a little more grease. I will drive it around a bit this week and see if it is completely gone.

interesting that the relocation kit wasn’t able to fix the issue.

 

Sway bar endlinks can make horrible noises.

 

To me it looks like a lot of movement of the rear LCA cam bolt in the first part of the video. Does this seem normal? Maybe double check the torque on that one. It is a little confusing tightening these bolts due to multiple bolt heads.

 

Hey OP,

I was having clunk issues too. Slow speed less than 4mph when im parking my truck. Clunk doesnt always happen.

Started after I went offroading for about 30 mins. I checked the LCA cam bolts torque and surprise nowhere near 100 ft lbs. When I torques it down the loud clunk became a quieter cluck.

I had an alignment today and told them to check the torque on all my suspension components. The sound is now gone.

Mechanic says my the rear bushing of my front right LCA is cracked and has slight play.

 

It wasn’t the sway bar… totally removed it and the clunk is still there. I’m going to do a little research on alignment shops in my area and see if I can have it checked. I have been just taking it to one place to have it aligned so it’s possible they aren’t doing a good job.

I checked the torque myself and it was right at 100ft/lbs so I’m thinking the bushing are binding. I will update once I get it in to a reputable shop.