WH Suspension 2006 115,000 klm

[graemej]

have a loud rattle noise when driving over corrigations on dirt road coming from front end.
returned to dealer replaced ball joints noise still there any suggestions

[fester]

Steering rack mountings, Diff mounts. Plenty of other potential rattles in front end. Grab a pry bar and get under there and start wiggling things. How did the dealer diagnose the ball joints, I'd be askign them why they got it wrong.

[valpacer]

What fester said

+ swaybar links (good chance these are shot)
+ rack ends
+ UCA bushes
+ LCA strut mount and bushings.

Balljoints is actually the last place i'd look on a WH for a front end noise, they are pretty hardy on a non lifted truck.

[graemej]

brought car from dealer with RWC took it back 1 week later reported problem and that it should have been rectified for a RWC they said over looked ball joints had to weight 6 weeks for part taken back 4 times they say nothing wrong thanks for some ideas will put up on ramps on week end

[graemej]

sorry forgot to add would it be worth taking to a suspension company ie pedders and getting put on a shockers test machine and see if can hear problem

[hotqld]

At 103,000 Front end issues I had:
1/Front diff mounts rubbers split...replaced
2/Front drive shaft CV joint transfer case end "all rubber destroyed / gone"...replaced CV joint.
3/ Transfer case motor shorted.....replaced
4/ TCM rom failure...replaced.
5/ 3 glow plugs failed
In addition to normal serviceing changing all fluids and filters.

Now runs like new again no vibrations etc from anywhere.
PS Ours started as a rattle clang etc from the front driving out of motocross mountain Qld, a extremely rough driveway!

[briteway]

I replaced the front diff mounts on mine recently after 90K. The clunks have disappeared. I still have slight vibrations around 70-100 km/h when feathering the throttle to increase speed on an incline and incidentally happens when the MDS shutts off. I'll get to the bottom of it one day, I think.

Graemej, I also get the thumps when going over even smallest holes on the road. I thought it could be the struts but will check other things first before I spend $300 on 2 new struts. Just didn't have much chance to spend time on it. It's been like that for a while now and I'm thinking it could have something to do with the 70-100 km/h vibrations (but also could not). I'll check the links, bushes and ball joints first as they're cheaper to replace. Valpacer, how do you tell if the swaybar links are shot??? Also, could the rack ends contribute to thumping when it only happens on holes or gravel roads?

If the "freeway" vibes don't go out by fixing the thumping sound, I'll get a custom front drive shaft made and eliminate that too as it won't be that expensive. The thumping has somewhat increased since installing the lift but it existed before it as well but not as intense. The front passenger side thumps more than the drivers side by heaps. I also get the squeaking noise which I think is produced by the loose front bump stops. Ever since the lift, they just won't sit up there and they just slide up and down the strut shaft. They are supposed to pop in or clip in but feel weak and the spring is too close to them from the front side so the first compression/decompression of the springs pulls them back out.

So this is the order I thought to carry out the troubleshooting for thumps, vibes and squeaks by elimination and if necessary, replacement:
1. Check bushes, swaybar links and ball joints (including the 3 on the upper wishbone) - (thumps)
2. Take struts out and check/fully tighten the top bolt on each one - (thumps and squeaks)
3. Replace struts - (thumps)
4. Replace front drive shaft with custom - (vibes)
5. Replace rear drive shaft with custom - (vibes)

If there's anything else let us know.