Jim Grant's Tech Tips

93 Ford F150, Front-end Clunk

Q: My '93 F150 makes a clunk noise that seems to be coming from the passenger side front wheel. It only makes this noise when backing up straight and making a sharp right turn. Is it the U-Joint and, if so, can it be fixed at home or does it need special tools?

A: Maybe a U-joint, but my suspicion is a bad radius arm bushing. The radius arm bushing maintains the alignment of the front wheel to the frame of the vehicle. A worn bushing will cause clunks under the condition you describe. Also there may be a brake pull when you first step on the brake as well. To find the real answer someone has to get under the vehicle and perform a thorough inspection. As for fixing it at home; be sure to back the vehicle in, just in case you decide that it's more of a job than planned on.