Pop noise in front end? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SweetZRag · 07-31-2003, 02:26 PM

HELP!

I have been hearing an occasional pop noise in the left front wheel area. It usually happens when backing out of my driveway with the wheels turned hard left. Sometimes it happens when I take off at a traffic light. I can feel it in the floorboard.

The blazer has 199,000 miles on it. The left front tire was worn on the outer edge in a scalloped pattern. I found the upper born joint had play so I replaced all 4 ball joints (that was fun!). I also replaced all 4 shocks.

The tie rod ends look good and so do the sway bar bushing and lower control arm bushings as far as I can see. Does anybody have any idea of what could be causing this?

I recently replaced the boot on the outer CV joint . The CV joint looked OK when inspected and I regreased it and put a new boot on. I later found the new boot wasn't clamped tight enough and so I reclamped it. Could this sound be from the CV joint going bad?

Any ideas?

**COBALT** · 07-31-2003, 07:08 PM

I'm not well versed on 4x4 front suspensions, but anything that gets tension/compression on it when you turn corners will be the culprit.

I had a noise like this on my 2wd C20. Turns out my lower control arm center bar had totally egged out one of the bushings. It would bang back and forth in the bushing every time I turned a corner. Sounded like a grenade going off. When I got the bar out the bushing just slipped off the bar. OOPS! Glad I checked.

SweetZRag · 08-01-2003, 10:04 AM

Cobalt,

Thanks for the tip. I have checked the obvious and your idea is one that might help me figure this out. I am going to climb under there "one more time" on Sunday and see if I can locate the cause. I can't afford to tear the truck apart without knowing the cause because I need it to get to work.

Does any body else have any suggestions I should check?

Krosati · 08-01-2003, 04:21 PM

If it only happens when you hit the brakes, check the calipers for slop. Push it toward the front and then to the rear. If they move, you may need to replace.
The sound may be the caliper sliding forward and hitting the spindle.

SweetZRag · 08-01-2003, 04:34 PM

The caliper idea is an interesting one also. I will try applying the brakes to see if I can consistently recreate the noise. So far it has been a little difficult to repeat on demand. I do recall feeling a bump in the brake pedal once or twice. You may be onto something. I'll let you all know what I find when I take a deeper look on Sunday.

THanks!

73stepside · 08-01-2003, 07:44 PM

on 82-92 f-bodies, the frame where the steering gear bolts to sometimes cracks and causes the popping noise

07-31-2003, 02:26 PM	#1
SweetZRag Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Jersey Posts: 36	Pop noise in front end? HELP! I have been hearing an occasional pop noise in the left front wheel area. It usually happens when backing out of my driveway with the wheels turned hard left. Sometimes it happens when I take off at a traffic light. I can feel it in the floorboard. The blazer has 199,000 miles on it. The left front tire was worn on the outer edge in a scalloped pattern. I found the upper born joint had play so I replaced all 4 ball joints (that was fun!). I also replaced all 4 shocks. The tie rod ends look good and so do the sway bar bushing and lower control arm bushings as far as I can see. Does anybody have any idea of what could be causing this? I recently replaced the boot on the outer CV joint . The CV joint looked OK when inspected and I regreased it and put a new boot on. I later found the new boot wasn't clamped tight enough and so I reclamped it. Could this sound be from the CV joint going bad? Any ideas? __________________ 1994 Blazer (Not Tahoe or S10!) Edelbrock Shorty Headers, Air Rade throttle body spacer plate, Accel Rotor, cap, MSD coil. Bosch Platinum 4 plugs, steel cowl induction hood, 360,000 miles

07-31-2003, 07:08 PM	#2
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	I'm not well versed on 4x4 front suspensions, but anything that gets tension/compression on it when you turn corners will be the culprit. I had a noise like this on my 2wd C20. Turns out my lower control arm center bar had totally egged out one of the bushings. It would bang back and forth in the bushing every time I turned a corner. Sounded like a grenade going off. When I got the bar out the bushing just slipped off the bar. OOPS! Glad I checked. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

08-01-2003, 10:04 AM	#3
SweetZRag Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Jersey Posts: 36	Cobalt, Thanks for the tip. I have checked the obvious and your idea is one that might help me figure this out. I am going to climb under there "one more time" on Sunday and see if I can locate the cause. I can't afford to tear the truck apart without knowing the cause because I need it to get to work. Does any body else have any suggestions I should check? __________________ 1994 Blazer (Not Tahoe or S10!) Edelbrock Shorty Headers, Air Rade throttle body spacer plate, Accel Rotor, cap, MSD coil. Bosch Platinum 4 plugs, steel cowl induction hood, 360,000 miles

08-01-2003, 04:34 PM	#5
SweetZRag Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Jersey Posts: 36	The caliper idea is an interesting one also. I will try applying the brakes to see if I can consistently recreate the noise. So far it has been a little difficult to repeat on demand. I do recall feeling a bump in the brake pedal once or twice. You may be onto something. I'll let you all know what I find when I take a deeper look on Sunday. THanks! __________________ 1994 Blazer (Not Tahoe or S10!) Edelbrock Shorty Headers, Air Rade throttle body spacer plate, Accel Rotor, cap, MSD coil. Bosch Platinum 4 plugs, steel cowl induction hood, 360,000 miles

08-01-2003, 07:44 PM	#6
73stepside Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Moore OK 73160 Posts: 974	on 82-92 f-bodies, the frame where the steering gear bolts to sometimes cracks and causes the popping noise __________________ 04 GMC Sierra RCSS 70 CST LWB 04 HD Sportster 1200 Custom

08-01-2003, 04:21 PM	#4
Krosati Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 49	If it only happens when you hit the brakes, check the calipers for slop. Push it toward the front and then to the rear. If they move, you may need to replace. The sound may be the caliper sliding forward and hitting the spindle.



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