Front end popping, cracking, squeaking, etc

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Front end of the truck is popping, cracking, squeaking, you name it, it does it. Turing the steering wheel left and right while parked replicates this sound, so I think it's related to the steering linkages vs the suspension.

Any thoughts on this? Anybody have any first hand experience on their first gen with this issue and what they did to resolve it?

Rear end is also squeaking (Dakars) but I'm thinking it's the bushings on the front and rear shackles. Again, any thoughts on this is also appreciated!

 

front end.... might be old struts? how long have you had them on??? or it can also be your A-arm bushings, mine squeak and i think its the bushings, hasn't bothered me but that could be it

 

Front end suspension all replaced last summer with OME. I sprayed down the A-arm bushings with some grease, but still squeaking.

 

you should record it so other ppl can listen to it, i have a similar problem but it sounds like the rotor shield hits something that makes it pop but idk what it could be,

 

What about ball joints..... They will do that as well. I have the same problem, granted I have a solid axle in the front but my front driver side ball joint is replicating a ton of sound (or so the only thing I can think of)

 

I'll give the ball joints a check, but I'm pretty sure they're okay.

 

i just switched out my ball joints and tie rods and rack/pinion bushings and it still does the popping noise

 

I am dealing with the same thing. Having the hardest time narrowing it down. I just had my frame replaced so I got new LCA's, I have new LR UCA's, all new OME suspension, inner and outer tie rod ends, rack bushings and all the ball joints are new. I am leaning towards the rack and pinion. My steering is loose over bumps, and needs constant correction while driving.

 

Does it seem like it's coming from components on the front end or is it potentially the power steering pump? Try getting someone to turn the wheel back and forth while you go around and listen to see if you can pinpoint where the noises are coming from.

 

Definitely seems like its coming from something in the wheel wells. I can sometimes feel it in the floor board. It happens most of the time while going down an incline and turning left or right. Turning left the right clunk/pops, right the left clunk/pops. I have read that it might be the rack guide in the rack and pinion but nothing definitive. Hate to spend $400 and have it not be the problem.

 

Definitely not the power steering pump. Going to get the wife to crank the wheel to see if I can figure out where the popping and crackling noise is coming from. Would've done it last night, but ran out of time.

 

If your ball joints and tie rod ends check out, I'd think it would have to be in the steering rack

 

This is what I'm thinking too.

 

Let us know what you find out. The noise I have is driving me crazy. Sounds like we are in the same boat.

 

Will do.

Now I have to figure out where the squeaking is coming from the back end. I think it's my leafs, but not sure.

 

My OME leafs squeaked quite a bit when I first installed them. I ended up spreading each leaf apart a little and putting anti-sieve on the very ends of each leaf and it did the trick. If you have grease-able shackles you could try that too.

 

By what you're describing it is a lot like the noise I have from my front end. The popping noise is even worse on washboard roads. I have new OME 882 springs and Nitrocharger shocks. I also had new LR UCA installed at the same time. Having a friend aggressively bounce my front suspension I can sometimes replicate the noise but it is hard to locate. I've checked the torque on all of the bolts, and all bushings are in decent shape. Like you said, I can feel it in the floorboard.

My rear dakars (also have the OME D6XL installed) does make a slight amount of noise but it doesn't worry me as back as the pop in the front. (By the way, torquing the u-bolts from 40-70 ft-lbs really helped to take away what I originally thought was axle wrap).

 

Sounds like lower ball joints (& uppers prolly) you sure yours are good ??..

 

Can't replicate the noise in the garage. Going to take it in next week and see what my mechanic says. I'll post back with an update.

 

What about your sway bar bushings? The frame to bar connection.
Had the right side one split on mine and got a loud popping and thunking as it moved around.