clunking won't stop!!!

tksmooth30 · 10-12-2009, 01:10 PM

hi guys, new here! I've had 3 duramax crews and have great luck. My 06 has about 104,000 miles on it. A few months ago I had a clunking in the front start, sounds just like a bad shock, anyways, I took the truck in and had the shocks replaced with reflex shocks. Clunk was still there. i noticed that if i pulled a trailer it would be gone, or so it seemed. I then took it to the dealer and they said the pitmant arms were bad, so I had both sides replaced. Clunk was still noticable, I took the truck back to the dealer and they said it was the fron tleft shock...... so last week I had rancho shocks put on ..still a clunk when i hit bumps, sounds like its in the drivers side front still. I did pull trailer Friday and noticed the clunk was still there while pulling. I also had a leveling kit intalled because the tire guy I use said that the torsion bars were cracnked all the way on the drivers side and the pass was not, even with the truck being level...so he thought that could be part of the problem and as it turned out, that didn't help either...I've had it to 3 different garages and all have said the front end is tight and they don't see any problems, but the clunk is still there...I'm getting to the point that I may trade the damn thing in......any help is apperciated. Thanks in advance!!

06 crew, banks exhaust, air raid intake, edge on 285 toyos

gossfam · 10-12-2009, 01:40 PM

Could possibly be the Intermediate Steering Shaft. I've gone through 3 I heard it most when slightly turning. Drove me F'in nuts. Just an idea.

**ob_1jr** · 10-12-2009, 01:42 PM

to the forum!!

Is this clunk in the steering column or does it sound like from outside? Have you ever had wheel hubs changed on your truck? You might want to check that...jack up the front and try to rock the tire at 12 and 6 oclock. If there is movement...it is bad. Also, do you have nerf bars on it? the only other thing that has had a TSB was for the body mounts, but it doesnt really seem to sound like your problem.

tksmooth30 · 10-12-2009, 01:45 PM

I thought the saem thing with the intermeidiate shaft as i had to replace that on every truck...this doesn't have the clunk in the steering wheel though. I havent changed the hubs. I do have nerf bars and have tried to check out if the problem stemmed from there...but it doesn't appear so.....i can sometimes feel it in the gas pedel..i have rode the brake while going over bumps to see if it could be a calpiper and it still sounds the same...i'll check the hub thing....

**ob_1jr** · 10-12-2009, 01:48 PM

mine would sometimes shake the truck when my hub was bad.

tksmooth30 · 10-12-2009, 01:56 PM

I just checked the hubs and everything is tight....I don't have any shake at all..just a clunk that sounds just like a bad shock......

**ob_1jr** · 10-12-2009, 02:00 PM

hmmm that was a quick jack job. have you had your lower steering bearing looked at? that is weird. I know i did have a rear shock come loose one time (guess i didnt get it as tight as i though), but that was noticeable in the rear. All i can think is the nerf bars making the noise. I know mine sometimes make a clunking noise....but that is in the winter when i have ice built up on them between the rocker and the bar.

tksmooth30 · 10-12-2009, 02:06 PM

yes...is that an indication as to the extent of my irritation!! Steering bearing? not checked that yet.. how do i check that?

**ob_1jr** · 10-12-2009, 02:34 PM

Im not too sure, but i know if you look at your intermediate shaft and can get a lot of movement out of it, that is what normally goes bad. I read this bearing is actually plastic, but i havent seen it or persued it. I think that's what i need to do on my truck now along with the intermediate shaft.

tksmooth30 · 10-12-2009, 02:44 PM

You know...I'm thinking, because I haven't replaced the interm. shaft on this at 104,000 and I've had to replace it 1 and somtimes twice on my other chevy trucks..maybe thats the problem. It would explain why the front seems good....I could always tell when I was going around a curve i would feel and hear a clunk in the steering wheel......I haven't heard if they actually changed the design in the 06's or if they are the same as what i had in my 02 and 05 chevy's? What do you guys think?