Suspension trouble

[Stillakilla187]

The other day i took my 97 tahoe into some mud, and hit a couple ruts pretty hard. When I started driving down the road, it started making a clunking sound every time I hit a bump. So I checked the front suspension, and I found what was wrong. Its like a orange bumper thats right near my shock its completely smashed. Im new to chevy so I dont really have any experience with how this suspension is set up. All I need to know really is what this part is called so I can get a new one. Thanks.

 

[treepete]

is it the bump stop?

http://www.stylintrucks.com/sn.aspx?free_text=bump+stop

maybe your bottoming out over bumps now if its crushed... but you must be hitting some big bumps to compress the suspension all the way enough to crush them.

 

[Stillakilla187]

YES!!! That is exactly what i was looking for. Now do you think something else is wrong with my suspension if it bottoms out like that? I hit the ruts pretty hard so the initial smash is expected. But to be "bottoming out every time i hit a bump isnt. So maybe it has something to do with torsion bar maybe shocks. the shock looks good from outside, but of course you will never see damage on outside. The torsion bar LOOKS ok. idk. And the ride isnt terrible just when i hit a bump big or small it goes clunk on the drivers side. Any advise?

 

[Stillakilla187]

also those bump stops say they are smaller than stock for dropped trucks. i tend to go through the rough stuff so maybe i should look for bigger ones. At least stock size i think. Im used to the ford coils, and leaf so this is new to me.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

it shouldn't bottom out while your driving it under regular conditions. you've broken/bent something. check you front stabilizer bar, moreso the ends. (snapped one off on mine and it "clunked". Make sure you loosen to bar if you have to put a new one on)

could be several things.

 

[Stillakilla187]

where is the stabilizer bar? like i said im new. and what should i look for? just broken pieces? im goin to look it up see if i can find some pics on internet

 

[Stillakilla187]

if you can get a pic of the underneath of your truck thatd be awesome, im going to take a few pics tomorrow and see if i can upload them.

 

[Rick90467]

it shouldn't bottom out while your driving it under regular conditions. you've broken/bent something. check you front stabilizer bar, moreso the ends. (snapped one off on mine and it "clunked". Make sure you loosen to bar if you have to put a new one on)

could be several things.

Take a look at the shocks as well, if blown they will clunk about and not have enough resistance to cusion the blow.

 

[Stillakilla187]

i took a quick look at it this morning, and seem the bump stops even on the other non affected side seem really close to the control arm, like an inch or 2 away. is that normal? There isnt any load on it.

 

[treepete]

I agree that something else might be broken if your feeling a clunk while driving around normally. I mean little bumps in the road shouldnt ever make you bottom out or make a weird sound. Check the torsion bar that it is not bent. you should have more clearance under for travel.. was your truck lowered before you bought it?
anyway, take a look at your shock mounting area see if thats cracked at the base of the shock. and yeah, stick your arm under there and take some pictures. guys in the forum help a lot and pictures make it easier.

 

[Stillakilla187]

no it was never lowered. its at stock height, and on level ground looks level no front sagging or anything. hmmmm, ya i will get pics up.

 

[Stillakilla187]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23582050@N08/archives/

 

[Stillakilla187]

there are a cuple of my front susp i couldnt find anything wrong cept the bump stop. i even compared it to a guys tahoe in the parking lot at work lol. theres slush on the ground so i was hesitant to get on my back to check.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

stabilizer bar bolts onto the front of the contol arm. (yours is the gold colored part with the smashed oranish bushings, attached to the black bar that runs up to the frame and across to the other side.)

 

[Stillakilla187]

you think thats the problem then? i will check tomorrow when theres light. im still hoping its the 20 dollar bump stop deal.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

thers something else thats making it hit the bump stop.

you should be able to pull the bolt out of the gold sleeve if you broke the stabilizer end. the ends are $11.99 a side from Advance Auto parts.

check your torsion bars and the shock as well. (i take it you know what both are? if not i can snap a pic of the torsion bar on my truck. shock is self explanatory.)

 

[Stillakilla187]

i checked that, looks fine, no crack or obvious bends. The only thing i can find that looks messed up is that bump stop. Im going to check my alignment later that should give me an indicator of whats wrong. Though when I drive she goes straight, and pretty smooth, other than the clunking sound, which is a lot louder at slow speeds.

 

[Stillakilla187]

alignments fine. everthing looks good. f@$% it i will replace the bump stop and let you know what happens. Does anyone know of a site with the stock ones. everybodys got either bigger ones for lifted trucks, or smaller ones for lowered trucks.

 

[Hardwarz]

I keep telling everyone this but never get any feed back on it.

Follow your torsion bars from your front suspension to where it connects at the crossmember. Shake that crossmember. Does it move? Is shouldn't. Check the bracket that hold it to the frame.

Hardwarz

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

:iagree: didn't think of that.

if its bottoming out, your likely to tear up another bump stop.