Popping sound in control arm

[dieselarmy13]

I've been driving my truck a lot lately, and she's developed a quite annoying popping noise in the drivers side lower control arm. It sounds like someone is hitting a vise with a ball peen hammer. I'm headed to nappa to order new control arm shafts, as thats about the only thing that isn't brand-spankin new on my front end. Anybody else have this problem?

[dave2953]

Are your springs cut? When I cut mine they used to bounce around in the pocket when I went over bumps too quickly. Just a thought. I also had a pop like you described once and it turned out to be the nuts that hold the shims in place. Hope you get it figured out.

[dieselarmy13]

My springs do have one coil cut off. I was thinking that's what it was, but it takes very little movement to cause it. I'll check the nuts too.

[beautimus]

have you checked the u bolts that hold the lower control arm shaft in place? the control arm can shift if the u bolt works loose. not to mention the old u bolt breaking thing.

[Palf70Step]

Lower ball joint? I have seen and heard a couple where they would pop loose from the press-in fitting area, then pop back into place later

[uncle]

Ball joints will also do this when not enough grease is used.

[OhioDan]

Lube the front end. Sounds like a dry ball joint? Did that once on a 70 Nova.

[racin69z]

I had that happen once in my camaro. It turned out to be a loose fit where the ball joint pushed into the control arm.

[haysonj]

I don't know about these years but on my 85 one ton I replaced the a arm and did not get the spring located in the right spot. drove me crazy until I took it to an alignment shop and they found it.