I looked around the forums a bit before posting using the "word+word" search method and didn't really find anything on these two specific issues. If I did miss them though my bad....

It's a 98 4x4 4dr with ~116k on it, no mods.

First issue is: Under deceleration from 40+ mph I get a humming almost buzzing sound from the front driver side. It happens when braking or just coasting. I tried letting it coast in neutral and in drive. Made no difference it was still there. It's not any louder or more exaggerated when brakes are used.

Second is when turning left or right, I can sometimes feel a clunk like something is moving in the front end.


Thanks for any help in advance. I plan on taking it to a shop pretty soon any way, but if I can do any thing outside the shop I would like to.

 

4x4, the humming could be from your hub berring. They make a kind of growly sound and oscilates up and down. Sometimes the cound goes away when you take the load off the berring - turning left fast unloads the left berring, so it may get quiet in this instance.

Clunking on turns is typically a lower balljoint on the side you are not turning to. It would be a single clunk as the balljoint shifts inside.

Clicking in turns is typically the CV axle.

Any of these parts you could change yourself with mostly hand tools. Your 4x4 has bolt on balljoints, so you dont need a press to do them. You have have to use a chisel or grinder cause the factory probably rivets them on.

Jack up under your lower control arm and get someone to help you check the front end for play. Use a prybar to pry up under the tire to check the lower balljoints. grab the front and back of the tire at 12oclock and puch/pull to check the upper balljoint. 3 and 9 oclock side to side to check the steering linkages. wiggle the tire lightly to see the play in the berrings and listen for it to be loose. CV axles are toast if the boots are torn and its dirty inside. Have a look around a pull on stuff to see what condition the shock bushings and sway bar links are in.

 

Cool thanks for the info, I will try to get out tomorrow and post some pictures just for the heck of it.