Suspension noise

[Ken]

Latest noise, every time I fix something I find something new to fix,oh well, any ways , I have a poping noise comming from drivers side front when I turn left or right , not all the time , but when it does very noticeable. My truck has a 4 inch trail master lift. Evrything is tight and well lubed.Wheel bearings are tight, if I jack up the front I have no movement on the wheel side to side or up and down, all stearing components are nice and tight, I was thinking ball joints but they are tight, so does anybody have any ideas?

78 scout 392
4'' lift 33 bfg

[jeff campbell]

possibly a bad axle shaft u joint?

[grivera]

look at your frame to see if you have any cracks mine had a big crack oh the front spring perch got it welded and no more noise

[Thomas]

---It's quite possible that the gear box is sliding on the frame. Other than that, I would think it was either the radiator buckling in the supports or the frame rails where the springs mount. These are known to be cracked and are very hard to see most of the time if the mount has not seperated from the frame at all. I think the service manual has a write up as to 'how to reenforce the spring mounts properly'. I don't know, the old BB's links haven't worked for me lately when it comes to 1/2 of the old FAQs and links contained within them but I think there may have been something in there. As I sit and think more, it may have just been body mounts I am thinking of.

[Duly]

I had a similar problem so I jacked the front end up and had somebody look at the front end underneath while I turned the wheel to the stops and the problem was the leaf springs were popping out a little bit and rubbing against each other when I turned sharp left or right.

duly

[Ken]

Thanks for the info, the more I think about it, it has to be the leaf springs rubbing together, I have no cracks on the spring perches, stearing box is tight, I dont think it is the raidaitor mounts, I just put in a new one a few months ago , all the mounts looked good. Who knows

78 scout
392,727
4inch lift
33 Bfgs

[Carl Wiese]

Originally Posted by Ken

Thanks for the info, the more I think about it, it has to be the leaf springs rubbing together, I have no cracks on the spring perches, stearing box is tight, I dont think it is the raidaitor mounts, I just put in a new one a few months ago , all the mounts looked good. Who knows

78 scout
392,727
4inch lift
33 Bfgs

My vote is for the leaf springs. Mine has done it since the day I got it. It gets worse when it is wet out, maybe why you noticing it now. try and find a nice slick floor, start the truck up and have your favorite helper turn the wheel why you watch the spring packs. We did it in my buddy's hanger with an epoxy paint floor.

Good luck

Carl

[gerk]

Bumped up as I think I have the same problem and curious if there is a solution.
I have 4" Superlift and when I turn slightly I hear a cracking type sound. I thought it was all just tightened too much or there was something else wrong. Its really annoying. I don't hear when I am moving down the road, just typically when I am getting out of parking spots or just slow moving and turning.
Is there a fix and could it be something else?

Thanks

[bull]

been tracking this same problem down since i rebuilt the drivers front leaf spring (passenger in the works)..leafs were polished and lubed with john deere graphite -same stuff used on $300k combine..after install it started to pop every time my butt went in the seat..i had painted shacke mount brackes (polished all bushings) and had not noticed any cracks or other..finally i chalked it up to radiator or leafs popping..2 days ago I finally become more convinced its a leaf popping..spring shop used rebound clips that many have bought and used here so the leafs are in tight and i paid $10 for the use of the spring shop clamp table (new center bolts too)..just passing along it sounds like 99% a leaf popping and may be the 1 time where you may want to follow the book and use grease..problem is I cant find 1 spring shop that recommends grease between the leafs any more-only prior to 1950 (detroit spring and st louis spring do not use grease on modern vehicles nor is it recommended)...

ps: thats the info on using grease i got..no board war intended..you do whatever you want

ps: simple crap first-ball joints, tie rods etc

yes old post above.but may be my reply can point somebody in right direction who reads it today

[Randall Barringer]

I had a sound that occurred at slow speeds and during turns and it turned out (pun intended) to be the ball joints. I'd also check the torque on the u bolt leaf springs and remember that they can only be torqued once before they should be replaced. This was on my old 79 Scout II