I just replaced my top control arm bushings and learned something about a clack clack or pop pop noise coming from the front of my truck.

I pre loosened up my top control arm bushing nuts a few days before actually taking the arms off and what do you know I now have a clack clack or pop pop noise coming from my front.

So check your top control arm bushing nuts are they at 130 lb torque my nuts were actually very loose even before loosening them more.

Update

What happens is as the rubber ages it gets compressed plus the rubber shrinks with age this loosens up those top nuts I suggest everyone re torque your top control arm nuts as they have loosened up on you same with the bottom bushing nuts/bolts they have loosened up with age.

 

98DAKAZ, do you happen to have the torque values for these items?

 

This is from the manual but not sure if it covers 2wd and 4x4?


But I think this chart covers the 2wd Dakotas

 

check the tie rods man!

 

Tie rods are tight

 

Thanks, great info.

 

Well i still haven't fixed my issue yet. Did find some other issues though. I replaced my caliper on my left front due to it not releasing my pads and causing my rim to be super hot. Also found one of my caliper bolts was being grounded down. I replaced the left caliper. Both sets of caliper bolts. Both brake pads. I did notice that the brake pad retainer is tweaked on my right side and has been grinding into my rotor. Have to replace that. So since it only cracks and pops when I make a hard left and it doesn't do it when I'm on the brakes. The only other option is that I got a bad wheel hub from autozone and it is definitely coming from the left side. So I guess I will go back and exchange that and see what happens

 

The heat from the dragging brakes on the left front could affect the lubricant and wreck your hub.

 

but my question is if my hub is going bad. wouldnt the noise be consistent and clack continuously and not when I am turning left? or could it be that I am putting a side load on the hub when I make a swift left turn. Because it does not happen if I make a gracious left turn if you know what I mean? it only makes the noise when its a hard left turn if that makes any sense at all

 

It could be the side load from the hard turning.

What was grinding down your caliper bolts?