front end popping noise

[grand86prix_05]

Recently I've noticed when steering to the left, I get a popping noise. I don't recall it happening when steering right, and I just inspected a little. Didn't notice any slop in the tie rods or ball joints, but my wheel bearings do have a little slack. Still, I don't think that's the noise. From looking at the shocks, they appear original, I have replacements but am waiting to lower the front end and do the blazer upgrade, but that is what I am suspecting. Other thing I'm thinking is MAYBE control arm bushings. Anyone else have any ideas? I am about to go back to college and will be driving my gp there, so I want to make sure the car is secure. I can stand the noise so long as it isn't anything major. Any ideas on this feel free to let me know

 

[chevy2480]

Sounds like a balljoint even though you say you checked it. They should be checked with weight on the lower aarm like a iack pushing up with tire off the ground take a prybar and see if you can lift spindle. Also could be a bad body mount bushing.

 

[Bowiemontecarlo86]

Jack your car up from under the bottom a-arm on that side the grab your tire and start wriggling it. If you have allot of slop could be a ball joint. Also check your sway bar links if the rubber bushings are gone it would make that noise. That's what it was on my Monte.

 

[grand86prix_05]

That's how I checked the ball joints, I was actually making the car shake a bit trying to make sure the ball joints weren't loose, I got nothing out of them. I did overlook the sway bar though, I'll take a peak at them

 

[grand86prix_05]

Well sway bar links appear healthy, any other ideas?

 

[wonderboy24]

when is the last time you greased the tie rods,ball joins ect

 

[grand86prix_05]

Its probably been years, the noise abrubtly came out of no where though. I am probably going to co the blazer brake upgrade soon, when I do it'll give me a good chance to make sure the ball joints are fine. It just seems odd it happens when I'm turning left though, but it's quite a noise.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

I used to have a popping noise when I was decelerating and turning. I recently did the Fbody front sway bar upgrade with new end links and bushings and I have not heard the popping since. Im assuming I fixed the problem without even realizing it

 

[grand86prix_05]

well I decided to go ahead and replace all my tie rods, drag link had some play and everything else looked original. I am also doing the blazer upgrade, and got everything apart today and the ball joints seem perfectly fine still, no play at all. I'm stumped so far but maybe once I get this job done tomorrow the noise will disappear. the sway bar still seems fine but maybe it's that? The bushings are a little rotted but are still in tact. i'm going to grease up the ball joints and see where I get after this is all over. I hope it becomes cured, the popping is pretty loud

 

[chevy2480]

If its still popping after that as I previously mention it could be a body mount. My cutlass has a bad mount and everytime i turned pop. Drove me nuts