So whenever I go over a large bump in the road or make the suspension of the truck travel more than a few inches quickly there is like a popping- rubbing noise that comes from the front drivers tire. I'm thinking it could be the shock but I haven't noticed any performance issues at all. Maybe it's the sway bar mount? What do you guys think?

 

Are you coil or torsion bar? Mine has coils.
I have some of those pops in my suspension as well. But I also have some vibration issues and tires wearing out of round. My bushings have finally given up.
I am replacing all my bushings in the front with polyurethane, also new ball joints and bearings.
Your upper ball joints can pop like that when they start to give out.

 

Check your sway bar link bushings, they tend to blow out at times

 

I'm thinking it's the sway bar bushings. What's the normal life of ball joints?

 

It all depends on how you drive it, cruise or beat it off road. Usually when a ball joint starts to go, they really wont make alot of noise. Check the ball joint boots anyway for grease leaking while you're looking at te sway bar links.I have seen some ball joints go 100k, but like I said, it all depends on how its driven

 

I replaced the rotor on the drivers side of my 2004 ford ranger 4x4 and now i have a rubbing noise.Anyone have any ideas what this could be?taking a trip and dont need any problems.

 

Get whoever replaced the rotor to pull the wheel and check the caliper and the pads. Sounds like there is some interference. Perhaps something caught between the pad and the caliper.