Noisy Suspension - Strut? UCA Bolt? Upper Ball Joint?

[DukeCanBuildit]

EDIT: Resolved but it wasn’t a loose part - turned out to be a bit of a “where the heck is my 10mm” situation.

27,000 km
2-1/2” RC Level - 15,000 km ago
+15mm offset
275/70R17s

Annoying clunking in the front end over bumps - big or small. Has been progressing over the last couple of weeks. At first, I thought it might be something that came loose from the level install but I re-torqued everything just to make sure, including the 35mm axle nut. All is tight. I’ve checked all shafts, skid plates, side steps, shackles, anti-sway bar, you name it.

I can hear it at the wheel when I rock the truck and I can feel it in the UCA but not through the ball joint. Jacking up the truck and prying up on the wheel just lifts everything at once with no clunking so I think I can rule out upper ball joint.

Because I could feel it in the UCA, I thought it might be the UCA bolt but wouldn’t I have issues if that were loose?

I can also feel it in the LCA and faintly in the lower part of the strut. I think it might just be telegraphing through the frame to the UCA. I’m leaning toward the strut. Have a look at the video and let me know what you think it might be, besides “all the mods”. ?

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[dondonbabyraptor]

I have no idea what you are talking about since I am a mechanical noob but your John Wick like voice is comforting.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I have no idea what you are talking about since I am a mechanical noob but your John Wick like voice is comforting.

Haha - I do a pretty good Agent Johnny Utah as well.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

27,000 km
2-1/2” RC Level - 15,000 km ago
+15mm offset
275/70R17s

Annoying clunking in the front end over bumps - big or small. Has been progressing over the last couple of weeks. At first, I thought it might be something that came loose from the level install but I re-torqued everything just to make sure, including the 35mm axle nut. All is tight. I’ve checked all shafts, skid plates, side steps, shackles, anti-sway bar, you name it.

I can hear it at the wheel when I rock the truck and I can feel it in the UCA but not through the ball joint. Jacking up the truck and prying up on the wheel just lifts everything at once with no clunking so I think I can rule out upper ball joint.

Because I could feel it in the UCA, I thought it might be the UCA bolt but wouldn’t I have issues if that were loose?

I can also feel it in the LCA and faintly in the lower part of the strut. I think it might just be telegraphing through the frame to the UCA. I’m leaning toward the strut. Have a look at the video and let me know what you think it might be, besides “all the mods”. ?

Hi Duke,

This is an ideal candidate for the old mechanics stethoscope trick. Remove the metal diaphragm and use the tube as it becomes a very directional search....using this method you will likely home in on the source of the noise quite quickly. Mechanic stethoscopes are relatively cheap at the auto parts store.

Best,
Phil

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Hi Duke,

This is an ideal candidate for the old mechanics stethoscope trick. Remove the metal diaphragm and use the tube as it becomes a very directional search....using this method you will likely home in on the source of the noise quite quickly. Mechanic stethoscopes are relatively cheap at the auto parts store.

Best,
Phil

Thanks Phil,

Great advice as always. Those hollow control arms are telegraphing everything. Using the stethoscope on every nut and bolt should help me isolate it. An “old school” mechanic I knew used to hold the handle of a long screwdriver to his ear in the same fashion.

$15 later and Amazon will have the proper tool here tomorrow.

 

[Metalshift]

The upper strut shaft nut is loose or not clamping.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

The upper strut shaft nut is loose or not clamping.

Thanks for your feedback!

That’s a real possibility and makes a lot of sense - I’ll check that out in the morning - I hope I can get to it without having to pull the strut and remove the spacer. We’ll see.

Thanks again - what part of the island are you from? I’ve seen it all from Sooke to Holberg to Tahsis, Zeballos, Tofino, and other points in between.

 

[Metalshift]

Cowichan Lake.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Cowichan Lake.

Like most places on the island, it’s a beautiful area - went through on my way to Youbou.

It’s tight but it looks like a pass through socket extension will fit above the strut - as soon as I can find where I put the set, I’ll be able to tighten it. ?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Well, Amazon failed on the delivery of the mechanic’s stethoscope so I can’t really tell if it’s the strut top mount nut or the strut nuts that bolt to the level kit.

