Loud front end pop at full lock

primered92 · June 8, 2014

I tried searching and I guess I wasn't using the right key words as I couldn't find any threads, I apologize if this is a common topic that I couldn't find. Within the past couple months my 2010 Sierra 5.3 4x4 has developed a pop when turning at almost full lock. At first it wasn't that bad but now it's getting loud. The sound is coming from the front passenger side. It happens at slow speeds with sharp turns. I've found online it could be my cv axle. I called my dealership and of course he wanted me to bring it in sometime next week for them to diagnose it and I don't really have the time to do that. Has anyone else had this problem or know what it could be?

patriot · June 8, 2014

Sounds like a CV joint.

primered92 · June 8, 2014

Thanks, the boots still look good, could it still go bad?

patriot · June 8, 2014

Yes. They wear out, especially if you drive through deep water. The lube gets washed out.

Get it up on stands and rotate the wheel by hand at full lock. I'll bet you can feel resistance when it pops.

If it's only at full lock, it should be OK, but get it checked.

If you need to replace it, it's not that hard.

primered92 · June 8, 2014

Jacked it up and tried to turn it and replicate it and it wouldn't do it. Of course my tires rub on my upper control arm so I couldn't get it to full lock. The wranglers I took off yesterday didn't rub and they would do it too.

THE SILVERADO · June 8, 2014

Mine has been doing it too. It's 2WD.

patriot · June 8, 2014

On my '02 Silverado, at full lock, the outside front tire would "pop" or lurch forward in a full lock turn. This is normal, and may be what you are experiencing.

GMCustomerService · June 8, 2014

Hi primered92,

I understand that you are looking to resolve this vehicle issue you are experiencing yourself. As a customer service representative, I'm not able to provide much in the way of do-it-yourself information, so I'm glad to see forum members are beginning to step in with feedback. If you have any lingering concerns please feel free to contact me via private message.

Jennifer T.

GM Customer Care

Beer Belly · June 9, 2014

My '06 did the same, except it sounded more like someone hitting a garbage can with a bat.....turned out to be a very bad wheel bearing

00Silverado4x4 · June 9, 2014

Jacked it up and tried to turn it and replicate it and it wouldn't do it. Of course my tires rub on my upper control arm so I couldn't get it to full lock. The wranglers I took off yesterday didn't rub and they would do it too.

While you had it jacked up did you check the hub bearings as well?

kstruckcountry · June 9, 2014

Could be a hub, cv, maybe even a ball joint.

primered92 · June 9, 2014

While you had it jacked up did you check the hub bearings as well?

I wiggled it up and down and everything seemed tight. Truck only has 53,3xx miles on it. I at this point can't even get it to replicate while driving. I guess I'll wait till it gets a little worse.

ek1500 · June 9, 2014

My 2011 2WD does this too, but only full lock to the right. Pop sounds like its coming from front driver side. Dealer had thought it was a body mount and installed a shim, but it came back a few weeks later. I do have a RC 2" level kit installed, maybe that could be causing it.

NS_Sens · June 12, 2014

This was happening to my 2010 sierra, I had it in to do a semi annual service at the dealer and they told me my right side ball joint needed replacing. I never heard the sound again.