Suspension play after lift

[Quantumkiwi]

Recently installed a 3inch lift for the front of my truck. Put in new SPC UCAs, and while I had the truck up I also did steering rack bushings (since I had a bit of rattle in the steering before.)

I think the bushings solved the rattle problem, but only now after I have lifted it there feels like a weird clunk on the drivers side in the front whenever I go over a bump (big or small.)
The only things I can think of are LBJs or tire rods. I'm pretty sure my tie rods are toast, as when I disconnected them they immediately dropped down and had no resistance to the ball joints. However, I have also never replaced LBJs after 190k miles (I know, just dont have the cash right now.) I'm a bit hesitant to drive it right now, since I believe that it could be the LBJs, since when I feel the clunk, I don't notice any movement in the steering wheel.

It could be the UCAs as I put the steering knuckle sleeve in upside down and couldn't get the ball joint spindle out to flip it. I didn't want to destroy my ball joints with a pickle fork so I just left it and tightened it a bit extra.

Thoughts?

I have a trip in 2.5 weeks that I'm trying to get the truck ready for and if I need to replace LBJs it probably won't be done in time. Still have to weld and paint both bumpers.

 

[nc-grayson]

Priorities my friend. LBJ's should have been done well in advance of installing suspension components.

Literally the weakest link of your entire front end setup....and it should not be taken lightly. Change them ASAP.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Check your LCA cam bolts, if you loosened those at all they’ll clunk like that. Firestone did an alignment years ago and left one side loose and it clunked like that. I just did some front end work a couple weeks ago and I forgot to tighten the passenger side LCA cam bolts and heard a clunk and knew exactly what to check this time.

 

[Quantumkiwi]

Check your LCA cam bolts, if you loosened those at all they’ll clunk like that. Firestone did an alignment years ago and left one side loose and it clunked like that. I just did some front end work a couple weeks ago and I forgot to tighten the passenger side LCA cam bolts and heard a clunk and knew exactly what to check this time.

I didn't loosen them, Is it possible they may have loosened when I pressed down (by stepping on it with the UCA disconnected) on the lca to get the coilovers in? I ended up having to shorten the coilovers a bit since they were too long to fit nicely.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I didn't loosen them, Is it possible they may have loosened when I pressed down (by stepping on it with the UCA disconnected) on the lca to get the coilovers in? I ended up having to shorten the coilovers a bit since they were too long to fit nicely.

Manipulating the upper or lower control arms won’t loosen the bolts but if you got it aligned recently, the shop may have left something loose. They have to loosen the cam bolts to adjust them when aligning.

 

[my92t4r]

check your end links for play or loose nuts.....when those go bad they causes a clunk, mine did.....

 

[jonesfromindia]

I would be weary of the LBJs. You made the same mistake I did. I didn’t think about it when I did my front end. It was literally 1 more bolt to undue and it would have been done. I waited and did it 2 weeks later.

**** the bumpers. Fix the BJs

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

It could be the UCAs as I put the steering knuckle sleeve in upside down and couldn't get the ball joint spindle out to flip it. I didn't want to destroy my ball joints with a pickle fork so I just left it and tightened it a bit extra.

I would start looking here. That upper ball joint is now contacting only 1 point in that tapered sleeve. Lots of opportunity to move around. I bet a simple ball joint tool would pop it right out and the sleeve shouldn't be too tough to knock loose. Personally I wouldn't drive around with it like that.