Metallic popping noise in front end

When off roading and the front end is articulating there is a popping sound. Almost sound like a rock kicked up and hit the skid plate. But it does this continuously as the suspension loads and unloads. A pop when it unloads all the weight and then a pop when it compresses again. Not over every rock but frequently on the bigger stuff.

Does not do it at all on streets and highways. Just off road and going over large rocks and drop offs.

I can recreate the sound by putting a jack under the center engine jack point and when you jack it up and as the tires leave the ground it will pop. Does not pop when I lower it back down. When I back it out of the driveway it will pop again. Then I'll drive back into the garage jack it up and as soon as the tires leave the ground it pops........ I haven't been able to find where it's coming from. I had my son jack it up and I put my finger on the UCA and LCA to see if could feel anything but didn't really feel anything. Almost sounds like it's coming from deeper in the engine compartment or by the cab mounts. At this point, not sure what to do.

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

I do have fox 2.5 coilovers and lightracing UCA's. And also swaybar relocation brackets.

 

Most likely it's coming from the coil spring and the top hat of the shock.
Edit..... thought you were running stock suspension.
Is the sway bar hitting the coil?

 

Picture of the areas on question would be good or load a video of the noise up to youtube then post the link here.

 

What specifically are you wanting pictures of?

 

It almost sounded like the TRD PRO skid plate was shifting and popping under stress or something was hitting it. Can't figure this out lol..... I actually took the plate off and jacked up the truck without the plate and it popped.... but just now I put the plate back on jacked it it up while recording video on my phone and, of course, no pop. Wtf lol

 

I agree with @JaCado check your sway bar to see if it's rubbing. Also check your endlinks as this could also be a cause of the popping

 

No it's not hitting. I put the sway bar relocation brackets on so it positions it away from the coilovers.

 

Yes it could also be the skid plate shifting because it wasn't tightened up properly. This frame also has a lot of flex in them.

 

What about endlinks? I'm not familiar with the relo brackets because I'm basic and only run 6112s lol

 

Possibly the area where you think the popping noise is coming from

 

Swaybar endlinks? Maybe I should try disconnecting the endlinks and see what happens. I don't notice anything moving or vibrating when the pop occurs. I thought it could possibly be the UCA or LCA binding at extreme range of motion. I dunno man lol

 

have you checked to make sure your upper shock bolts are tight?

 

I have a similar thump, clunk, whatever you want to call it. It's my Pelfreybilt skid plate as near as I can tell. It seems that as my frame twists the places it's in contact with the plate shift or pop. I had the plate off to replace all my idler pulleys and during the test drive I realized my front end was completely quiet (and I didn't realize has loud my idler bearings must have been!). Used to be it would clunk turning sharply and I couldn't get it to stop for all the greasing of UCAs, leaf springs, ball joints, checking and re-checking. I greased the 6 interface locations and sure enough, no thumping, clunking, whatever. It's slowly coming back now a couple of days later, too. I'm thinking of fitting nylon washers between the plate and frame to see how that works. It's really annoying.