Hi everyone,
Want to start off by saying I've been lurking around this forum since I got my disco about a year ago and really appreciate all the knowledge that you all have have shared here, so thanks for that.

Now onto my issue...
Wednesday morning backing out of the driveway as the front tires went over the curb with the steering wheel all the way to the left, I heard a loud and alarming CLUNK sound from underneath the vehicle accompanied by a slight lurch of the wheels. I got out and looked underneath because my first thought was that I must have bottomed out on something somehow.
I didn't see anything immediately so I got back in and drove to work. Had no issues on the road to work but once again driving in the parking lot the clunk happened again with the low speed tight turning getting into a spot.
I have since been able to reproduce the issue by driving up the curb to my driveway, backing down again, and then holding the steering all the way left and turning a tight circle around the cul-de-sac. Clunk happens 3-4 times in one circle around, each clunk being of varied intensity.
Seems like it only happens after going over a large bump or uneven ground (the curb)

Some relevant info:

• 2003 HSE with ACE
• 115k miles
• 2" TF lift installed in July with 2" wheel spacers
• New Bilstein steering dampener installed in August
• Everything else steering/suspension wise is stock
• One lower knuckle ball joint is missing its boot
• CVs seem fine visually, no concerning play moving the wheel by hand or pry bar when jacked up

I've looked around on all the forums and the common issue in similar situations seems to be the bushings in the panhard or radius arms, but I haven't been able to say for sure that that's my issue, even after working everything over with a pry bar and watching for play. Might be missing something though.
Any other ideas on what the issue could be?
Would like to narrow down the issue as much as possible. My last resort is to replace all the panhard, tie, and drag rods with the tf ones from lucky8 and see where that leaves me.
Thanks in advance

 

Presumably you had the vehicle supported by the frame (not the axles) when you used the pry bar?

 

No I guess I didn't put much thought into that. Just had jack stands under the notches of the radius arms. I see why that would be an issue. Probably need to redo the testing then right?

 

One other suggestion: the steering gear box is worth checking. (I'm also inclined to think your panhard bushings may be on their way out, or already perished.) Disco's are heavy, and if people treat the power steering the way they treat a small car, the gear boxes suffer. Having the truck be moving (even slightly) BEFORE you start turning the steering wheel is a method some people do not practice.

 

when I get a clunk the first place I check is th rear drop links, as they take a pounding, I have replace mine a few times in the last 18 years since I bouight my D2

 

Maybe aggravated on pavement. Does it clunk turning on sand or gravel?

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.
Got it jacked up and resting on the frame today. Had to take the front wheels off to prevent them taking up the load. Helped to get a better look at everything though.
I took the pry bar to the panhard and other points of interest again but still couldn't find any play.
However, in the light of day with the wheels off I got a much better look at everything. I noticed that pretty much all the rubber boots on the rod ends were split or damaged in some way.
Figured it's as good a time as any to go through and replace everything so I went ahead and ordered the tie rod and drag link combo as well as a panhard bar from lucky8. Also added some new front and rear sway bar links since the price was right.
Wish I could have pinpointed the exact issue a bit more, but sometimes it's just easier to just spend more money and hope for the best ha.
Will report back, hopefully with positive results.

 

When I replaced my drag link and tie bar I had to relearn to drive the car as it lost all the play in the sterring wheel,

 

Ok so a few updates to this:

Finally got the new links and panhard bar installed some time over the past week. Took two weeks total since L8 didn't send the steering dampener bracket at first, but they kindly sent out a whole new set of steering rods along with the bracket when I told them. So now I have a spare set minus the bracket if I or anyone need them I guess.
Unfortunately at this point it was still making the clunking sound on the tight turns, figured I would move on to the ball and cv joints some time soon.

Still needed to get the steering aligned after putting in the new parts so I dropped it off at a local mechanic yesterday.
Today they called me and said they got it all aligned right, but when they were backing it out of the shop and making a tight turn at the same time, a loud clanking sound happened, the traction control light came on, and the vehicle stalled. They restarted it and found that it wouldn't engage into drive, only reverse. Asked me to come down and check it out because they didn't want to touch it. I started it up and was able to get it moving forward by revving it up a bit then putting it into 1, then 2 and 3, got home driving it like that. Had to repeat this process at red lights and stop signs.

Any ideas on how the clanking sound when turning could possibly be linked with the transmission? Or are these two separate issues. I'll be checking the trans fluid level tomorrow. No lights on the dash, no codes in the nanocom either.

 

Yea check the front drive shaft if is shot it maybe binding up and it will clunk hard.