front end knock and can't figure it out...

[ChrisD]

Since late fall I have had a loud knock, driver side wheel, when hitting a bump. I have tried to pin point the source of the knock, but can't identify if it is a bad ball joint or wheel bearing. I don't have any steering issues or death wobble, but when the front driver side tire goes over a bump, there is one loud knock.

Any chance someone could spare some time and help diagnosis??

[stevey]

have you jacked it up and checked for play??

[admin]

Yup...

Should of mentioned this in my first post..
With my hands on the tire 9 & 3 there is play, 6 & 12 there is the same amount of play. So that leads me to believe that the bearing is shot, right? However I was told that if the bearing was shot I would have more issues than just a knock.

Tried to see if there was play in the ball joints and honestly I can't tell. If there is, it doesn't seem that there is much.

Check the control arms and they seem to be fine.

So at this point I thought it would be helpful to ask for the 2nd opinion.

[Scott]

IMO, It could be several things. You need somebody to look under there while someone else moves the wheel up/down and side to side, also using a pry bar.
Could be a loose shock, ball joints, control arm bushing, track bar, tie rod ends...

[johnsxj]

Chris, many different things it could be. If you can get it over to Townsend sometime I can take a look at it with you.

[ZAEDOCK]

Dr. Joe thinks it's a sway bar link.

[admin]

Chris, many different things it could be. If you can get it over to Townsend sometime I can take a look at it with you.

Yup just let me know when..



Joe - The links are the BDS quick disco's

[ZAEDOCK]

OK, the stock sway bar links go pretty quick, but if it's the BDS - then that's not it.

I would look at the control arms and track bar. Look at the coil spring isolator too. As a coil compresses, it rotates.

[norstar]

Do you use BPE for your shocks? If not, check the bottom shock bushing as well.

[ChrisD]

Yup not the sway bar links, knocking is there even when disconnected.

Jon I don't use BPE, would that really be the issue??? The shocks are just about brand new...

Because I can slightly rock the tire side to side and up and down, I am suspect the wheel bearing but would also think my steering would be all over the place.

[Scott]

I've never heard of wheel bearings causing the knock you described, I could be wrong.

[Captian Carnage]

Because I can slightly rock the tire side to side and up and down, I am suspect the wheel bearing but would also think my steering would be all over the place.

check your upper +lower ball joints Wheel bearings Dont make that noise like Scott said At least mine never did The last time I blew a wheel bearing It did drift just a little on the road I thought it was my tires ( 36s )Can you pull the tire in + out any that would be the bearing Up+ down is most likely ball joints are they the stock 1s how many miles on them If you replace 1 side do the other side at the same time Have some else lift the tire and you watch + see where the play is that my take on it

[ChrisD]

Well the bearing has been replaced AND>>>> I still have my loud knocking, front driver side. Because of how loud the knock is, I don't think there is enough slop in the upper ball joint to cause this loud of knocking.

Might have to bite the bullet and shell out some money to Lou to look at... arugh!!

[ZAEDOCK]

You don't have truck nutz slapping, do you?

[ChrisD]

You don't have truck nutz slapping, do you?

?????