clunking in 4x4

[xkotyx]

hey guys, i put my truck in 4wd the first time in a couple months, and ive got a clunk/knock in the front end. ball joints maybe?
what else might it be? and is it hard to do?
be nice to take care of that while im installing the lift this weekend.

and besides none of the components have probably every been replaced in its 20 yrs

 

[adsm08]

Well, while it wouldn't hurt to replace the ball joints while you are in there, especially because both a lift and ball joints are things that need an alignment afterward, I can say with about 100% certainty that they aren't your noise.

Two reasons, first, if it was the ball joints, it wouldn't just be in 4x4.

Also, ball joints don't generally clunk.

I'd be looking at the u-joints in your front drive shaft and the ones at the knuckles.

 

[Nhaz]

sounds like bad auto hubs.

Unless you have manual hubs of course =>

 

[BlackBII]

Hubs or u joints.

 

[DRanger024]

dont use your 4wd on road.

 

[xkotyx]

dont use your 4wd on road.

haha i never have used it on the road. except on a snowy road

 

[xkotyx]

Well, while it wouldn't hurt to replace the ball joints while you are in there, especially because both a lift and ball joints are things that need an alignment afterward, I can say with about 100% certainty that they aren't your noise.

Two reasons, first, if it was the ball joints, it wouldn't just be in 4x4.

Also, ball joints don't generally clunk.

I'd be looking at the u-joints in your front drive shaft and the ones at the knuckles.

yeah the only owner before me rarely used 4wd. lets just say he was very femanine. so i doubt they are as old as the truck. so wouldnt hurt to just replace any joint in there that moves! haha thank you

 

[adsm08]

Well, u joints sitting can be worse for them than running them. Same with any bearing.

But yeah, with a truck that old a shot-gun replacement of all the moving parts couldn't hurt.

Well, it might hurt your hands, but it will probably be very good for the truck.

 

[xkotyx]

Well, u joints sitting can be worse for them than running them. Same with any bearing.

But yeah, with a truck that old a shot-gun replacement of all the moving parts couldn't hurt.

Well, it might hurt your hands, but it will probably be very good for the truck.

are the front components hard to replace? any tips?

also, i stopped by autozone, and they said they have 2 different sizes of u-joints they used. any idea which size i might have in the front driveshaft?? its a 91 2.3l with a d35 obviously. or do i just pull them and take them to match them up?
__________________

 

[adsm08]

Not sure. Best way is to just measure across the caps and then check out the U-joint article in the library. With the 2.3 I'd guess its the smaller of them. That is just a guess mind you.

 

[xkotyx]

Not sure. Best way is to just measure across the caps and then check out the U-joint article in the library. With the 2.3 I'd guess its the smaller of them. That is just a guess mind you.

if i get around to pulling them this weeked, ill just take it to the store and compare.

and no tips really??

 

[adsm08]

Tips for taking them out? Sure, I got plenty of those. Tips for identifying them, the best way to to measure the caps.

 

[xkotyx]

Tips for taking them out? Sure, I got plenty of those. Tips for identifying them, the best way to to measure the caps.

taking them out and putting them in. is there any tricks? or just a press?

for my rear joints we cut them in halves with a cutting torch and they came right out!

 

[adsm08]

I find two sockets, one just smaller than the cap, and one just big enough for the cap to drop into. Set it up in the obvious manner and go to town with the bench vice.

A helper is very very helpful for this method. Two can be even more helpful.

 

[xkotyx]

I find two sockets, one just smaller than the cap, and one just big enough for the cap to drop into. Set it up in the obvious manner and go to town with the bench vice.

A helper is very very helpful for this method. Two can be even more helpful.

yeah i tried that with my rear ujoints with a medium bench vice. i sorta cracked the vice in half... whoops!

guess i need a bigger vice. and a shop of my own to go with the new vice!