Well i tore the truck apart and got all the ball joints installed on Saturday, what a PITA. When i was done there was a clunking type noise coming from the front end when i turned the wheel, i thought it would go away after i got an alignment, but it still makes a noise when i turn, i don't know if the new ball joints just need to get broke in or what the deal is. This happen to anyone else? I don't feel anything on the steering wheel when it makes that noise, so i am unsure of what it is. Also now after it has been aligned my steering wheel has to be turned to the right a little bit to get keep the wheels straight, i am assuming that is fine, but i thought an alignment was supposed to correct that also? I am mainly concerned about that noise in the front end, but i figured i would throw that in also.

 

i thought it was supposed to align everything also, and i dont know what the noise is sry

 

well i looked over everything good and the only conclusion i can draw is the control arm bushing, being new, squeak when they hit a bump, and also the turning noise could be related to the same thing.

 

did you grease up the bushing before the install??

 

no, i didn't i had a guy helping me who worked for ford for years, he said it didnt need it, im assuming it will just go away.

 

1. If the ball joints have grease fittings you need to grease them.

2. You should go back to the place that did the alignment and complain about the wheel not being straight.

3. The bushings don't need to break in, they should be quiet.

 

I am having the same problem after I replaced my ball joints and when i had it alligned I asked the guy to look at it and he said he couldn't find anything wrong. That was about 6 months ago and it still does it a little bit

 

shouldnt make any noise because of breaking in. are you sure you did them right? when you put the new balljoints in the knuckle did they feel loose at all? you could have gotten 2wd balljoints instead and they are thinner i believe. that would cause the balljoint to be bouncing around in the knuckle. other then that im not sure without lookin at them.

and they should fix ur steering wheel with the allignment. go back and complain

 

it's a clunking, and not a clicking, right?? i only ask cause my CV axle was making a clicking noise only when i turned the wheel.. i felt nothing at all in the drive while it made the noise..... just throwin that out there

 

I live in Upper Michigan, i used the part numbers from Bob that he posted on the forum and the website i purchased from said they were 4x4. I am going to put more grease in there, it looked like there was grease in there when i got them, i put a little more in there but not a whole lot. If that does not fix it i am unsure, i looked it over, nothing is rubbing or anything, so the grease might be the problem, possible there is not enough in there if it is making those noises.

 

Is the clunking noise happening when you turn the wheel past a certain point and then bringing it back past that same point? Doesn't happen all the time and sometimes happens when the suspension moves while the wheels are turned?

 

it happens when i am turning and when i hit bumps while turning, and when i just hit bumps it makes the noise also. My guess is there is not enough grease in the ball joints, i will be putting more in there today. I just hope that is the issue.

 

My truck does the same thing. I have 90,000 miles on my original ball joints. I have had a couple of people look at them and everyone says they are fine. I have also had a squeak come from the front sway bar and grease takes care of that.

 

tht is the exact same problem my 94' is havin....i just assumed that it was the control arm or something....does it have a high pitched ting sound....

 

Well i figured out what my noise was. A friend was asking me questions about when i put everything back together and i did not put any locktite on the bolts that hold that caliper on. So i pulled the wheels off, and sure enough, one caliper was very loose, and the other one was starting to get loose. I took those bolts out applied alot of locktite, and put the bolts back in. I also pumped more grease into the ball joints to ensure they have enough grease. I took it off of the lift and took it down some bumpy roads, and no more noises!. The person who was helping me said i need to replace my tie rod ends though, so that was a little bit disappointing but it will work out well because i have to get my front end re aligned because they did not center the steering wheel, those idiots, so i will throw those new tie rod ends on before i go back in for that. After this my front end should be in good shape for many miles to come!

 

so i hope tht is alll my problem is then....