Greeting all,
Let me first introduce myself. I have been lurking here for just over a month now (ever since I bought my Ram) and have taken the advice of many on here already. I am not a newbie to forums, wrenching, trucks or 4x4s in the least. I bought my '98 2500 (8800 GVW) 4x4 regular cab long bed 360/auto SLT-Laramie to pull my real passion, my IH Scouts and Pickups to shows and trail runs and such. Since I bought it I have done the 14" open air cleaner mod and that is it. Everything else looks stock, it was a one owner truck and has 92K on the clock.

This week it developed a clunk in the front suspension when going down my parent's driveway. They have some rather large potholes to go through and this is where the clunk has developed. It happens when the front wheels crest over the ridge of a couple larger potholes and descend into the hole. I can be going slow or fast, no difference, 4x4 or 4x2, wheels turned or straight, no difference.

Things I have checked so far:
U-Joints - tight
Driveshaft slip joint - tight
Balljoints - Look new and feel fine otherwise
TREs - All are greased, tight and solid
Shocks & Steering stabalizer - Might be originals and need replacement, but don't see how this could be the issue
Engine and Transmission mounts - Good, very little dry rot in rubber
Control Arms - tight, no excess movement, bushings could use a replacement I imagine just due to age and mileage

The only thing I saw that didn't look right were the boots on the connecting arms from the swaybar were broke open and the joint is exposed to the elements.

Anything else to check? I have done a couple different searches and all I came up with was what I had already checked. There are no TSBs about this listed so I am at kinda a stand still as far as it goes. Basically I can feel the clunk very solidly through the floorboards and I want to ensure I don't screw up something on my new truck.

Thanks in advance to all, and here is a pic of my toy before I put the CB antennea on and got everything polished up.

 

Does the truck want to wonder all over the road when driving it? And does the steering feel shuggish?

 

Have you checked the laterial stabilizer link. From the axle to the frame? Connected to the frame by a ball joint. My truck would wander all over the road and there was a clunking noise. And when you would shake the truck the steering wheel would move back and forth like crazy. I got a OEM replacment for $220 and the problems never came back. You might want to check into that.

 

Not in the least. I have absolutely no fears of letting go of the wheel on a straight level strech of road. The steering is very tight and solid (almost a little to much effort to turn IMHO, but I am used to my IHs with cranked up PS pumps or the Lincoln I traded in for the Ram and I know that it is steering like the 2 other 2500 I have driven extensively.) There is very little bump steer and as mentioned before, the steering stablizer looks stock, so it might need replacing, but very doubtful that is the cause.

 

No, there is nothing like that. I know of the steering issues that plague these trucks and the "death wobble" and such as one of the other 2500s I mentioned driving had such issues for 4 out of the 6 months I drove it.

 

AKA ... Track Bar. Could be your problem. They wear out fast and cause more problems than just the DW ... however ...

More likely is the lower shock mounts. Should be torqued to 100 foot pounds. If they're even a little loose (happens through normal use and aging ... the bushings shrink) you'll feel a banging in the floorboard ... right under your feet.

 

Thanks TMS Bill! I might as well go ahead and put new shocks on the front while I am checking the lower mounts.