Popping Noise Front End When Backing/Turning

CapitalTruck · July 25, 2015

When backing at low speed with wheel nearly fully locked I get a nasty repeating popping sound from the front end, I believe the drivers side. I did a highly technical test tonight using a 2x4 under the front wheel to check the lower ball joints. All seems to be well. I don't think it's a wheel bearing because its only at real low speeds, I'm not getting the highway hum. To be honest, it kind of sounds like a cv axle in a front wheel drive car. However, the CV axle wouldn't be making noise if the 4wd is disengaged would it? I wouldn't think it would make noise when just free-spinning. However, it happens under such limited conditions that I don't think it's the cv joint. Anybody got any ideas? SpurShot, I remember you saying something about a front cross member. Was this with the GMT-900?

ebacon · July 25, 2015

CV Joint. Replace axle and all is well. You can do it yourself

Oh... Sorry that's all I got

00Silverado4x4 · July 27, 2015

The CV joints still turn even in 2wd. Second vote for a bad CV joint.

CapitalTruck · July 28, 2015

Well, I can find absolutely nothing wrong with the ball joints or anything else. It may be CV joints. However, it happens so very infrequently that I'm going to wait for it to get worse before I dig in. If balljoints and tie-rods are good at least I know it's safe.

00Silverado4x4 · July 28, 2015

Should be able to jack it up, turn the wheels to lock and give them a spin. If there is a problem it should present itself.

rippin8m · July 29, 2015

Check steering shaft

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daylower · July 31, 2015

Does it sound like this:

BC thats what my truck has been doing and I dont havea clue. Changed out both the upper and lower ball joints already and greased everything.

CapitalTruck · July 31, 2015

Yes yes yes!! And you know what, after hearing that sound, I think it's the springs. That's what a mechanic told me that I had look at it. He said ball joints were fine, tie-rods were fine. In your vid it kind of sounds like a spring loading/loading/twisting. I swear that's what it is. It is ridiculous how closely in correspondence your noises are to mine.

I'm sure yours wasn't always that bad. Mine doesn't happen very frequently, most often when backing up at full lock, just like yours.

Man, I think it's the springs. I've allowed myself to start resting easy knowing that it's not ball joints or tie-rods. By this I mean that it's pretty evident to me that my wheel isn't going to fall off on the freeway.

daylower · July 31, 2015

Its definitely not the ball joints, I changed my control arms and ball joints today and I recorded that video immediately following.

Not sure what springs it would be?

Mine started soon after I put my lift kit on about 8 months ago or so.

CapitalTruck · July 31, 2015

Its the front coil springs I believe, just moving around slightly enough to cause quite the noise. I don't have a lift on mine so it doesn't happen often. It was just so disturbing at first, but it happens so rarely and I've confirmed that it isn't really a safety issue so I'm not real concerned.