2011 Silverado front end noise

Pak713 · May 21, 2016

Alright everyone I apologize ahead of time for the long post.

A year ago I started hearing this noise when hitting certain bumps or cracks in the road. It sounds like a non metallic thumping or clunking noise. So to my surprise I had a broken sway bar link. I changed them and the noise was still there. It sounds like a bad strut but doesn't do it over every bump. So I then changed the struts and I used kyb quick struts. Truck rides better but noise persisted. I've checked everything under the front end. Hubs, ball joints, tie rods, sway bar bushings. Trust me when I say I've did all the test. Even used a rubber mallet hitting things under the truck to try and duplicate the noise and no luck. I even put the old strut assemblies back in it and still get the noise. Now I have more symptoms with the clunking. The truck vibrates when driving down the road but not real bad. Also you can feel a pulsate when braking. Almost like a bad rotor. Also you can feel some movement in my feet when driving down bumpy roads. It's almost like the truck doesn't have new struts on it. Seems to have too much up and down wheel movement when driving down bumpy roads. Also all of a sudden one day my steering wheel seems to be 5-10 degrees to the right of center when driving straight down the road. The truck has 97k on it. I've tighten all kinds of things under the front end. I've re tighten the struts, the strut nut on the strut rod, the front axle mounting bolts, re tighten stabilizer links, skid plates. Still get the noise. The only thing that shows any kind of wear are the upper control arm bushings. They are cracked up and when I checked them with a pry bar, with the tire off and in the air they have some side to side and up and down play. Roughly an 1/8 inch of play. My problem is definetly suspension related. So what you all think? I've posted this on other sites with no luck. I'm really starting to not like driving my truck anymore.

CapitalTruck · May 23, 2016

Those upper control arm bushings get tightened to 140 lbs/ft if I recall. Grab a torque wrench and make sure they are good and tight. I had some loose on my old Silverado that would clunk.

454ragtop · June 9, 2016

Sorry I'm late, don't get on here that much. But you need to check your hub and wheel bearing assemblies very carefully, that's what it sounds like to me, and you're at the usual mileage for them to wear out.

Pak713 · June 28, 2016

Wheel and hub assembly have been checked. None of the usual signs of a bad hub bearing. So I'm curious as to why you still say it sounds like the hub bearings. Sorry for the late reply. This driving me insane. I hate driving my truck anymore.

saucemann · July 7, 2016

You mentioned that the upper ball joints seem to be ok, did you check the lower ball joints? Probably worth changing both upper and lower with that mileage. Are the front tires wearing evenly?

Pak713 · July 8, 2016

Yes uppers and lowers all check out. I checked them and a reputable front end shop in my area also checked them. They said the alignment was out so they did the alignment. But the mechanic also stated that these trucks all come from the factory with the alignments off. They also said everything under the front end was tight. Front tires seem to have a little feathering going on. Only on the outer edge of the tire. I'm starting to lean towards the hubs needing replaced. There isn't any play in them but if I disassemble the front brakes and spin the hub assembly they do spin pretty freely and there is some noise. But not a lot of noise as what is usually associated with bad hubs. It's more of a rattle when hitting sharp or big bumps in the road. It can be felt through the steering wheel and in my feet. Also a slight vibration can be felt 45mph and above. It definetly is coming from the front and sounds like both driver and passenger sides. Sounds almost exactly like a bad strut. I talked to another member on another site and he stated he had similar symptoms when his hubs were going out too. I just don't want throw money at it but this is where I'm at now.

CapitalTruck · July 9, 2016

Did you try torquing those upper control arm bushings to 140 lbs? Also, I had a noise that I swore was a lower ball joint, only when weighted and turning. You know what it was, a loose skid plate. That skidplate that shields the front diff has to be really tight, otherwise, when the frame flexes slightly, you get noises that sound JUST like a bad ball joint.