Grinding/popping after lift

[afdoc]

Hoping someone out there can help me with an issue. I have a 2008 2WD Ranger which I lifted with Camburg's 5.5 lift about 4 months ago. I've put about 1600 miles on it since the lift, primarily on the road with occassional mild bumby dirt road riding. I haven't taken it off-road at all primarily out of fear that the thing will spontaneously fall apart. I have noticed a grinding sound/sensation coming up through the floorboard that has worsened with time. In addition, there is a popping/clunking sound/sensation with even the most mild bumps in the road. This all seems very noticable at slow speeds, primarily between 0 and 15 MPH. As I speed up above 15 MPH I really don't notice it. Also, it happens regardless of whether I'm steering right, left, or straight. It also occurs regardless of whether I'm in gear, in neutral, braking, or not braking. It basically happens ALL the time. It is a rythmic sound/sensation that increases in frequency as the truck goes faster but diminishes above 10 MPH and seems to disappear at around 15 MPH. It seems to be rotational, but not entirely sure. Also, when the truck is parked I can push on the outside of the drivers side tire repeatedly, setting the truck to rocking gently side to side, and there is a noticable cluck somewhere in the suspension. I have to rock the tire pretty hard to get this to happen, but it's there. It seems more distinct on the drivers side, but I can also feel it somewhat when I do the same to the passenger side. I've had it in the shop twice now with every bolt re-torqued, adjustable camber bolts installed, 2 alignments, wheel bearings inspected, hub assemblies re-torqued, etc... Basically, they have looked at the entire suspension twice since the install without a clue as to where the sound/sensation is eminating. It gets a little worse everyday and I'm getting afraid to drive the truck altogether. I am at my wits end and wishing I'd never done this to my new truck. Any clues? Any issues with the spindle shaft coming loose from the spindles after being pressed in? Any issues with brakes/calipers, etc..? Any issues with the uniball? I'm simply looking for anyone who might have some out of the box thoughts on where I should go from here. I have seriously thought about just pulling the kit off and going back to stock. Thanks for any insight you might offer.

 

[fordboi415]

i would start looking thouroughly over the entire front end, it could be a broken coil spring, sway bar end link, bad bushing you have to carefully narrow down if possible where the noise is comming from, i would check the upper and lower control arms for bushing damage also check your ball joints. Where you located?

 

[afdoc]

ID'd the uniball on the drivers side as bad. Replaced and all is well with the world again. I've gotta say, after all the headache trying to figure it out, I just never really thought an essentially new uniball would be bad. Lesson learned, take nothing for granted.