Clunk in the front end when going over bumps...

[SmokeyMcBlazer]

Hey all,

The street near my house has speed bumps on it. I've noticed since the lifts that if I hit the speed bumps over a certain speed, theres a knock/thump from up front. Is this the front shocks topping out, or am I just going too fast?? I know a lot/most of you are running different aftermarket front shocks but is that for extra length or just 'cuz the stockers are crap? My old 4runner used to eat those speed bumps, maybe I should just be easier on the TB?

If its not the shocks topping out, what could it be? It didn't happen before the lifts if that makes any difference. If it is the shock, do I have to worry about plucking the shaft out of the shockbody??

Thanks...

[The Roadie]

It's almost never the shocks unless they're shot. And the time to put in new aftermarket Bilsteins was when you put in the lift, because it's such a pain to compress the spring again. Anyway, clunks are typically worn anti-sway bar end links, anti-sway bar frame mounting bushings, upper or lower control arm bushings, loose shock TOP shaft bolt, or (rarely but frustatingly for the first person to discover) the threaded hood stops at the front corners of the hood.

[Moots1288]

My shocks used to top out going over speed bumps a bit too quick, but I also had 89s. I'd check all the bushings and what not like roadie said.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Check your ball joints as well

[Trail X]

See, now I would have said yes, it sounds like your shocks are topping out.

You may be able to adjust that some with some washers between the shoulder in your shock rod and the top bushing. You can tweak the number of washers to adjust down the lower stop of the shock.

But the others are right, it could be making a worse-than-normal sound due to bushings in the lift being installed too loosely, or something unrelated to the shock (but unless you hear it at other times, I'm skeptical that they just started making noise when you installed the lift).

[SmokeyMcBlazer]

Thanks guys. I'm pretty sure we put everything in tight but I'll check it over again. I replaced the endlinks but not the frame mount bushings or control arm bushings. I'll have the whole suspension checked over.

I don't remember hearing it before the suspension lift went on but I tend to drive with my music fairly loudly and wouldn't hear anything except bass. After the lifts first went on, I drove with no music while listening for noises. Could be the noise was already there...

I just wanted to mainly know if it was a problem with the stock length shocks. Out of curiosity, is there a longer shock option for us?

[HARDTRAILZ]

Not up front

[Trail X]

In my experience, bad upper control arm bushings do not clunk, they just make your truck wander on the highway.

[Moots1288]

Bushing and joints would have to be real bad for you to hear a clunk like what I'm thinking it is, it sounds like your shocks are just topping out. Is it when you are coming off the speed bump or when you hit the speed bump?

[HARDTRAILZ]

Really bad ball joints sound just about like topping out.

[SmokeyMcBlazer]

The noise is when the front tires start to go down from the top of the speed bumps. The truck is still heading up but the suspension is now heading down. That's why I thought I might be the shocks or maybe the suspension topping out?

I don't know how old the ball joints are, I'll ask my dad if he replaced them when he owned it. If not, they could be original and likely the cause.

Thanks again guys for the support...

[Trail X]

Sounds like topping out.

[DirtyBacon04]

I concur with James. Topping out.

[SmokeyMcBlazer]

So the cure for topping out would be winch, bumper and skids or Radflo's right? I read around and it seems like lots of guys have their suspension topping out after lifting but usually after adding stiffer springs too. My old man had the springs replaced up front before, I wonder if he ended up with a stiffer spring. To be honest, I don't even know if they're GM springs or not.

[ErikSS]

I don't even notice when mine top out. I just mash the gas and see what happens. The new (and ugly) bump stop inside the radflo coil over dampens the topping out a little. I've loved mine since I got it adjusted right.

[DirtyBacon04]

softer springs or more weight...

the choice is yours........

[Trail X]

I don't think more weight really does much.

I added washers to mine, and it alleviated much of the problem. YMMV.

Erik, the visible, yellow bump stop that you see is the compression bump stop, not the extension bump stop.

[SmokeyMcBlazer]

I don't think more weight really does much.

I added washers to mine, and it alleviated much of the problem. YMMV.

So... washers inside the strut right at the very top of the shock, below the lift spacer? I've gotta disassemble the strut and add them up there, correct? How much thread did you leave for the top nut to grab?

Again guys, thanks for the tips and advice...

[Trail X]

You really gotta understand what you're doing, because you can potentially ruin your CV shaft or other components. First, you figure out how much room you have before you hit max droop of one of your limiting elements, most likely your tripod joint... you measure this while the lower control arm is on a jack, the top of the lift spacer loosened, drop it down, and make sure no binding... measure the max you can lower it, and still not bind anything up. The amount of gap at the top of your lift spacer is the maximum thickness of washers you can add. The washers go between the shoulder of your shock rod and the bottom washer of the bushing. You just gotta play with it a bit to see how many washers CAN fit and still get the nut on the top. Takes some playing with, and some trial and error. Look around and make sure you find some posts here about what others did. I think there are some pics in my build thread about this (and I'm sure there are others).

[ErikSS]

Erik, the visible, yellow bump stop that you see is the compression bump stop, not the extension bump stop.

Oops. Yep. lol