right front wheel clunk

[Firesong]

It's something between a knock and a clunk when hitting some small holes.
Doesn't happen everytime but need some info regarding diagnosing.
I have done a search looking for wheel bearing noises and such.
I don't have a grind however I do have some play when rocking the tire
from 12 and 6 oclock. Not much but it's there. I just replaced the shocks
all around so I don't think it's that. Might be the Rancho's are hooped.
Not impressed with them. The rubber boots are all good and intact.

Where to start? Is there a way to tighten the wheel bearings? I remember
doing it on my old VW bus but that was a different beast.
What are the indicators for tie rods etc.

Thanks guys
Firesong

[DelicaMark]

Sounds like something I had and warmland89 had. Our symptoms were, when the front right wheel was loaded by say turning left and you hit a depression in the road there would be a clunk that felt like it came from your feet area.

He tried a lot of things and I waited until he figured it out. It turned out to be the frame bolts needing a tightening. You need a big wrench or a wrench and pipe to get enough touque to tighten them. My front right one was quite loose, meaning you could get a few very load squeaking 1/4 turns in. The front left wasn't very loose.

Hope this helps...also what would help is having the van up on a hoist. One so you could actually find the bolts and two so you could get enough leverage.

-Mark

[Mbryant]

Here is the information that I was able to find. Although to be honest even with the picture I have no idea which ones are the frame bolts.
http://www.delica.ca/forum/clunk-5025.h ... le+turning

[snelson]

Check your upper and lower ball joints, you could try adding more grease as a temp fix, also check out your front sway bar bushings-easy to replace those.
From your description about the tire wiggle sounds like ball joints

[nxski]

Not the sway bar bushings? Mine was making a smilar noise to that over small bumps but definitely not coming from the wheel.

[jwfchase]

Had mine in at CVI recently for this same problem- was the upper ball joint(s)

[Firesong]

Hi
Definitely not frame bolts. We went ice fishing today and the bumps on the ice
were a continual thunk thunk thunk fast and hard. Im thinking something front end
wise. It's getting worse too. Hope that it's nothing to crazy.

Is there a way to diagnose?
I don't have a tool for the ball joints.

FS

[snelson]

Hey fire-the way to diagnose is pretty much exacly what you described- the clunking and especially the wheel 'wobble' from top to bottom.

[Firesong]

Well, I had to take the shop truck in for some work so figured I would take in the van and a tire at the same time. Being it's the shop we take our work stuff in they said sure, get them here, leave them with us and it would be done.

Can't tell you what a hard week for the family it's been. (excuse the little blerb) We lost my aunt and uncle saturday night in a 2 car headon collision on the highway. I was in alberta at the time with my kids. Anyway..

I figured someone else can diagnose and make sure my whole front end is solid. They went through it all, made sure everything was tight. Tested etc etc. Good thing is the ball joints and such are all good. I have a slight bit of play in the wheel bearings but nothing that needs to be done yet or for a while. It was a loose shock mount. Just as I figured initially but couldn't seem to find. They fixed it and even though It cost 1/2 labor it's worth it knowing everything else is good and solid.

With my boss away I am keeping it in the heated work shop next to the bobcat and kubota since it's dropping down to -20 with maybe between 5 cm and 20 cm of snow. What kind of 'guess' is that for the forecast?

FS