I just bought a 99 Eddie Bauer 4X4 that has the load leveling suspension. Since I bought it, there have been clunk noises coming from the rear when I go over bumps... not sure if that just means the rear shocks are bad. Sounds like something is bottoming out. The next clunk is coming from the front right corner... doesn't matter if I am just driving along or hitting bumps. Could this be a bad CV joint? Truck has 93,000 miles on it.
If I have the front end apart, I am going to do ball joints and CV joints both sides... wheel bearings I would leave alone for a while.

Any ideas?

 

Something really common is the upper shock bolt being loose. It's not real easy to get to, thus sometimes doesn't get tighted correctly. It's an easy fix if that's it.

 

Look at your sway bar end links. Mine were worn out in the inner bushings.

 

Ranger x,

Is your sway bar stock, and is it an easy (nothing's easy right) job to replace the end links?
Thanks for any info.

John

 

Its stock and its very easy to do.
Just make sure thats is what your problem is . Look at the bushing and see if thay are tight this is a long rod which mounts to the frame and to the swaybar .

 

We found the top nut loose on the back-right shock....was making irregular thumping noises under the back seat on all types of road surfaces.
Hope this is it for you.

 

Very close... my end links were snapped off on both sides. Installed new end links, and the problem has disappeared, and handling has improved dramatically!

 

My 98 has the same issue.It makes the same noises and i checked all of the above and they were good and tight.

 

I'm in the same boat... er, clunker. I've got the clunks coming from the front of the expy (definitely isolated it to the front). I replaced the front shocks this week thinking it was the tired/loose OEM shock, but that wasn't it. The sway bar and ends seem to be intact and tight. The ball joints don't seem to be bad (not very much play when checked). I can't find anything wrong with tranny mounts, motor mounts, heat shields, tubing, or anything else that could bounce around. If I didn't already check, it almost sounds like a rock in the wheel cap.

I'm a step away from dissassembling the front suspension, but my wife doesn't want me to do it.

Any more suggestions out there?

 

Count me in with my 99 EB. "Clunks" when I accelerate, but get this, only after its rained and the pavements wet. Dealer has replaced idler arms X2, tie rods (all), checked linkage, bushings, bolts, sway bar, etc. I'm ready to have an "exercism" done on it.

Keith

 

s76drvr,

I don't know if you have LS in your EB, but I would wonder if the wet pavement might be causing it to grab in a harsh way. My other thought would be towards the ABS. Just my .02 in thinking about wet pavement and lower friction.

 

No LS (unfortunately), but now that the monsoon season has hit South Florida, I'll try and stop by the dealer and get a road test. Thanks for the reply.