Total n00b needs help with front end noise...

[deaddrift]

To start out, a heads-up: I'm nobody's idea of a mechanic. I don't work on vehicles, and I have no workshop, but I got this 10/85 BJ60 with the idea that I might be able to learn how to wrench on a simple, rugged vehicle that has a large and dedicated DIY owner base.

So... hi everybody! How ya doin'?

Anyway, I'm getting an intermittent clunking (not clicking) sound out of the front end on turns. It sounds like it's coming from the passenger side. It happens on many, but not all, turns at slow-to-moderate speed (<30 mph). I have also heard the sound when coming to a flat parking position from a driver's-rear-wheel lifted approach point (imagine rolling the driver's side over a 1 ft high pile of gravel before stopping). This latter case is the ONLY time I have heard this noise when not turning.

The truck has JUST had the wheel bearings repacked, with new races, (and axle seals replaced) by Josh at Willamette Bvd. Service Center here in Portland. (Larry and Josh came highly recommended by many here on Mud and by another cruiser owner in PDX.) In fact after that service the sound disappeared - for about half a week. Josh commented that the birfs on the passenger side had some rust on the bearings (? IIRC) but probably were OK for a while... but this sound is happening in 2WD anyway.

I also noticed the sound was temporarily absent on one occasion after ~30 miles of washboarded dirt road, but reappeared after ~50 highway miles.

This clunk is intermittent but growing louder and more frequent.

Any thoughts? Could it be due to worn-out tie rod ends or rods?

Any suggestions are much appreciated. Cheers

 

[Bret]

Could be almost anything. I would start with jacking the front end off the ground and set the axle on a couple of jack stands, check for wheel bearing play, trunion bearing play, steering component wear, driveshaft play, damaged spring/shackle bushings, etc.

 

[brian]

i'm going to play the spring card.
seems teh 60's can get a bit of spring noise in the front as they shift in corners.
check U bolts to make sure they're tight.

 

[Heartworm]

Chasing front end noises can be a puzzle. Like the man says, jack it up and supporty it by the axle and then move stuff around. Grab the wheels and shake them is several directions and see if you can make the noise appear. Your comment about the birfs seemed strange. I could go with worn or broken, but rusty? (Once you have been inside an axle on a 60, you will see how grease-smothered that place is.) I would accept pitted perhaps, due to wear.

By all means check your tie rod ends. Look for a broken leaf on your spring. Hopefully there is nothing major. Two sources of annoying but not serious clunks are (1) spring packs shifting and (2) dry splines in your steering column shaft) There are numerous posts on both of these subjects so try the search.

 

[PhilC64]

It could be that you're in need of a birf rebuild. It's something you could do on your own, there are threads a plenty on it. It's a 2 banana job with a simple set of tools but can be messy. If you're unsure, take it to your mechanic and have him do it.

By the way, welcome to Mud! Let me be the first to properly welcome you!
Don't take offense!

 

[BlueCruiser84]

I'm thinking spring noise too. You said it happens at low speeds... does it matter which way you are turning? and that it also happened while articulating over a gravel pile with the drivers rear up. That would put the weight to the front passenger corner of the vehicle. If the springs are stock from the factory they are most likely warn out and corroded. My old springs made all kinds of racket, so to fix it I would just turn up the radio.

Unless the guys at the shop didn't tighten something correctly in the front end. When I rebuilt my front axle I forgot to tighten one of the wiper covers all the way down (I know, I'm an idiot) and it made a clunking noise on turns.

Brian