illinois has been rough the last couple weeks. I got a 93 2wd. The only front end components i have replaced are the wheel/tires, and the brake/hub/bearing on both sides, and both shocks and springs. I get loud clunking going over these shitty midwest roads. Truck tracks straight, and I have shaken down the front end on my last oil change a month back. Theres a small bit of play in one of the front wheels but i had to really work it for it to show. The passenger side sway bar bracket mounted to the frame has rusted completely off too, allowing the sway bar to be more loose than normal. I'm basically trying to ride this truck out for a couple more weeks until I can put together a new ride, but this loud clunking has me worried.

 

So the sway bar is only attached to one side of the frame? Probably wouldn't hurt to try drilling out the mount holes and tapping them for bigger bolts. I would imagine that the sway bar would smack the frame every time the front suspension does any flexing.

 

would ball joints make that sort of racket?

 

Are your ball joints greasable? Usually a bad ball joint will have play in it when its bad enough to make noise. If you were shaking the front suspension and couldn't move the ball joints I'd say its unlikely. But if they are greasable pump some grease in there until its flowing out the boot and see how much water/rust/crap comes out. If the grease isn't contaminated and they aren't loose they should be fine.
If you want to rule out the sway bar, just take it off and see if the clunking goes.

 

I dont think they are greasable. I will try to attach a rubber piece between the frame and the sway bar to keep it from slapping loudly against the frame and see if that makes the sound go away. its -5 degrees outside, the last thing I want to be doing is being out there trying to break loose rusty bolts lol