Brand new Dakar leaf noise?

[DoubleAughtTaco]

Hey guys,
This is my first post here, but I have been a lerker for quite sometime. Love the forum!

I just installed OME 880's and Dakar leaf packs on my '00 Regular cab over the weekend. As soon as I took it out of the garage, I noticed a "clunk" type of noise coming from what seems to be the leafs whenever I let the clutch out, or let off the gas and the weight of the truck shifts back forward. Is this normal? Is it axle wrap? I'm scratching my head trying to diagnose this noise, and any help would be much appreciated.

Also, I am running the 880's (with ARB and no winch) at the recommendation of the guys over at Sierra Expeditions, and I have quite a bit of rake on the truck now that it's lifted. Should I have gone with the 881's or will the Dakars settle quite a bit?

Thanks

 

[Box Rocket]

This could be slop in your carrier bearing. The increased angle of the joint after the lift could be exposing some wear that wasn't evident before the lift.

 

[DoubleAughtTaco]

If I'm not mistaken, regular cabs don't have a carrier bearing, do they?

 

[zolo]

You are correct, and not mistaken.

Did you replace the bushings in the pivot and shackle side of the leaf pack?

 

[DoubleAughtTaco]

Yes, new OME bushings were installed in the factory shackle.

 

[zolo]

Yes, new OME bushings were installed in the factory shackle.

New bushing on the front and rear of the leaf pack- check.

Well If you drove the truck through a regular non off road and spirited test drive, I highly doubt axle wrap.
Not to mention the new leaf pack is pretty stiff and I doubt the 2.7 would have enough power to wrap the axle at all.

Id check the u-bolts are tight. Then check all your u-joints.
They will clunk in a heart beat if bad. Maybe one failed at the same time you did the lift and its just dumb luck.

 

[DoubleAughtTaco]

. Maybe one failed at the same time you did the lift and its just dumb luck.

That seems to be the way things go with me, so I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Did you have to trim the spring bolt and did you snug and peen it? If you know don't know that's the bolt with the funky head that holds the pack together and locates it within the spring perch.

IIRC when I put my Dakar springs on my '91 it was not tightened much. I added a leaf to mine and I don't remember cutting the bolt anyway. The clunk could be the leafs shifting under the u-bolts.