Front End Noise

Fenn · August 16, 2011

Truck is a 2008 Silverado LT 4wd with 21,000 miles on it.

I'm having some trouble tracking down a pop in my front end.

I installed a rough country leveling kit a few weeks after buying the truck and shortly after I had a pop in the front end when making slow sharp turns. If i have the wheel turned hard right either backing out of my driveway or pulling into a parking spot I get it.

I figured it was the lift that was creating some issues so I removed the lift and had another alignment done and the noise is still there.

When the lift was installed the only bolts that were loosened were the sway bar, ball joint and shock mounts. When I took the lift out everything was properly torqued to spec.

I brought the truck to a friend who checked the tie rods and ball joints and said everything was fine but I still had the noise. He is at a loss.

I brought the truck to a local front end shop who was unable to duplicate the noise but he did put it up on the lift and said he went through the entire front end and nothing was bad. Ball joints, tie rods were all fine yet the noise is still there.

At first I replaced the sway bar bushings figuring it was them but no luck, bushings were properly torqued to spec when installed.

I did the body mount TSB but still have the noise, body mounts were properly torqued to spec after insulators were installed.

I came across some threads that talked about the upper control arms making a noise if they are not properly torqued so I did that yesterday. Both the drivers and passenger side were not torqued after the alignment so I properly torqued them to 140 but this morning while driving I heard the noise again.

I did read something about a crossmember making this noise but from what I've read its only on the 2wd trucks, can anyone confirm this?

Anyone have any other ideas where I should check? What else besides the upper control arms and the tie rods is loosened during an alignment that may not be torqued?

I'm running out of ideas here and i'm now at a complete loss

BlackZ71Silverado · August 16, 2011

I also read the problem with 2wd trucks and the front cross member. The fix for that is to install washers I believe, wouldn't hurt checking that.

J-man67 · August 17, 2011

I also read the problem with 2wd trucks and the front cross member. The fix for that is to install washers I believe, wouldn't hurt checking that.

Just replied to your PM. Seems like you went through everything. Id look into the x member. That was my problem, but I installed a lift. Check your CV boots. Make sure you are not in 4wd. I know, I know, stupid, but just running through everything.