Okay so I’m going nuts trying to track down what is bad and I’m running out of options. In my ‘99 LTD I have a clink and shift to the left while under aggressive hard braking. Otherwise the truck drives straight and doesn’t give me any issues.

I replaced the upper control arms and bushings on both sides because my drivers were definitely shot. That improved things but didn’t eliminate it.

I added 1/8 turn to my steering rack guide bushing, unrelated to the clunk that was just to tighten up some highway jitter.

I’ve checked the rack bushings. Left to right to left the rack has no movement in relation to the crossmember. It is secure.

I’ve pushed, prayed, and twisted on all of my control arm bushings both loaded and unloaded and can’t find any play. I’m currently running new stock rubber upper bushings and poly lower bushings.

I’ve checked that my upper control arms have room to clear the springs and not catching the spring on the way past.

I’ve given the wheels a shake to check the bearings and have no noticeable movement.

Tie rods are newer and have no noticeable play when I squeeze them with pliers or rock them around.

Ball joints upper and lower show no signs of play when I squeeze them and they have less than 40k miles.

Mostly stock, running 5100s on the second perch.


Tire World guy suggested maybe in the column, but that seems unlikely that it’s only under super hard braking.

 

When this occurs, does it feel like something is shifting/moving or just the noise?