Loud Pop in 4X4 Front End

[jwskrintney]

Don't know if any of you have experienced this but I am surely interested in finding out what is going on. My truck is a 2002 3500 4X4. My driveway is about 3 inches lower than the road that I live on. When I turn into my drive, or any other place with a similar or greater drop, there is a very pronounced popping sound in the front end of my truck. It seems to be coming from the passenger side. It sounded like the front end was about to fall out from under the truck when I pulled in from work today. The truck still has under 5,000 miles on it so I would not expect any thing to be worn out just yet. If any one has any experience with a similar problem..... and maybe a solution..... I would sure like to be armed with the information before I take the truck into the dealer to get this looked at.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

You could check to see if a lower shock bolt is loose. Its a common problem.

 

[RottnDogue]

Thanks Bill I will have to check that, because mine does same or similar. When I have wheel turned and hit a bump (up or down) I get a pop in the front end. But I when I try to get it to do it of course it is quiet as a mouse (LOL OK not that Quiet). I have had the front end looked at and no one see's anything wrong??? I'll check Shock @ day break if weather permits.



Darren

 

[BRobertson]

Mine was doing the same. I was finally able to trace it to the Rear stabilizer bushings. I replaced the OEM rubber bushings with some poly greasable bushings from Summit. That solved the problem.

Bob

 

[jwskrintney]

Bob,



I sure appreciate your input. Your response is certainly not what I would have expected. On your truck the sound seemed to be coming from the front end? I was involved in a fairly serious accident in my 1999 3500 2WD. The truck was in the body shop for 60 days before I got it back. When I got the truck back, it had a popping sound in it that turned out to be severely bent rear stabilizers but it did not sound any thing like what I am experiencing in my 2002. I am certainly not saying that you are wrong because it was very difficult to tell where the popping was coming from in my 1999 truck also. I would appreciate confirmation that yours sounded like it was coming from the front end and I would love to know how you traced it to the rear stabilizer bushings. I sure hope that this is what is going on with my truck... . sounds like a pretty simple fix if it is.



Thanks,

Jim

 

[JR2]

This is going to sound utterly insane, but check to make sure all the little plastic rivets that hold your fender wells in are there. I remember way back someone had a loud clunk when going over bumbs and that is what he finally found.

I have a clunk in the back and when the snow goes away I am going to check mine and thanks to bob I am going to check the bushings. .

 

[LSMITH]

If you can feel the pop in the drivers floor it is likely the slip joint in the steering shaft binding. I have had a pop in mine from the plastic rivets in the fenderliners too. Also bear in mind that the shock bolt does not have to be loose for the shock to make the pop noise. It can happen with a shock that is/going bad. I have had one shock on the front that had about an inch of freeplay in it before damping that popped. LOL, I have had a pop in the front of mine off and on from day one. I get it fixed and a new one crops up before long. Oh yeah, the trackbar loose will make a pretty decent pop as well, from either the rubber bushing gone or the balljoint end worn out. Signed "king of the front end pop!"



I hate this truck sometimes, LOL

 

[bigbrassmonkey]

Hemi-r-dart



is that a picture of you or your wife?

 

[BRobertson]

Mine felt as if it was coming from the right front seat area. I think it must have transfered thru the frame??

I tracked it down thru process of elimination.

Finally I loosened the bolts slightly on the bushing mounts. The noise disappeared. Good luck.

If you need the part #, let me know and I can dig them up.

Cost was approx. 15. 00 and . 5 hour time

Bob

 

[jwskrintney]

Bob,



I appreciate the reply and would like to have the part # if it is not too much trouble to dig that up for me. I am not sure if that is the problem yet but I should have the time to track it down over the next couple of days. Even if that is not the problem, I would prefer to have the bushings that can be greased any way.



Thanks,

Jim

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Off Topic

bigbrassmonkey



Neither, it's Diana Spencer

 

[BRobertson]

part#

Jim,

that part# is: Energy Suspension 9. 5161R



greasable sway bar bushing set: 1"



I believe the R on the end is for red, as they are available in red, blue and black.

Bob

 

[jwskrintney]

Bob,



Thanks for the part#. Sure hope this fixes the problem.



Jim

 

[BRobertson]

Jim,

You might loosen the bolts a little and try it. That will tell you real quick if that is your problem.

Although the new bushings sure look nice!! And 2 more fittings to grease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

 

[Chris Smith]

My pop

I had a pop when I hit the brakes, then released. Not sure what it was, but it went away when I installed my front 2" levelling kit. My guess is either the sway bar (I disconnected it and re-installed) or shock bolts.



BTW, dealer said "its normal" when I first heard it. Then I only heard it on hard braking. It got worse over time.

 

[KD7GYJ]

My 02 had a similar problem. The traking bar to the right front axle was loose. Mexican job, mexican truck. When I would turn the wheel to go around the corner, a loud pop would occur. Then as I drove, there was no sound at all, then I would go around the corner and the front end would pop. Took it into the dealer and they tightened the nut to factory specs and it has been quiet ever since. You may want to take it to the dealer and check the tie rod to the front axle.



Blair

 

[jjohn]

4990 Miles

and now I have a binding-popping noise in my front end. Mine feels like it could be in that slip joint in the steering shaft, because at times it feels like it is in the floorboard...

Mine usually makes itself known while going off the driveway while turning, backing and turning or during a higher speed turn. Trying to isolate these can sure get frustrating!

 

[KD7GYJ]

Sorry Jim, sounds like another trip to the stealer. Document all your trouble. Does Colorado have a lemon law?? Utah does, but they should fix it right. The poping I experienced could be felt in the floorboard of the truck, but it didn't pop all the time. Could it be around the idler arm. That piece is contantly moving right or left for steering. Maybe the tracking bar was badly worn when it was loose. Just grasping at straws here. Not a mechanic on Autos, but microscopes. Nice looking rig!!



Blair