73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: dronz on December 20, 2014, 08:38:33 pm
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Hey all new member here! I Just bought an 85 gmc high sierra k1500. Its got a leaf spring lift in front, shackle block lift in the rear,small block 5.7 350 v8, 4 barrell edelbrock carb, straight headers ; ) 3 speed tranny :( riding on 33x12.5 bfg's on american racing wheels.
It's a great truck it'll pass anything but a gas pump.. but the clunking when making rights and lefts is driving me nuts. I checked the BJ's and they're fine anyone run into this problem before on this truck?
any help would be very much appreciated thanks!
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I'm guessing it doesn't do it when youre parked and turn the wheels right to left ?
Could be lots of stuff
I'd check the spring bushings
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the axle u joint could be stiff. is a hub engaged?
is the noise repetitive or does it only happen once every turn?
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Nope it only does it while moving and making regular right and left turns. If I take a wide turn it doesn't do it. It does it when the hubs are locked or unlocked.
The spring bushings look like --[] spring edge on left touching metal. Are they supposed to look like this []-[] spring inbetween bushing edges?
I can't believe that would make that popping clunkg sound but who knows...
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Any chance you recently did a brake job? If so, the calipers could be rubbing on the inside of wheel. I know this because I did my brakes w/new calipers & they rubbed the wheel during turns the first 30ish miles untill the pads wore down just a hare. They no longer do so:)
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Nope haven't done brake job.
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Ok so I've determined this noise is from the front leaf spring bushings. 3 of them are missing the edge/ flange so every time I make a turn (while moving) they slip/clunk.
The front springs are not stock due to the lift. They are 6 leaf. They measure 2 5/8"(2 1/2") wide looks like the eye is 1 1/4" and that sleeve that goes thru looks like 1/2" diameter
measurement of bushings and shackle(left to right) is ]--[ 3 1/2"
can anybody get me a link so I can get the right parts? need all four spring eye bushings.
What's the best way to remove these? jack up the frame to take some weight off the springs. Any help would be appreciated thanks.
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Make sure you use poly and change all 3 sets of bushings per side, yes that's 3 sets per side. Use new bolts with locking nuts. The bolts should be torqued so that the hanger is snug but not cranked down and binding. Jack up The truck, jack stands under the frame. Make sure front axle hangs freely the use your jack to move axle up and down to get old bushings out. Make no mistake about it the old bushings aren't going to just fall out. You may have to air chisel,torch,hammer/swear to get the old ones out depending on how there seized in there. Make to apply a liberal amount of never seize to your bushing bolts so they do not seize to the new bushing sleeves. Don't over tighten the lock nuts the suspension has to be able to articulate.
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Get new bolts
Sawzall the old bolts between the hanger and spring
Lot easier than trying to get them out normally
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thanks for the replies!
(this in regards to the front leaf springs) The shackle bushings have a 7/16" bolt on top and a 1/2" on the bottom... the kit I have from energy suspension is for aftermarket springs which is what I have(6 leaf) but only allows a 7/16" bolt on the bottom so I just bought a couple new grade 8 bolts from Fastenal and put er together. Is there an exact kit that has this 1/2'' sleeve with bushings just for the bottom one?(leaf spring eye)
napa doesn't even carry grade 8 bolts btw and the hardware hank only had 4" ones these are 5's so Fastenal hooked me up thank gawd!
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This may be a dumb question but have you determined if the popping is in the front or back or did I miss something.The reason I say that is because a k model should have a gov-lock in back and they can pop in tight turns,more so with large tires
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the front.. problem solved but thanks for your input
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ROUNDHOUSE wins first prize for solving this dilemma