2000 Dakota 2wd Abs.

Recently purchased 2000 Dakota with 111k miles. Went for an inspection and failed. Had upper and lower ball joints plus inner tie rods put on both sides. I did not drive truck much up to this point, but noticed a very hard pull to the left when braking, before ball joints put on. It was fixed after the shop worked on it.

There is a very loud pop whenever turning the wheel hard, taking off, or braking to a full stop. I thought it was the caliper but it has a new caliper on the drivers side. No new on passenger. The popping noise is coming from the drivers front.

Also when stopping sometimes the abs and brake lights will come on. The truck is not low or leaking fluid. Brakes feel solid even when this happens. I pull over turn the truck off, and the lights go off. I restart and no lights. Driving like usual.

Reading tells me it is probably the wheel bearing, and my truck has an abs sensor in there. Could need a new passenger side caliper too.

Could be a sway bar link, but the shop would have seen that when changing ball joints. They would not have seen the wheel bearing.

Thoughts before I change wheel bearing?

 

Wheel bearings don't pop. They make a continuous sound like the drone of an airplane engine, lower level of course.

 

Typically, the pop you are hearing is from the upper control arm tie bar moving on it's mounting plate.

Usually when both lights come on, it's an issue on one end or the other of the ABS system. If your truck has the optional 4 wheel ABS, then it could be a front sensor. If not, the only ABS sensor is in the rear axle.

 

Not sure if I have abs sensor in front then.

I only have the noise when the brakes are applied.
it is definately the drivers front.

it feels like the piston is being pushed out of the caliper which I know is not possible.

 

I second the upper control arms. The bushings have probably worn out. Yes, they can move too.

Not a wheel bearing type noise.

 

I watched a video and see what you guys are talking about.

Are the bushings sold separately or do you have to buy the entire arm with ball joint?

Is it ok to drive it or keep it parked?

 

The control arm bushings can be replaced. You'll have to pull the old control arms to do it.

 

Another possibility is the caliper slide pins are loose and the caliper is slapping around as the brakes are applied. My Dakota gets a pop up front at times not sure why everything is new and solid I think most Dakotas get this strange pop maybe its a torsion bar sound if twisted at times. Usually the pop only happens turning right and applying the brakes but only at odd times.

 

I think mine are going south too. How do you guys get em out, torch em?

 

That works, but, it's a rather smelly operation...... A press makes life easier.