Clunking in the front end (1 Viewer)

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gneisscruiser

gneisscruiser

Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Threads
9
Messages
163
Location
Reno, NV
Alright, I need some help here with this one. I have a very large clunk in the front end when i go passenger. I have had the car up on stands but there is no clunk, it only happens under load of the car.

So far i have checked:
Drag link
Tie Rod
Steering Stabilizer
Pitman Arm
Both input and output of the steering box
Steering box mounting
Springs/Coil buckets
Shocks
Sway bar
All of the TRE's
Front Drive line


Any input would be great. I can take a video of the noise if needed as well. I just have no clue what it could be and asked my father for guidance and he cant discern it either.
 
I don't see front lower control arms on your list. Make sure those are torqued up and check the back control arms as well. This is that causes that noise on most 80s. Mine did it at one point, so did my brothers 80.
 
Yeah take a video of what is going on. That will help narrow things down. When was the last time any of the steering components, including u-joints, or possible suspension items were greased? What is the condition of the bushings and what not? On my 60 I had a strange clunk when I would turn right and go over something like a pothole, speed bump, etc. but no other time. Eventually when I replaced the front springs I found that the spring on the side was busted at the military wrap right under the collar so you could not see the break. Those particular movements would cause the two pieces to come apart slightly then pop back together causing the clunk.
 
I know for sure that I need to replace all of my tie rod ends for the drag link and tie rod but that is not the clunk that I am stuck with. Ill go take a video to show the clunking, the issue that i am having with the whole thing is that the noise sounds like it is in the frame and is occurring higher up then all of the steering linkage. You can feel the pop in the frame/bumper and i was surprised that it wasnt the mounting points of the powersteering box being loose allowing the box to twist and pop against the frame.

justintpryor said:
I don't see front lower control arms on your list. Make sure those are torqued up and check the back control arms as well. This is that causes that noise on most 80s. Mine did it at one point, so did my brothers 80.
Click to expand...
I forgot the mention that i checked the arms as well in the front, i will check the back mounting points as well, i didnt think of that. Thanks!
 
gneisscruiser said:
Alright, I need some help here with this one. I have a very large clunk in the front end when i go passenger. I have had the car up on stands but there is no clunk, it only happens under load of the car.

So far i have checked:
Drag link
Tie Rod
Steering Stabilizer
Pitman Arm
Both input and output of the steering box
Steering box mounting
Springs/Coil buckets
Shocks
Sway bar
All of the TRE's
Front Drive line
Click to expand...
 
Well you just got new wheels. Check all clearance issues and check the lugs to make sure they are tight and that they fit into the taper of the wheel(should have cone ends that go into wheel). It could be something internal. Check brake caliper and rotor-clearance. Grab the top of the tire and forcefully push and pull and see if you get any movement. There should be none. Jack it up and try it again being careful to not pull it off the jack.

This is the stuff that will make you old.:bang::eek:. Good luck. Maybe someone will have some other ideas.
 
Krusty Krab said:
Well you just got new wheels. Check all clearance issues and check the lugs to make sure they are tight and that they fit into the taper of the wheel(should have cone ends that go into wheel). It could be something internal. Check brake caliper and rotor-clearance. Grab the top of the tire and forcefully push and pull and see if you get any movement. There should be none. Jack it up and try it again being careful to not pull it off the jack.

This is the stuff that will make you old.:bang::eek:. Good luck. Maybe someone will have some other ideas.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately i have had the clunk as long as i have had the cruiser, all of the wheeling in Utah just caused it to become more predominate making it an issue i cant ignore. It is strange because there is no effects felt while driving, just one solid clunk. No death wobble or steering issues. Totally strange, but im positive that it is not the wheels or calipers unfortunately. It is just so strange that the noise comes from high up in the front end.
 
Here is a video of the clunk, it can be made with the car off just by putting stress on the wheel turning the wheels side to side slightly....


 
If you disconnect the steering stabilizer do you get the same sound?
Other would be something to do with pitman arm or steering box.
 
Sorry for the lack of response, we had company at the house so we havent had a chance to deal with the cruiser; as of right now it is on the no fly list as we are going to start pulling it apart and checking to make sure that the welds to the frame are all still intact. The pitman arm is intact and is not slipping and the stabilizer doesnt appear to be the problem. Father thinks something that is welded to the frame has broken its weld so now i get to pull it apart until we make sure no welds are broken
 
justintpryor said:
Have you thrown up your video in the 80 section? I would!
Click to expand...
I have been debating it, its currently up on stands in the garage and i spent the afternoon underneath checking and making sure everything i can get my hands on is tight for the second time. Making sure i didnt miss anything. I may just go ahead and replace the tie rod and drag link and the TRE's associated with them with the Marlink set up. Its a pretty sweet setup that i have been looking at since i have had the 80. But that wont get ordered until i know for certain the clunk is. May start going into the axel to check the birfs too. Its worth a shot
 
Okay knock on wood, but at this moment the "clunk" is gone. After many hours of pulling stuff off and retightening we decided to replace the bushings in the front panhard even though there was no cracking in them. Honestly they didnt look bad at all for how many miles are on the car but we decided to go ahead and replace them anyways. Thankfully Specter Off Road had the bushings in stock. After many hours of using the 12 Ton press, many hammers and chisels, and sockets we got the bushings swapped in the pan hard and the clunk has disappeared. I would definitely not recommend trying to swap the bushings without a press and a lot of time. We completely destroyed the old bushings trying to get them out so it is not possible to determine where the bushing failed. But for now, the clunk has been relieved. Thanks again for all of your help and ideas, i am looking forward to see the group at the meeting as i wont be able to be in reno quite yet.

:beer:
 
Wow! Great news. I love that feeling :rolleyes: of fixing something and knowing that it wasn't something major like an axle or a power steering box etc. See ya in the fall when the pack is back:beaver:.
 
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