Mystery clanking/clinking sound

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Bossman429

10 Year
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
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19
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105
Trying to hunt down a sound I've been hearing for sometime on my truck now. It sounds as though its coming from the driver side front wheel area. It's a clanking/tinny sound that happens when I go over bumps in the roads (manhole cover, small potholes etc). It doesn't happen when I go over the bump, and am on the brakes, only when I'm on the gas or coasting. It sounds similar to if I had a d-ring on the bumper and it was clanking around. Ay ideas? I can't replicate it while parked no matter what I tug on, push on, whack or shake. Tried taking a video but the mic doesn't pick up the sound

It doesn't feel as though anything is effecting the driving/ride. Nothing "feels" loose. But it sounds as if a piece of metal is a little loose and hitting another piece of metal.

It only happens when I hit a bump with my left front wheel. Nothing when I hit a bump with my right side.


It's been doing it for awhile, and these are the mods I've done since I've notice it (but then again I never really had the truck without these mods so they may or may not be the culprit in any way)
1998 LC. 2.5" OME lift (hd).
TJM T13 bumper with super winch in it
Slee skid plates
33" tires

The hubs were re-done by slee a few thousand miles ago before I got the truck.
 
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Check the obvious, upper shock mount nut for correct tightness. Also check the brake pads and caliper itself. 100's are also known to snap the end links of the front sway bar (happened to me). Check yours. Plus probably about another 1000 things...:lol:
 
Pads are new and calipers are tight along with most other items in that area since I just replaced my cv and it was doing it before that and is still doing it after. Ill try and check the shock mount again, it does sound like it could be it but from what Tq I could get on it it seemed tight
 
Sway bar end links are good shock mounts are good. I can't find anything loose.... Could it be something inside the hub?
 
I have the same noise, just a light clanking noise over small bumps, etc. On basic inspection, I can't see anything obvious, and it's been that way for a while and drives fine otherwise. Mine is going in the shop within the next month, I'll post if I have any resolution.
 
TXLX100 said:
I have the same noise, just a light clanking noise over small bumps, etc. On basic inspection, I can't see anything obvious, and it's been that way for a while and drives fine otherwise. Mine is going in the shop within the next month, I'll post if I have any resolution.
Click to expand...

Please do. Thanks!
 
"Hey honey! Can you come help me for a second find this danged noise?"

:lol::lol::lol:

up on two wheels.webp
 
Problem solved!


Waited for the heat and humidity to drop below un-bearable and I jacked it up and took the wheel off. Since the sound didn't happen under braking I figured I'd check there more thoroughly. I noticed a bit of play between the caliper and the pad and the sound the two made was very similar to the sound I've been hunting.... I figured the hub assembly probably only amplified the sound when driving.


So I took the pads outs and saw there were two shims/backing plates on each pad (4 in total). Now I'm new to these trucks entirely but I've never seen a pad that had two backing plates right next to each other.

Took one of them out and greased up both sides of the other backing plate with some brake grease, and stuck it back in. Took it for a drive and all gone!

Now I had the truck dropped off at slee offroad prior to having it shipped to me and one of the things they told me it needed was pads. Since they were doing the hubs for me I told them to go ahead and put new ones in. They were good in all other aspects but shame on them for making such a newbie mistake.... Or maybe it was just an honest oversight... I don't know. But it just goes to show why I always work on my own cars and this is what I get for being lazy....3k miles of trying to figure wtf is making noise!


Either way. Sounds gone and I'm happy. Hope this can help others.
 
Bossman429 said:
Problem solved!


Waited for the heat and humidity to drop below un-bearable and I jacked it up and took the wheel off. Since the sound didn't happen under braking I figured I'd check there more thoroughly. I noticed a bit of play between the caliper and the pad and the sound the two made was very similar to the sound I've been hunting.... I figured the hub assembly probably only amplified the sound when driving.


So I took the pads outs and saw there were two shims/backing plates on each pad (4 in total). Now I'm new to these trucks entirely but I've never seen a pad that had two backing plates right next to each other.

Took one of them out and greased up both sides of the other backing plate with some brake grease, and stuck it back in. Took it for a drive and all gone!

Now I had the truck dropped off at slee offroad prior to having it shipped to me and one of the things they told me it needed was pads. Since they were doing the hubs for me I told them to go ahead and put new ones in. They were good in all other aspects but shame on them for making such a newbie mistake.... Or maybe it was just an honest oversight... I don't know. But it just goes to show why I always work on my own cars and this is what I get for being lazy....3k miles of trying to figure wtf is making noise!


Either way. Sounds gone and I'm happy. Hope this can help others.
Click to expand...
100-series front brakes are supposed to have 2 shims on either pad. One slotted anti-squeal shim, and one pad retainer shim that aligns the pad on the pistons. FSM doesn't show it, but some of the aftermarket brake hardware kits I've used have the little "W" spring that pushes the pads back apart. There should also be a pad retainer clip that holds the pad and the two shims together, and the pin passes through the holes in this retainer clip. Slee does excellent work. I suppose slip ups can occur, but I'd trust his work above the dealer's any day.
 
Ok I take my statements back. It was installed exactly as shown so no fault to slee. Maybe it was the addition of the grease that is making the difference?

The sound is gone but should I put the slotted shims back in? Taking them out along with greasing up the back of the pad made the sound go away but now its obviously not per the diagram.
 
On the back of the pad retainer plate are small push out lugs, these locate inside of the brake piston, and hold the plate so that it goes in and out with the piston, I have broken lugs on one side of mine, so they clank when going over pot holes or rough road, we have loads of pot holes in the UK.
 
I saw that but my lugs as you call them are in tact. Perhaps they weren't positioned properly inside the piston? I ordered the retaining clips for $5. Will put them and the anti squeal shims back in
 
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