Suspension problem
1998 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 120k miles
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I replaced broken front hub / bearings. Replaced caliper and rotors at same time. Immediately got a new loud clunking noise when turning especially at idle driving speed.
I replaced the half-shafts, since I had been pudhing on them while working on the hubs and the sway bar bushings (witness marks showed wear).
Tie rod ends seem tight, sway bar end links seem tight(grabbing and pulling on them.) have had the ball joints apart and they seem ok.
I'm puzzled at how the sound showed up right when I replaced the bearing / hubs. I followed the book procedure for torquing the axle nuts. It said 180lbs. My wrench only goes to 150lbs, so I guessed and it has to be really close.
I've pulled on the upper strut shaft and it seems tight, how can I test the bearing at the top of the strut? And does it make sense for it to start clunking just from replacing the wheel bearing. This noise showed up before I ever had the ball joint opened.
I even tried adding spacer washers between the rims and the rotors trying to rule out some difference or slack in the hub or rotor.
Help!! I'm running out of hair to pull.
Thanks in advance,
Jeff