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Is This Supposed To Be Like This? Or Should I Fix It?

M

misweetrevenge

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Was looking at the underside of my front end yesterday becuase there's a noise when turning left (might make the noise turning right as well but usually there isn't a wall to bounce any sound back to me).

My front leaf springs seem out of place. Should I take a rubber mallot to them and straighten them out?

picture is linked:
Front Passenger 4" Leafspring
 
munepit said:
Smash it back. No biggie. But, Thats not what is making the noise.
Click to expand...

ok thanks. Any idea what could be making the noise? Theres squeaking when I go over speed bumps and driveways but thats not what it is.

I'm planning on replacing All my front end bushings once I get the money. Any chance this would fix it?
 
Whats with the black spot barely visible behind the shock? Almost looks like a blob of weld on the leaf just above it. I've seen people try that on springs that broke in half.

Or, could be an optical delusion.
 
dyeager535 said:
Whats with the black spot barely visible behind the shock? Almost looks like a blob of weld on the leaf just above it. I've seen people try that on springs that broke in half.

Or, could be an optical delusion.
Click to expand...

I don't know. I just bought it about a month ago. I was very impressed with the smog. Back to the topic. I'll look at it and see if I can figure it out.

Also, My front end is very greasy. The PO had a power steering leak. Whats the best way to clean it?
Greasy Front End 1(pic)
Greasy Front End 2(pic)
 
dyeager535 said:
Whats with the black spot barely visible behind the shock? Almost looks like a blob of weld on the leaf just above it. I've seen people try that on springs that broke in half.

Or, could be an optical delusion.
Click to expand...

Just looked at it and its an old sticker or something of the sort that has been coming off in pieces.
 
I would spray it with simple green and let it soak. The pressure wash it off.

About the noise. What kind of noise?

Can you have someone sit in it and turn the wheel while you listen for the noise?
 
munepit said:
I would spray it with simple green and let it soak. The pressure wash it off.

About the noise. What kind of noise?

Can you have someone sit in it and turn the wheel while you listen for the noise?
Click to expand...

I want to say its like a tapping noise.
I also want to go through and make sure everything in the front end is torqued down to spec. Those specs should be in my Chilton correct?
 
The noise could be a ujoint in the front end axleshafts. I would say tear it down and inspect everything and put it back together while repacking bearings. If you find any bad joints or bearings, replace them while you are in there.
 
kennyw said:
The noise could be a ujoint in the front end axleshafts. I would say tear it down and inspect everything and put it back together while repacking bearings. If you find any bad joints or bearings, replace them while you are in there.
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sounds like a good idea. Once I get some time and money I'll have to do that.
 
91350Burb said:
Also, My front end is very greasy. The PO had a power steering leak. Whats the best way to clean it?
Click to expand...
Don't! It looks pretty clean to me and a little oil on the chassis helps keep the rust off. If you need to figure out where the leak is coming from, then I can see the benefit. But otherwise, it's not a big deal. Normally the leak is from the front shaft of the pump. If you have to top the fluid off real often, then fix the leak. Otherwise just leave well enough alone. It's easy to make 2 new leaks tearing the system apart to fix 1.
 
my springs make popping sounds when I turn some times, that's kind of what your noise sounds like. You should get a friend to help either watch and listen or turn the wheel back and forth while you watch and listen.
 
Blue85 said:
Don't! It looks pretty clean to me and a little oil on the chassis helps keep the rust off. If you need to figure out where the leak is coming from, then I can see the benefit. But otherwise, it's not a big deal. Normally the leak is from the front shaft of the pump. If you have to top the fluid off real often, then fix the leak. Otherwise just leave well enough alone. It's easy to make 2 new leaks tearing the system apart to fix 1.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think I will just leave it. Its not hurting anything.

375 H&H said:
91350Burb said:
Also, My front end is very greasy. The PO had a power steering leak. Whats the best way to clean it?
quote]

a few miles of sagebrush will scrub the bottom pretty good. :laugh:
Click to expand...

haha yeah once I get my tranny serviced I'll be taking it camping in a not-so-average place. Looking forward to it :woot:

big dan said:
my springs make popping sounds when I turn some times, that's kind of what your noise sounds like. You should get a friend to help either watch and listen or turn the wheel back and forth while you watch and listen.
Click to expand...

YES that is what it sounds like. A popping. Any Idea what this would be? I'm planning on having someone turn it back and forth while I look at for this reason AND because I feel like my driver side wheel (turned by the pump) is turning more so than the passenger side (turned by the connecting bar [don't know what this bar is called]).

I'm planning on replacing the bushings once I take care of the mechanical stuff I want to get done. You never know when the last time it was done when you buy a used vehicle.
Click to expand...
 
How are all the shackle/spring bushings? Most at this age are in pretty rough shape at best, and can lead to metal on metal contact.
 
Stomis said:
Lol thats cute. The only thing that gets torqued in the front end to any important spec is the balljoints and wheel bearings.
Click to expand...

The U-bolt nuts aren't important? What about the nuts and bolts that hold the entire leaf springs to the truck?
I feel these are kind of important as they hold my truck off the ground... But thats just me...:dunno:
 
91350Burb said:
The U-bolt nuts aren't important? What about the nuts and bolts that hold the entire leaf springs to the truck?
I feel these are kind of important as they hold my truck off the ground... But thats just me...:dunno:
Click to expand...

It is probably not an issue if they have never been removed. If it has been lifted, it would not hurt to check.
 
kennyw said:
It is probably not an issue if they have never been removed. If it has been lifted, it would not hurt to check.
Click to expand...

It's been lifted. Thats why I want to check. It doesn't hurt to simply set my torque wrench and it will make me feel better so why not?
 
Popping noises might be a sheared center bolt,front spring "eye" cracked around the bushing (on stock springs) and it also could be the frame has a crack behind the power steering box...

You should be able to see and feel the box moving and jump if you have someone move the wheel and hear it pop if its a cracked frame rail..might be just the bolts holding the box on are loose if your lucky..

Also check the rivets on the crossmember to the frame and make sure they are not sheared off or missing,I have found several that way on more than one of my trucks,even a 2wd one,that also had a cracked frame behind the steering box!..
 
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