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Popping noise when I turn my wheels?

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nsxxtreme

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So on ocassion when I turn my wheels from one direction the to the other there is a popping noise. I have yet to figure out where it's comming from. My guess is the frame.

Both sets of ball joints have been replaced on both sides of the axles. I have not replaced the steering ball joints yet. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. But it doesn't appear to be coming from them anyway. I have the ORD steering brace installed. Any ideas?
 
Does the popping happen while you're turning or only at full lock? Moving or sitting still?
 
Do you have the original automatic locking hubs by chance? I fundamentally distrust those things. They could be stuck halfway or ratcheting or something.

If you have manual hubs, are they locked? Could be the U-joints in the shafts (i.e. not the driveline, but the halfshafts).

If you have the autohubs, remove them (easy peasy, don't even have to jack the truck up) and see if the popping continues. If not, it's either the hubs or the U-joints ... if it does continue, then you keep searching.

BTW, by "steering ball joints" I assume you mean "tie rod ends" and "draglink ends."

-- A
 
dremu said:
Do you have the original automatic locking hubs by chance? I fundamentally distrust those things. They could be stuck halfway or ratcheting or something.
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I have the warn manual hubs.

dremu said:
If you have manual hubs, are they locked? Could be the U-joints in the shafts (i.e. not the driveline, but the halfshafts).
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entire axle was gone through everything was replaced, bearings,u-joints, gears..ect

dremu said:
BTW, by "steering ball joints" I assume you mean "tie rod ends" and "draglink ends."

-- A
Click to expand...
Yup its the only thing that hasn't been replaced. I've stuck my head down there while someone turns the wheel and to me it sounds like the frame or steering box. But the tie-rods are cheap enough to replace and I have been meaning to do it anyway.
 
If it does it sitting still, can you get it to happen when the truck is turned off?

I found my ball joint issue by having someone crank the wheel while I was laying underneath the truck. Much easier to pinpoint if you can do it with the truck not running. :)
 
Mine makes a similar sound as well. Mainly sitting still. As far as I can tell, it's the frame or bumper connection and possibly the rivets that hold the connections together. I'm thinking about someday grinding the rivets off and put on some grade 8 bolts and lock washers at some point.

I can sit underneath the truck and have my daughter turn the wheel lock to lock. I mainly hear it towards the end of the lock when the tire and components twist the frame up slightly.....

This is my guess.
 
jeff in co said:
Mine makes a similar sound as well. Mainly sitting still. As far as I can tell, it's the frame or bumper connection and possibly the rivets that hold the connections together. I'm thinking about someday grinding the rivets off and put on some grade 8 bolts and lock washers at some point.

This is my guess. I can sit underneath the truck and have my daughter turn the wheel lock to lock. I mainly hear it towards the end of the lock when the tire and components twist the frame up slightly.....
Click to expand...
Yes exactly^^^^ I was thinking rivets also. You can actually see the frame move when you turn the wheel. I was thinking taking a welder to the rivets and frame. If I need to ever remove those sections of the frame honestly it would probably be time to get rid of the truck!!
 
dyeager535 said:
If it does it sitting still, can you get it to happen when the truck is turned off?

I found my ball joint issue by having someone crank the wheel while I was laying underneath the truck. Much easier to pinpoint if you can do it with the truck not running. :)
Click to expand...

Haven't tried that but pretty sure it would occur with the engine off also.
 
We noticed in my Dad's truck ('74 K20) that while watching the steering box area of the frame from over the core support, you can see the frame twist quite a bit. No cracks or loose rivets we can see, it's just a lot of force on that area of the frame, obviously.

Without something being loose, I can't imagine there would be noise coming from just that movement however. There certainly isn't on his truck.
 
Mine does this too...I had a loose and cracked core support, I replaced it and it still does it, but it's much quieter and less frequent. My bolts from the core support to the frame were loose.
 
Had the same thing on the suburban. It may be the bushings are worn out on your sway bar (if you still have yours). I replaced mine with energy suspension greaseables no more problems.

Never even thought of that myself, but the ex brother in law was a race tech for nissan and diagnosed the problem. I guess when you turn the wheel moving or not it still preloads the bar a bit.
 
also a frozen / dry rusty u-joint out at the axle end can make steering hard / poping sounds / bind up steering also.
 
nsxxtreme said:
Explain this one some more please.
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When you turn, especially with crossover the springs flex side to side a small amount. If your sliders are worn or thing or theres a large pit of bubble of rust leafs can make clunking noises when shifting one each other.

Get under her and have someone saw the wheel back and forth.
 
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