Clunking noise coming from front Diff?

For the longest time I could not figure out where this clunking noise would come from whenever iIhit bumps. Ive wiggled everything and finally figured it out. When grab and turn my from drive shaft back and forth I can hear the clunk at where the drive shaft enters the front diff. I have no 4x4 problems/grinding noise ever since ive had this noise. No truck vibration or steering vibration. Just a loud clunking noise over bumps and sometimes when I stop. Has anyone else had this problem before or have an idea of whats going on in there?

 

I have the same shit. Not sure if it's the same ckunck....but when I go thru driveways sometimes that are "deep" if you will. I hear a clunk. Like a bushing that's sticking or something.
Wondering if it's that little rubber gasket between the top hat and the top of the gas shock in the front wrapped around the springs. Mine could just be getting old and need some sort of lube or replacement.

I sprayed some lube up there and thought it might of alleviated problem but the only way for me to really find out is to do that and go out to the dirt.

You have the same yours me how many miles do you have if you don't mind me asking?

 

I have 65k miles. started around 55k miles. Whenever you have time, try turning your front drive shaft back and forth with your hands and see if you hear a clunking noise. I jackup up the front of my truck and wiggled everything and its tight.

 

I'll check in the morning.
Been drinking and don't want to put more clothing to go outside.

 

It is normal to have some play in the front diff like you're describing - it's the relative movement between the pinion gear and ring gear. As long as it's not excessive, that's probably not the source of your clunking noise. If you have a sway bar on the front of your truck, those seem to be common culprits, especially the end link bushings. Also when lower control arm bushings start to wear out they allow the LCA to move around when going over bumps and cause a clunking noise.

 

Check your front u joints for wear

 

Mine moves a little. I have a manual and not sure if that makes a difference.
I have almost 120,000k

 

I have this same noise going over bumps (04 4x4 manual with 206k miles). My father in law thinks it might be the cv axles (never been changed). I know the rubber boot on the lower control arm bushing (never been changed) is broken. Just added the LCA bushing to what needs to be changed.

 

If your CV’s are making noise like that, there is something very wrong with them. They are not something you need to change at set intervals, they don’t really “wear out”.

I am betting your LCA bushings are toast and that is what is causing the noise. May as well do sway bar end links while you’re in there, and if your lower ball joints have over 100k on them, do those too while it’s all apart.

 

I've replaced the ball joints once (right upper 2x, had to be towed). Might see about doing all the bushings while im down there. My baby needs a bunch of attention. Will get pics up someday.

 

Soo today I found out my sway bar was a little loose. I was able to grab it with my hand and move it back and forth. I tightened it and the front noise disappeared. Of course I have noise still coming from the back of my truck when I go over bumps but I’m getting my leafs swapped tomorrow. I’m thinking my leafs are bad and making rear end noise.

 

I'll check my sway tomarrow.
After I got my rear leaf swapped out I didn't have the noise back there anymore as well.