Re: Front end clunk (long)

From: Kyle Kozubal (grndak4x4@home.com)
Date: Tue May 22 2001 - 19:21:30 EDT


> Hey, DML!
> Driving the DAKSY home from work tonite, I make a right turn onto the I-87
> South entrance ramp, which is in bad shape pavement-wise & has been
shoddily
> patched by our "crack" DOT crews here in upstate NY...Anyways I hit the
> patches & hear a "clunk" from the front end which was audible even with
the
> radio on....I'm thinkin WTF? somebody been playin with the lug-nuts or
what?
> Ball-joints? Control arm? So I take it easy on the way home & take the
> smoother of the three possible routes...I can still hear something that
just
> don't sound right (or good) when I turn right...I pull into a supermarket
> parking lot & I can feel every little bump, & hear it too! DAMN! What is
it?
> I try rocking the left front tire/wheel & she's solid...k...I shop for the
> weekend & head to the house (about 4 miles)...I can feel every little
ripple
> in the pavement & almost every pebble! I pull up to the garage & look in
> over the tire to see if anything is loose...can't tell...So I push as hard
> as I can on the left front fender & there's the clunk! OKAY...drag out the
> floor jack, compressor, & impact & jack er up & zip out the lugnuts...The
> DAMN ProComp ES9000 shock is loose at the bottom! The lower bolt is backed
> completely out of the threaded boss & the shock is turned 90 degrees! I
> torqued the damn things to the FSM spec (80 lbs/ft) when I installed them
in
> April. Why the HELL would only one loosen up? The ProComps didn't come
with
> any paperwork/instructions, so I referred back to the FSM for the torque
> spec. Ya thjink that 80lbs/ft may be too low? Should I go higher? I don't
> wanna stretch the threads, but I don't wanna lose the shock again. Maybe
one
> of the Loctite Compounds after torquing? Help me DML!

Definately try some medium duty automotive grade Loctite......it is the red
stuff. More jelly-like than the water like Loctite Blue 242. I have used the
auto grade Loctite on my Bilsteins and they have been solid since last
summer. Heck, I didnt even torque them down, just tightened them up to my
'feel'. Good Luck.
Kyle
93 Dakota 4x4 V6



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