Annoying thumping noise when driving over pot holes

[KidAce]

I just bought an '05 TB LS (4X4) with 41M miles.

After I drove it off the lot, I noticed that the steering started to get a little loose at 70Mph and I also noticed this annoying thumping noise, from the front axles, when I hit a bump or a pot hole. It totally sounded like a bad ball joint, so I brought it to my usual mechanic and replaced the Sway bar linkage assembly.

That took care of the steering problem at 70Mph and 'some' of the thumping noise, when driving over bumps, but I still get that annoying thumping sound when I drive over pot holes.

It's not the usual or the typical sound you expect to hear when you hit a bump. Those I know, but like I mentioned earlier, it's like a bad ball joint noise.

I had my mechanic look at it again, but he swears that all the ball joint (both lower & uppers) are perfect.

Has anyone else experienced this?

What's odd is that I only hear it when I drive over a pot hole... not a bump.

Please let me know if you've experieced this... more importantly, if you know the fix.

Thanks in advance,
KidAce

[maxwedge]

Without driving the truck we can only guess from here, all 4 stabilizer links on my 2002 have been replaced twice for rumbling over bumps. Usually a ball joint will not give you those symptoms, further diagnosis onsite is the only way to track this down.

[KidAce]

Thanks for the reply, Max. I appreciate it.

Do you think it's possible (at all) that a loosened Torssion Bar could make those noises? I mean with the thumping only being heard when the front tires drop in a pot hole or an uneven surface?

[maxwedge]

No torsion bars on this truck.

[KidAce]

Just as an FYI... after having read through several threads, on this board, about the same types of sound that others were hearing from their TB's, I brought my truck into my mechanic's shop and instructed him to replace my fron Sway Bar Bushings with Moog parts. They did as instructed and low and behold... the noise was gone!!!

Now, I just have to have them replace the rear ones too and all will be right with the world.

Cheers