The level kit nuts are torqued to the frame mount just fine and I managed to find my pass through sockets so I was able to torque the top mount nuts - they were super tight and barely budged. The problem is still there. ? What do you folks think…pull the struts, and re-torque the strut to the level kit on the workbench, compress the springs and re-torque the top mount nuts or say to hell with it and order a set of Roush Fox Performance struts?

 

[BladeRanger]

Well, Amazon failed on the delivery of the mechanic’s stethoscope so I can’t really tell if it’s the strut top mount nut or the strut nuts that bolt to the level kit.

The level kit nuts are torqued to the frame mount just fine and I managed to find my pass through sockets so I was able to torque the top mount nuts - they were super tight and barely budged. The problem is still there. ? What do you folks think…pull the struts, and re-torque the strut to the level kit on the workbench, compress the springs and re-torque the top mount nuts or say to hell with it and order a set of Roush Fox Performance struts?

Hi Duke,
So what did you find to be the root cause of the clanking? Mine is making a squicking noise, when you shake the car from the stepper or apply a brake. Took it to my mechanic and we put it on the lift with it up and down we notice a vibration coming from the UCA bolt. Tighten it but it still there.
I know this is an old post.

 

[MikeyB]

The upper strut shaft nut is loose or not clamping.

Sounds like something with the strut assembly.
I don't have a lift on mine. Did you install Blocks to lift it? Maybe the Block is loose
I would take out the Strut assembly, look there
Are the nuts on the Strut at the bottom fully tight?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Hi Duke,
So what did you find to be the root cause of the clanking? Mine is making a squicking noise, when you shake the car from the stepper or apply a brake. Took it to my mechanic and we put it on the lift with it up and down we notice a vibration coming from the UCA bolt. Tighten it but it still there.
I know this is an old post.

Hi Bladimir,

Not too long after I was posted about this problem, I upgraded to Fox Performance 2.0 all around. I also discovered that my small breaker bar slid from the jack storage (there’s a cutout in the wall separating left and right) compartment through to the other side of the back seat area where it was rattling around underneath the rear passenger side storage compartment. I had to pull the plastic storage bin to make the discovery.

I think it was a combination of things - the breaker bar clunking around against the floor caught my attention and I think there is enough play in CVs to make the sound I “discovered” when I was trying to find a problem.

All seems fine now. I hope you figure out your issue.

Sounds like something with the strut assembly.
I don't have a lift on mine. Did you install Blocks to lift it? Maybe the Block is loose
I would take out the Strut assembly, look there
Are the nuts on the Strut at the bottom fully tight?

Hey Mike,

Thanks - my very first thought was the coilover/levelling spacer assembly. Eveything was torqued to spec - nothing was loose when I checked - also, see above. I even re-checked everything again when I swapped out the old coilovers - all were tight.

 

[BladeRanger]

Hi Bladimir,

Not too long after I was posted about this problem, I upgraded to Fox Performance 2.0 all around. I also discovered that my small breaker bar slid from the jack storage (there’s a cutout in the wall separating left and right) compartment through to the other side of the back seat area where it was rattling around underneath the rear passenger side storage compartment. I had to pull the plastic storage bin to make the discovery.

I think it was a combination of things - the breaker bar clunking around against the floor caught my attention and I think there is enough play in CVs to make the sound I “discovered” when I was trying to find a problem.

All seems fine now. I hope you figure out your issue.

Hey Mike,

Thanks - my very first thought was the coilover/levelling spacer assembly. Eveything was torqued to spec - nothing was loose when I checked - also, see above. I even re-checked everything again when I swapped out the old coilovers - all were tight.

Hi Duke,
I think my squeaking noise at very low speed and bumps are coming from the right UCA where it uses the long bolt to the chassis. I'm waiting for the stethoscope from Amazon. I'm using Fox 2.0 in the front as well except I had a spacer lift to fit in 295 70R17. I'm waiting to get the UCA replaced to a better ones. I'm currently using a after market.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Hi Duke,
I think my squeaking noise at very low speed and bumps are coming from the right UCA where it uses the long bolt to the chassis. I'm waiting for the stethoscope from Amazon. I'm using Fox 2.0 in the front as well except I had a spacer lift to fit in 295 70R17. I'm waiting to get the UCA replaced to a better ones. I'm currently using a after market.

Bladimir,

I recall your post about the upper control arm making contact with the coilover‘s upper mounting bracket. I’ll DM you about that.

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