Need suggestions for clicking/clacking noise

BOTTOM OF OP HAS MOST CURRENT UPDATE

Hey all, I have a noise going on in the front end of my 07 4x4 AC. It's not brake pad slap even though it sounds similar, because I have had that a long time and it happens whether or not I have the brakes pressed. Everything is tight and I can't figure out what's clicking/clacking on both big and small bumps.

It's a little louder and sometimes a couple "clack" noises on deeper, slower bumps or dropoffs. On smaller faster ones it does the same thing, but only one noise and lower volume.

This is driving me nuts trying to pinpoint it, so any help is appreciated. Thanks.

EDIT - 12/15/19 I am updating this post to reflect how the truck sits currently. I have so far replaced:
-UCAs
-LCAs
-Inner and outer tie rod ends
-Sway bar bushings and end links
-Installed sway bar spacer
-Changed the preload on my 5100s
-Installed new Energy Suspension rad mount bushings
-replaced front brake pads as well as all hardware, and did the double spring mod
-Diff drop


All of these things did nothing to change the noise, though the truck rides much better now haha. I currently have it sitting at 2.5" in front and 1" in the rear on Bilstein 5100s. From what I can tell, the noise seems to come from somewhere either in the front suspension or maybe something else in the undercarriage. It really sounds like the suspension but I don't know, since I've replaced pretty much everything down there. It makes no sense. If you can help I would really appreciate the input.

EDIT - 12/26/19 I think I found the issue. It seems that it may be a form of brake pad slap after all. What happens is when I hit my brakes to slow down before hitting a bump, the pads have their usual clack noise. When I hit the bump, they settle again and create another clack noise. If I downshift to 1st so I can turn around and hit the bump again without pressing the brakes, there is no noise no matter how many times I go over it or at any speed. It only happens if I hit the brakes right before I go over the bump or hold the brakes while I hit it. I don't know of anything but the double spring mod to keep brake pad slap from happening but I may just have to live with the noise. Not sure why it still happens when I hold the brakes either.

Thanks for reading.

 

Is it the dash making noise? I know my 1st gen has a lot of dash noise to it.

 

Nah, I can hear it a lot better with the windows down. I'm almost glad it's not the dash though, dash rattles are the worst haha

 

Yes they are, lol. I hate how mine is making noise. Hope you figure it out man!!

 

Thanks!

 

I would have somebody drive the truck over a bumpy, washboard parking lot slowly at first while you stand safely outside, along the path of travel, and listen. I would not rule out brakes, they will rattle,clunk and sound like the front end is falling out, and this test will show if it is the source of the noise. If you have installed aftermarket brake pads , calipers or rotors this is the first place I would check. Inspect the front suspension since you are lifted. There could be something loose, binding or even a broken spring. You may be able to hear that too while standing outside. If the noise goes away or changes while applying the brakes over the bumps, that points to them as the source too.

 

Many 3rd gens had similar symptoms which turned out to be bad body mounts

 

Hey so a little update, I still have the clicking noise. I found that it only seems to happen when I hit a sharp bump that pushes the suspension up and has rearward pressure on the tires.

It happens in 2wd and 4wd, on water eroded Jeep trails, fire roads, and intersections that have the water drains where there's a dip in the road if I hit them fast enough. It also happens when I back out of my driveway fast enough to compress the suspension quickly (steep curb). It doesn't really happen much if I hit the bump or drop off at an angle, one tire at a time. It seems to be when both sides hit at the same time.

I thought it was the sway bar/links but I removed the sway bar and it sounds the same.

Anyone have any more suggestions? LCAs, UCAs, and top hat/bushings have all been replaced since the last post and the problem is still there. The only things left are the tie rods, maybe radiator or body mounts, or some sort of other mounts. That's all I can think of, at least.

 

Could the rack and pinion be making the noise. I know it bolts to the cross member under there.

 

Maybe, can you possibly send a pic of where it's mounted so I can take a look? Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Not my pic.

 

What coilovers are on the truck?

 

Bilstein 5100s, about a year old. I had reused the OEM top hats with 63k miles on them and decided to pop them off to take a look. The rubber bushings were pretty well worn so I replaced them.

 

Check the inner and outer tie rods on the rack and pinion

 

Ok will do.

 

So am I supposed to be able to twist the entire tie rod with it still bolted up? I read somewhere that it shouldn't rotate at all.

 

Pretty sure there should be little to no movement (play--- twisting or otherwise) except when articulating, bouncing up and down on washboard roads etc...

 

Yeah that's what I thought. I can't get them to make any noises, but maybe I need new tie rods.

 

Well I made sure everything was nice and tight and tried driving into the driveway at an angle, and both sides clicked so it makes me think it's something other than the tie rods. The truck only has 80k miles on it so I wouldn't think they would need to be replaced so early.

I would think sway bar if it didn't still do it with the bar removed...

 

Rad mount bushings for me made a pretty bad racket until I changed them. Can't really diagnose until your replace them since other suspension parts can make similar noises..