Popping sound on sharp turns

When making a sharp turn into my driveway (pavement a little broken), I get a loud popping sound at or near my right front tire. You can not only hear the single "pop" but feel it "give" is probably the best way to describe.

No sounds moving straight or on regular turns.

Any thoughts as to what to check? I've replaced the sway bar and end links previously and believe to to be good. I did a quick visual check last weekend and don't see anything broken or otherwise.

I'd guess its one of the bearings at the top of one of the strut towers. It happened to ours, every time you just leave it sitting still in the driveway and turn the steering wheel, we'd keep hearing a banging type noise, that's what it ended up being. You have to take the strut out to change it.

Toni.

Struts were replaced about 2 years ago. If it's sitting still, and you turn the wheel, there are no noises. Only making a sharp turn, pulling into our driveway. The pavement is a little uneven and so it seems to pop as we go over that patch. But not only can you hear it, you can feel it pop... almost like the wheel is giving a bit.

My first though was a tie rod, but it seemed to be solid. I'll pull the wheel off today or tomorrow and snap some pics and maybe a quick video.

Thanks!

Here's a quick video...sorry about the orientation. But if you listen carefully you'll hear the pop as I pull into the driveway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JkI3hqO-DI

inspect the control arm bushings. they can separate and clunk on suspension jounce and rebound.

Well, I took the wheel off and inspected the suspension. Everything looks ok to me. Wheel is tight side to side and front to back. I did notice some noise in turning the wheel... maybe the wheel bearing is going out? Not sure why that would be related to the "pop" though. Here are some videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuF47ZwEV90

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBCAxJJDhw8


Thanks!!

regarding the video; the rotor has no lug nuts on it so it will flop around and make noise the way your testing it. check the bearing by spinning in neutral by hand; the tire on and torqued to spec. If it real bad you will have play during the suspension check. then test drive swaying the vehicle side to side to load and unload the bearing. if its bad it will make a growl noise.

Is the control arm bushing new? could you zoom in on the control arm bushing. the pic is blurry and to far back.

Pretty sure I see a front LCA bushing that's shot in the first video you did (with the wheel off).

You mean the one at 0:39 sec ?

You mean the one at 0:39 sec ?

Yep. Looks like the rubber has separated from the metal outer ring. If you take the control arm off, I'd bet money it'll fall apart before you get the control arm to the bench.

Excellent! Thanks for the extra set of eyes. I'll check it out.

May I also get your opinons on this? Getting some resistance/drag and noise from the front hubs. Van is in 'park'... does it need to be in 'neutral'? Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL6wgKpH4EQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8wUQMk5_F8

First set of videos, bad Lower Control Arm bushings, second videos sounds like the brakes dragging a bit. Bad wheel bearings I have replaced have presented with a oscillating noise when turning the wheel at low speed in only one direction.

Got it. Thanks for the advice. I'll pull the wheels off and check the brakes again. I just replaced the pads over the summer, but I don't know if they were rubbing like that prior to (didn't notice it).

Replaced the control arm today... rides and sounds normal now. Thanks!

BTW, just for the benefit of anyone else doing this, the Torx bit on the control arm is a T-55.

Replaced the control arm today... rides and sounds normal now. Thanks!

BTW, just for the benefit of anyone else doing this, the Torx bit on the control arm is a T-55.


How many miles were on the control arm? Which of the bushings appeared to be the problem? Anything noteworthy in the repair?

About 113K miles. The only bushing that appeared to be bad was the front side vertical bushing. The back rear was still in ok shape as was the ball joint. I'd bet 99% of the time this one bushing is the only problem.

I could have gotten by cheaply by just removing the control arm and having the one bushing pressed in, but I found the complete arm with both bushings and ball joint for $55. Saved me from fooling with trying to press them in.

The job is pretty straight-forward really. Jack the front end up, remove the tire, unplug the ABS sensor, then remove the two through bolts at each bushing. You'll need a T-55 torx socket for the front bushing. Then remove the cotter pin and loosen the castle nut holding the ball joint in place. You can turn the steering wheel all the way to the right to get some room to beat on the steering knuckle to knock the ball joint free.

From there, installation is just the reverse. Get the two bushings in place and start the nuts/bolts. Line up the ball joint and you're home free.

Thanks for that additional information. I have wondered about the control arm bushing since that is a job I have never attempted.

As I was reading through this thread before you concluded it was a control arm bushing, I was going to suggest a bad wheel bearing.

My van (150k miles) had been making a similar sound when turning, usually the first turn in the morning and only when backing out of driveway. After several months I noticed a slight roaring noise while driving and was able to isolate it to the driver side front wheel bearing by driving about 40mph and loading/unloading the bearings with gentle turns.

After replacing the bearing assembly a few months ago the popping noise never occurred again. There was no play that could be felt in the bearing at all. Also this was the second time the drivers side bearing assembly has been replaced. (The other wheel bearings are all still original).