Driving home from work earlier today, I noticed a noise in my truck when I would hit a bump. This was definately out of the ordinary, so I decided to go real slow in the neighborhood and hit some bumps on the way to the house. Well, every time I hit a bump, or a quick drop, I could hear a banging noise in the right front. Well, it sounds like the right front, almost like I have a shock mount problem or something. I looked underneath and didn't find anything for a while, then I noticed something unusual. See the pictures below. It appears that some kind of metal rod on the &quot;a-arm?&quot; is messed up on the passenger side. I don't know how long it's been that way, but when I stand on the bumper and bounce the front, I can hear a tapping noise, and I can feel it tapping when I touch the passenger side suspension. Anyone seen anything like this? I sure have been to the dealer a lot lately. Starting to get kind of old, but it looks like another trip is in order. <br><br>The truck also felt like it was steering kinda funny, but I couldn't really tell.<br><br>See pics:<br><br>PASSENGER SIDE<br><br><br>DRIVER SIDE<br><br><br>So what do ya think?

 

MMMM could be , it's not like there's much of a load on the front end with the &quot;little 6 cylinder&quot; engine. <br>Frame flex with the cracked weld?<br>Hope you've found it. [undecided]

 

I hope I did too. I can't imagine what else it would be. I've only heard it today so I know it's a new problem, but I just don't know what. The last thing I need is another 1000 dollar repair bill on this thing. I've had some back luck lately in terms of this thing being in the shop.

 

Jack,<br> I can't remember if it was you or someone else, but did you hit a curb or get some other type of front-end damage a while back? If you did, could it have happened then?

 

Yes, Dennis. That was me. I didn't even think about that.

About 1 1/2, 2 yrs ago, I was involved in an accident, and the right front was hit. Remember the lady who cut me off? I hit her on the right front, and the truck was knocked up onto the curb. You have a good memory my friend

I guess that damage could have happened then, and it might be completely unrelated to the issue that I'm having now. Lets hope that's the case.

 

Well after more investigating, I don't think it's what I showed in the picture. After messing with it, it feels like something in the shock, or in the bottom part of the arm itself. When testing, that piece in the picture doesn't move at all. I don't think that's it. Maybe it's a bad shock, or just something loose under there. I guess I'll let you all know when I get it back from the dealer, AGAIN. :

 

Judging from your pictures, they look like a safety feature to keep the springs from becoming a ballistic missile. Kind of like a spring box. I can't really see what the other side attaches to.

 

Jack, this seems to be a common problem that is happening right now.<br>My shocks all looked fine and did not seem to be messed up and in fact all four where toast.<br>Changed them out and no more front thump.<br><br>I would pull the front shocks and try different ones.<br><br>

 

Hey guys, thanks for the info. I thought it was the shocks too, but the dealer has been working on it this morning and found that the wheel bearing on the right front was in very bad shape. Once they repacked it, the noise went away and the truck is running fine now. I also had to get new brake pads so they did that as well. I wish I would have known that the first time they had it. I guess this is the kind of stuff you have to deal with once you're up in the high mileage club.

 

Jack,<br>What you are pointing to in the pictures is a simple stiffening member for the outside edge of the spring pocket. If it is cracked at the weld you may have a slightly tweaked frame ear that has caused the crack to form from the stress over time. I wouldn't expect that to be the source of the noise you are hearing.<br><br>Check for a blown out shock bushing in the eye on the bottom of the shock or loose mounting hardware. Since you put stock shocks back on (if I heard right) you may have an early life failure of the shock itself.

 

Dang - looks like I missed it by a few seconds and wrong diagnosis :<br><br>Glad you found it - did they check the other side? - ya know both sides have the same mileage on them (I would hope).

 

hehe. Yeah, they're doing both sides

 

Jack, I had the same problem on an old '78 GMC 4x4 after my hunting buddy bought it from me. He didn't repack the front wheel bearings for quite a while, and they started &quot;popping&quot;. By the time he brought it to me for help, the entire bearing and race assembly was not much more than steel dust. We ended up having to replace the wheel hubs. Be sure to repack the wheel bearings at the intervals stated in the maintenance schedule part of the owner's guide. This problem can also make the brakes feel funny and wear unevenly if allowed to go on for any length of time.

 

Really loose bearings can cause caliper knockback and wierd braking on first application of the brakes. Sometimes to the extent of losing the seat covers <br><br>Hey Jack, ain't you glad you have a 2WD instead of 4WD?

 

Got the truck back last night and it runs great. Definately was the wheel bearings. Brakes feel much better now as well. Glad I got that one overwith without too much damage to the bank account <br><br>Thanks for the advice guys.