5100 strut clunk

I have a '11 2.7 reg cab 4x4, 37k miles with bilsteins set for 1.75" of lift. I am getting a strange clunk/chattering sound/feel on bumpy roads from the right strut.

I popped off the sway bar the other day to see if it was that, nope.
Checked all the bolts in the front, both sides- all tight.
Tie rod ends are good. (id like to think so since they are pretty new)

I can describe it as it feels like something is loose, but I cant find anything loose.

Blow shock maybe??

Any Ideas on Things I need to look at?

Thanks,
-Matt

PS- outback is fine, I have a 1" block with jeep TJ bilsteins, have droop for days and feels good.

 

Pic of the strut in question.

 

Ill get one tomorrow.

 

How much play do you see in the right front driveshaft and differential bearing?

 

in the cv?

 

A few possible sources of noise:

- In the CV, and between the CV and the front diff bearing.
- Damaged ball joint - check the upper- and lower ball joint dust boots for cuts and grease leakage.
- Did you remove the sway bar completely when you check before, or just popped off one of the two links?
- Blown shock

Did you run the current suspension setup for a while and the noise recently developed, or has it been there since you installed the Bilstein 5100s?

 

Checked the dust boots on the CVs, upper and lower BJs, all right, nice boots, clean.

When I took the swaybar off, i took the whole works off.

Its actually been there since I put the 5100s on. The spacer that I had before, no noise. I was thinking it was a loose strut assembly, but all the bolts are tight.

 

Ever get the picture? Last time I heard this one of 2 things had happened.

1. LCA bolts arent torqued properly.

2. Strut was put together wrong.

 

Dead bushing on the LCA?

 

How about the nut on the top of the strut shaft coming loose, allowing play in the top rubber bushings?

 

Did you assemble the top hat onto the 5100s yourself, or had it done by a shop? If the strut stem washer was not transferred over from the stock struts, you can get noises like that.

Replacement washers and bushings are about $20:

 

I will double check that tomorrow. As far as I can tell everything was on there. But, from how the clunk feels and sounds...that was the first thing I thought it may be.

Also, I had a shop do it. Usually I do my own work, but the amount of pressure thats on those springs, and not having the right tools for it- I had someone else swap em out for me.

I will get some photos tomorrow. I keep forgetting to do it.

 

im getting a similar noise with the same setup. cant figure it out..
it slowly developed after offroading. i've put tons of struts together so i know its correct and tight.