NorthWest MOAB 2012 Team

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! That would be rough...

 

Mike has some pics of my truck from the time the bolts holding the lower bj to the spindle let go. I got lucky I was on the trail and just creeping when it happened. Had to leave the truck on the trail over night and fix it the next morning. Maybe he can post up a few.

 

you asked...

 

Yeah we tried a couple of different things to try and get it out of the trail. Had to at least get it off the trail and out of the way.

 

IMO, bens clunk is not a bj noise. However, I haven't heard it for myself so I can't be certain.

I don't think bj clunk when worn, they just fail. Something else is clunking.

 

what do you think it could be?

 

Which one is leaking? You have 4. I saw the two pics (1 upper and 1 lower) you posted on the other thread and neither one of those looked like they were leaking. Besides a leak does not automatically translate to a clunk or an immediate failure.

 

Ben just for peace of mind had eyou checked your battery tie down?

 

could be your clunk.

 

Lots of thinks can make a clunk. Check the torque on all 8 lower bj bolts. All 6 top strut bolts too. Is the bottom of the strut moving. A visual inspection of the lower strut bushing should indicate a problem but grab ahold of the shock and see if it moves.

As Jace mentioned, take weight off the wheel and see if you can wiggle it at all. Grab the tire at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and see if you can make it move (or clunk). Do the same at the 3/9 o'clock positions.

 

Personally, if it were my truck. I'd jack it up. Wiggle a pry bar under the tire and pry every which way. Push and pull. If it moves, determine if it's a ball joint of a wheel bearing, replace. If it doesn't move, check torque values on 4 bolts holding LBJ to knuckle and run her.

A hole in the boot doesn't imply imminent failure. Perhaps increased rate of wear as you slowly loose grease though. An open boot that lets in dirt and lets out is no good though as you'll quickly develop play and then things will start to wear, not your case, just saying.

 

I can come down friday/saturday if you need a hand with anything Ben. but sunday I'm booked solid.

 

That doesn't look fresh to me. A slow leak maybe. What does the other side look like? Same? Which side is the clunk coming from?

 

ok If you need a hand let me know.

 

When Mark's failed it wasn't the lbj itself, it was the 4 bolts that held it onto the spindle. They are the ones in that picture below the bj. Check yours to make sure they are tight too. 14 mm I think. they look OK in the pic but check them anyway.

 

DON'T YOU DARE PUT VIVE GRIPS ON ANY OF THOSE PARTS

 

Sometimes you can't re-create the stress on random bushings that the vehicle does, especially off road.

However, you can try. Check, however you can, LCA and UCA bushings, sway bar bushings and links, steering rack bushings, front diff mount bushings, TREs, BJs, wheel bearings, and shock lower bushings.

Get a few pry bars and go to town.

Or use a go pro to film your driver's side suspension while you do some light wheeling.

 

ben, what is the clunk lol? i get a weird noise on my drivers side very rarely and i dont know what it is.

It is on the front driver side

It sounds like a rock is dislodging from the tires and shooting into the wheel well

It only really happens when i get on the highway after driving through down town from school

I usually park in a dirt lot with small ish rocks, but it is unlikley it is actually a rock

It is the same side that I put the coils on the new 5100s, dont hear it from the side that got the coild put on at a shop



everything drives fine and nothing appears missing broken or lose from the couplof quick checks i have done.

 

SIR! PUT DOWN THE VICE GRIPS AND STEP AWAY FROM THE TRUCK! KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!