Popping sound (1 Viewer)

[Davidsel47]

I've had my CVC joints replaced and a mechanic go through looking for what is causing a popping sound coming from the front driver side. They cant find anything that looks wrong underneath, what could I be missing? The noise is mainly occurring when turning and if I come off the gas the noise stops although it will do it going forward off a dead stop. TIA.

 

[SquareOne]

Check the tie rod, ball joint something maybe wrong there. Usually those make noise when turning and are going bad.

 

[HTXFLY]

My tie rod ends/ball joints are super loose and make the same popping noise when turning and accelerating. I can grab my outer tie rods and twist them by hand. 244k miles on the clock and don't see anything in the records of the steering components being replaced.
Just got all the parts for the inner/outer TRE and new bushings for the rack in so hopefully this will solve it and the slight shaking of the steering wheel.

 

[Mike NXP]

The 100 has a steering stopper on the lower control arm towards the rear. When you max out the wheel and the vehicle has any shift in weight / angle that stopper can get hung up and it makes a loud popping noise. It will only happen at full wheel turn , and usually relates to steering rack / front end work. So if that's not the case then your back to the usual suspects.

Does it happen only at full wheel lock? You can also check by looking down below to see if the little stopper has fresh wear marks.

 

[HTXFLY]

The 100 has a steering stopper on the lower control arm towards the rear. When you max out the wheel and the vehicle has any shift in weight / angle that stopper can get hung up and it makes a loud popping noise. It will only happen at full wheel turn , and usually relates to steering rack / front end work. So if that's not the case then your back to the usual suspects.

Does it happen only at full wheel lock? You can also check by looking down below to see if the little stopper has fresh wear marks.

No it's not only happening at full lock but it is only when turning left. I got all the inner and outer tie rods replaced a couple weekends ago and while the car is driving and handling much better, I do still have the clunking/popping noise when making a left turn. It's not every single time but more often than not (at slower speeds). The LCA arm boot is torn slightly as is the UCA. Thinking it is one of those two, but not sure which?? Any thoughts?

 

[Dirt J]

Those are the boots for the ball joints. Ball joints can pop if going out -- could be those. Standard ball joint test is jack up wheel and check for movement at 6 & 12.

Ball joint test

 

[Mike NXP]

No it's not only happening at full lock but it is only when turning left. I got all the inner and outer tie rods replaced a couple weekends ago and while the car is driving and handling much better, I do still have the clunking/popping noise when making a left turn. It's not every single time but more often than not (at slower speeds). The LCA arm boot is torn slightly as is the UCA. Thinking it is one of those two, but not sure which?? Any thoughts?

Sounds like you're narrowing it down. Yeah maybe they are failing, lowers tend to wear out first. If you don't want to lift the vehicle and check you could take the lazy way out and pump some grease into the boot with a needle adapter on your grease gun. Do one at a time and see if the noise goes away. Just a temporary / band-aid solution for now.

 

[cmw]

Here's one that would only tend to occur at low speeds - a loose decorative center cap.

 

[HTXFLY]

Here's one that would only tend to occur at low speeds - a loose decorative center cap.

Haha, mine are loose, but i can feel mine pop/clunk.

 

[HTXFLY]

Reviving this as i still have this clunk going. I jacked the car up last night and put a bottle jack under the LCA to check the ball joints. Seem fine to me, practically no play when lifting the tires. Although UCA's are on the list to replace soon, i don't think they are what's causing the pop otherwise I think I'd hear the pop more often. I checked the torque on the top/bottom of the shocks, sway bars, diff cross member (read from another thread), steering is tight (new inner and outer tie rods and ball joints)... I'd like to find the source before throwing expensive parts at it.

Question: Sitting at 21.5" from hub to fender up front, could the OEM swar bar links be getting binded up in a slight turn when weights shifting? I should've taken a picture but when the left side was completely drooped, the bottom part of the link was making contact with the mounting point and the rubber bushing was sticking halfway out. Curious if this may be the problem and need extended links, but would rather put the money to new LCA/UCA first if not needed. Thoughts?

