Hello everyone, I searched for anything like this and couldn't get a good answer. I have a 2008 H3 I5 Auto with a Tuff Country Leveling Kit and a little over 50,000 miles. I installed the kit about six months after buying the truck new and have had no problems. (except riding like a ROCK! then broke a shock, but now have the extended bilstein's) I purchased a set of black steel H3T wheels and some 35s, I installed them with the intent to only use them for offroad. I had them on for a week to test mpg loss then a trail ride with my friends. During the trail ride I started to hear a clicking sound coming from the right front. I suspected it to be a CV joint going bad. So I installed my stock wheels and the sound went away..for a little while. I then brought it to the dealership for my 50k tune up and told them to check out the CV joints. They called me and told me they didn't find anything and when I got the truck back the sound was gone!? a month goes by and its starting again. So let me hear you opinions on this. Should I just buy those aftermarket half shafts from trail duty?..

Thanks

 

Are you sure, I mean sure, it is not thos POS leveling keys? You must have seen the million or so threads that tell people not to buy that crap as it is not needed.

Anyways, there are also pleanty of threads here and elsewhere indicating a couple of the aftermarket keys make a lot of noise after a while, TC is one of them.

I have seen in at least two instances a rock or ice chunk get caught up behind the wheel and brake shield and click like a VC joint as the wheel turns? Just threw that out there.

Additionally, adjusting T bars does NOT impact ride, so if your ride quality dropped, you raised the front too much. Max is 23.75 inches fender lip to hub center, leveling keys or OEM.

You have an 08, so you already have heftier half shafts. I'd rather tear up a shaft, that the next tier of breakables. That one is up to you.

 

It only clicks while driving, if I rock the truck back and forth I don't hear anything. It also gets worse while turning. I'll pop the wheel and look for a rock, but I don't think this is the case.


Thanks for the input

 

Well I found a tear in the CV boot this weekend, on the side I thought the noise was coming from. I'm scheduled the drop it off at the dealer in the morning so we'll see if they replace it or not. I was a mechanic for a few years and am still a weekend warrior, ripped CV boots can be hard to spot in the early stages so I don't blame the dealer for not picking it up the first time I brought it in. Now there is grease all over my shock and a-arm...oh well.

 

The dealer replaced the half shaft under warranty so thats all set. Only problem now is the brake peddle goes all the way to the floor! and my truck smells like cigarette smoke! So its back at the dealership to have the breaks bled and an interior deodorizing.