STLBLUES

08 6spd z51 20,000 miles

My front end pops once when I turn the wheel sometimes. It does it when setting overnight and other times just during starting a tight turn. Its hard to get the noise to duplicate when I try to find the source.

I Installed pfadt z51 poly busings at 15,000 with proper lube.
(Do I need to re lube the poly bushing already)

Cam install at 10,000 so the rack could be loose? It just started doing this a month ago so if the rack is loose it just now is showing.

Already checked my sway bar end links and they were very tight.

I plan on checking the rack and trying the bushing lube. Any other thoughts?

Thanks, Steve

Zoxxo

One guess (since it does it when the car is cold) is that it's just one of the tires slipping and catching on the pavement as the different turning circles of the tires cause one or the other to be dragged a bit. Normal stuff (assuming thats what it is.)

Z//

SgtRod

These sort of noises drive me crazy.

This is a checklist of things that have caused me problems in the past.

1. End links- they go bad and you cant tell by looking at them.
2. Roof pannel
3. wheel mounting- I had a clicking noise once when turning. All I had to do was remove the wheel clean the part that made contact with the hub and the hub. Then put the wheel back on.(a torque wrench is best)
4.Loose sway bar bolt- made noise when the weight shifted to the front when braking.

Hope that helps bud

Rod

MachineWorks

It maybe the swaybar end link.

MannyS

End links and the replacement gm links will make the same noise after 10k miles. LG links are the solution.

TR-6060

I recently had my two right sway bar end links replaced under warranty (clunking noises while going slow over small bumps). With the car on my lift, I grabbed all 4 end links and could not detect any physical play. However, the two on the right would make a slight clunking noise with forceful up and down transitions of the sway bar near the bad links. They were confirmed "loose" by GM and replaced. They can be bad in a stealthy sort of way!

STLBLUES

Thanks guys. I may have to look into some better links. The popping noise makes me a little concerned. I dont want anything breaking at a high speed or in a corner.

torquetube

And depending on the temperature and surface, this effect can be extreme.

The front end of my C6 with PS2 ZPs is silent when doing U-turns and tight turns in temperatures above, say, 50degF.

While in Vegas last winter, the temps dropped to freezing at night. Under those circumstances, the exact same car would shudder and groan violently from the front end (not the LSD) when maneuvering out of the parking lot in the morning.

I mean, it was bad - I got out more than once just to make sure everything was attached. But it was nothing more than plowing wide, cold tires.

Gearhead Jim

Our 2009 Coupe, Z51 with Supercar tires, has developed a similar problem in the last 5k miles, 21k total. Maybe once a week I'll get a slight "clunk" that I can feel in the steering wheel when making a fairly tight (but not full lock) turn in a parking lot at very slow speed.

It's not the tire scrub we all know and love. Wheels are tight. Top is tight. Dealer replaced the front end links last month, no help. An independant shop could not find anything except that on the lift, you can reach up into the car and push/pull up & down on the steering column, there is a slight play; maybe 1/8".

Crow Hunter

Another possibility is an upper (or lower) control arm bushing. That's not all that common, but can make the noise you are hearing.

coletrickle

I am getting this issue now (15000miles). I am currently on vacation. If this is end links or other issue, should I be worried. What happens beyond noise/clunk?

JonathanFla

i had same issue i found out it was tie rod ends !! 100bucks each parts 100bucks each in stall $400 dollar fix.

dgrant3830

I suffered the end-links on mine three times. First two replacements were with the original end-links but GM apparently figured out there was a problem and designed new ones. That 3rd set has been fine since. On my '99, I had an issue when I would pull into a parking lot at an angle and had a pop. Turned out, it was the right tie-rod nut was just barely lose. Tightened and no more issue on it.