need a knuckle replacement?

[baxtej44]

as of this morning, my 88 2.9L 4x4 xlt ranger cannot make tight turns without a large THUMP/POP from the front left (drivers side). my uncle thinks it's the "knuckle" or a "CV" or "U" joint.

friend at work says it's the knuckle, and that it's very cheap and about 1.5 hrs to replace


gonna have a third opinion look at it tomorrow after school.



any suggestions? what about buying more sturdier than OEM parts from the auto store? what parts should i replace while i'm all the way in there??

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Are you using 4x4?

If you are not then it can't be anything with the front u-joints. Radius arm bushings are common to shrink with age (plus the rough streets up there wouldn't help anything) and let the front end move around a little and make noise.

If it isn't hasn't been done before you will have to cut the rivets off that hold the bracket on (and replace them with bolts)

It could be ball joints too. Best thing to do would be to jack the truck up and see what moves when you tug on it.

 

[bobbywalter]

make sure a u joint cap didnt fall in there and is binding up...

 

[baxtej44]

i WAS using 4x4 for the winter. the hubs were locked in all winter, and i only used 4x4 when i was sliding around too much for comfort, or when i needed traction... not for like days at a time. all the rest of the time i was in 2H.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i WAS using 4x4 for the winter. the hubs were locked in all winter, and i only used 4x4 when i was sliding around too much for comfort, or when i needed traction... not for like days at a time. all the rest of the time i was in 2H.

Are you running with the hubs locked in when it makes the noise?

If so, and you don't have the t-case locked in 4x4 your front driveline shouldn't be turning at all.

 

[baxtej44]

well this morning it made the same thumping, and so after school i just tried to shift it into 4h, and then back into 2h, and it doesn't make the noise anymore.

the front driveshaft spins freely when both hubs are unlocked. it has just a little bit of give (normal, right?) when both are locked, or either one of them is locked. (maybe i had one locked and one unlocked at the time when it was making the noises? kids at school parking lot?)

anyway, my power steering was low, pitman arm needed grease, and the drivers side hub is going bad. family friend says it coudl either be a bearing or something else... when that turn out is on "free" it is very wobbly, although it clicks into free. when it's locked it's stable... what could cause that?

 

[AllanD]

Are you running with the hubs locked in when it makes the noise?

If so, and you don't have the t-case locked in 4x4 your front driveline shouldn't be turning at all.

I don't know what you are trying to say, but it came out backwards....

IF the hubs are locked the shafts and front driveline any time the truck is moving.

HOWEVER if the truck ISN'T moving the outer U-joint is in a "Random" position
and when the wheel is turned IF there is a vbad u-joint on one side or the other (remember that U-joints often only get "tight" in one direction)
and it's possible turning is also forcing a tight u-joint to "twist out".
when you turn the wheel,

This particular issue can be diagnosed by unlocking the hubs
and wrking the wheel back and forth...

If the problem goes away it's time for the other test.

With both front hubs unlocked turn the wheel to one extreme or the other

Jack up the front wheels (one at a time), then lock the hub on the lifted wheel and try torotate the tire.

If there is a "Tight spot" that the wheel doesn't want to turn past you've found your bad U-joint.

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