*Other side note: I am starting to feel this more through my steering wheel as time goes.

 

[Mike NXP]

Reviving this as i still have this clunk going. I jacked the car up last night and put a bottle jack under the LCA to check the ball joints. Seem fine to me, practically no play when lifting the tires. Although UCA's are on the list to replace soon, i don't think they are what's causing the pop otherwise I think I'd hear the pop more often. I checked the torque on the top/bottom of the shocks, sway bars, diff cross member (read from another thread), steering is tight (new inner and outer tie rods and ball joints)... I'd like to find the source before throwing expensive parts at it.

Question: Sitting at 21.5" from hub to fender up front, could the OEM swar bar links be getting binded up in a slight turn when weights shifting? I should've taken a picture but when the left side was completely drooped, the bottom part of the link was making contact with the mounting point and the rubber bushing was sticking halfway out. Curious if this may be the problem and need extended links, but would rather put the money to new LCA/UCA first if not needed. Thoughts?

*Other side note: I am starting to feel this more through my steering wheel as time goes.

I don't think your sway bar is hurting at your current height, should be OK. If you want to test it, disconnect the links and see if your symptoms change.

When do you get the clunk? over bumps? turning? hitting the gas? Shifting from P-N-D? Does it sounds heavy like a loud bang or more of a knocking

Trying to narrow it down.

 

[HTXFLY]

I don't think your sway bar is hurting at your current height, should be OK. If you want to test it, disconnect the links and see if your symptoms change.

When do you get the clunk? over bumps? turning? hitting the gas? Shifting from P-N-D? Does it sounds heavy like a loud bang or more of a knocking

Trying to narrow it down.

When the wheel is slightly turned to the left or right at slower speeds especially when turning into an slightly inclined driveway is when it happens most often.

What can i tie the sway bar off to if i disconnect it to keep it out of the way?

 

[Mike NXP]

When the wheel is slightly turned to the left or right at slower speeds especially when turning into an slightly inclined driveway is when it happens most often.

What can i tie the sway bar off to if i disconnect it to keep it out of the way?

Hmm shoot. Can you recreate the noise by rocking the truck back and forth at all? Trying to make sense of a suspension part VS a drivetrain part.

Good question, I didn't think of that for the sway bar. mmmm not sure. I don't think this is your culprit unless you see visible wear marks / damage on it. Extended links helped my ride quality but I was at 21.5" as well with stock links and no issues in regards to popping / contact.

 

[HTXFLY]

Hmm shoot. Can you recreate the noise by rocking the truck back and forth at all? Trying to make sense of a suspension part VS a drivetrain part.

Good question, I didn't think of that for the sway bar. mmmm not sure. I don't think this is your culprit unless you see visible wear marks / damage on it. Extended links helped my ride quality but I was at 21.5" as well with stock links and no issues in regards to popping / contact.

I'll try that this weekend, get it turned up an incline and try rocking it.

I feel like if it was upper or lower control arms bushings/ball joints it would be more prevalent but maybe something is on its way out and i cant find it.

 

[Mike NXP]

I'll try that this weekend, get it turned up an incline and try rocking it.

I feel like if it was upper or lower control arms bushings/ball joints it would be more prevalent but maybe something is on its way out and i cant find it.

I find ball joints to creak like a barn door as they begin to age and eventually once they are worn out it's felt with a solid clunk as your suspension drops, like a speed bump.

Your symptoms sounds like something else is to blame but I'm sort of just guessing.

If you could recreate the noise with a few fat friends rocking the truck that would be a good start, then get under and try to narrow it down.

 

[chudly]

I think I have a similar sound... did you ever find a culprit?

 

[Davidsel47]

I think I have a similar sound... did you ever find a culprit?

Still trying to chase it down. The good thing is that she still running great