Here's one for you....

[aaronrules]

Okay...got all my stuff installed today!!! And it looks awesome..pics to follow..and the story about how I already got stuck!

Anyway...I am hearing a pretty loud pop/clank noise coming from what sounds like the driver front when i hit a decent size bump at anything over 20MPH. i took it down a dirt road after the install was finished, and heard it then, but NOT while driving one the pavement. We double checked everything and can't see anything obvious...has this happened to anyone before?

[fishsticks]

Swaybar bracket loose?

[aaronrules]

Swaybar bracket loose?

Don't kill me for almost not having a clue, but I am pretty sure we didn't touch the sway bar up front. It almost sounds like the whole strut is popping. How important is to make sure you mark which side is outside...although I know for a fact that one we did right...it was the second one we did. It's a pretty high pitched ping almost.

[MrSmithsTB]

Is there a rattle as well? Could be a loose sway bar bushing or endlink as mentioned. Also, check the upper strut mount for play. It is altogether possible that you did not thread the nut on far enough. With the weight of the vehicle back on the assembly, the top nut could need to be tightened again. This possibility would induce a clank on larger bumps and a rattle on smaller ones.

[aaronrules]

Went to take pictures but the damn camera is dead...im gonna blame the wife on that one. My question is about the top of the strut assembly. the rubber bushing part is not evenly "squished" on both the driver and passenger side. the spring are lined up correctly and I just double checked the nuts on the top as well as the "clamp" on the bottom that hold the shock in place, and I just put every bit of strength I have into the 24MM bolt on the bottom. I am leaning towards the fact that the rubber bushing are not even, meaning the outside is squished all the way down, and inside is not...what do you guys think...i will post up some pics when the camera is done charging...literally couldnt even squeeze off one shot.

And no rattle that I can heard i knew murphy would show up some how someway today...FML!!!

[aaronrules]

Man I lean on you guys A LOT!!! Sorry!

[aaronrules]

I might also be leaning towards the lower strut mount...I wonder if we jacked up the rubber boot inside that stud thing

[MrSmithsTB]

Wow. Yeah, I think I'll refrain from trying to troubleshoot until I see some images. But I have no idea what this "squeeze" issue is.

[fishsticks]

I think he's talking about the isolators at the top of the spring... what he's describing sounds normal though.

[aaronrules]

Okay yesterday I went over everything we took off...couldn't find anything that was loose..I put tools on every nut and bolt, not just my fingers. Still can't find it, but I was going on 3 hours of sleep and was brain dead by the time I got home...so I crashed hard for 12 hours last night. I drove it about 150 miles today all on the highway, and I didn't hear it. I am going to give it another look over tomorrow, and try to get to pop/clank.

Me and the father-in-law (who is a genius mechanically) thought it might have been the springs settling, or the entire strut assembly settling. But I dunno...I have read up and down the forums looking for a similiar situation and can't find anything...pics and futher findings, and the story behind getting it stuck within an hour of getting the lift on will have to wait until tomorrow...still haven't caught up on sleep since getting home, and the boy needs a bath!

[HARDTRAILZ]

Wait 96 hours and see if it still happens. I get weird noise randomly, but if it doesnt repeat I dont stress about it.

[aaronrules]

Quick update. i took it out yesterday down some Wildlife Management Roads that used to be an old Army base. Nothing that I needed 4X4 for, but pretty bumpy and slow going...I purposely tried to flex the front suspension to see if I could get to make the noise again...didn't hear it once...I had the windows down and the radio off too...hopefully it was just settling or whatever...still going to keep an eye/ear out on it though. And I promise pics and build thread soon...been busy with life since I have been back...maybe after this weekend's mini vacation.