Lately I've been hearing a LOUD pop in my front suspension. Usually when I take off at a red light, going over bumps sometimes and sometimes when turning. And I hear a constant creaking when driving. If I'm driving 50 mph down A highway I'll hear it maybe every 2 minutes. Randomly and I feel it in the wheel coming from the drivers side front suspension?? I just bought the car 5 months ago. It's a 1992 camaro. Original everything. The guy I got it from have me new pads, rotors and front struts. Could it be possible it's from that?? I jacked up the front of the car. EVERYTHING is tight. Ball joints, upper and lower, tie rod ends. Steering linkages?? What do I do??

 

If you think your upper ball joints are tight, then you haven't checked "everything"; maybe not even anything at all; because, if you had, you would probably have noticed, there aren't any.

Check your ONLY ball joints, control arm bushings, strut mounts, & struts.

Most of that, you can't "check" by hand; there's WAY too much force on it. About the only thing you can "check" readily is the BJs, which you do that by jacking the lower control arm up off the ground enough to lift the tire about 3", then put about a 6' 2x4 under the tire, and lever it up; and watch the 2 halves of the BJ to see if they move with respect to each other.

 

Your frame is cracked under the steering box. Youll have to pull the box and weld it up. Its a very common occurance with 3rd gens

 

Wow cracked?!?

 

Unfortunately this is common on our cars however I had a similar situation many treats ago and the poppping sound ended up being the K-member bolts were loose.

 

K member? Like the cradle?

 

No not the K member.

The weenie sheet metal piece that sits on the K member, that the gearbox is bolted to.

Yes it's EXTREMELY common in these cars.

K-member bolts are a whole other matter.

Yours doesn't sound so much like the steering box area crack, from the description; if it was that, it would do it basically EVERY SINGLE TIME you turned the wheel, but taking off and going over bumps wouldn't too much enter the picture. Worth taking a look at though, regardless. You might get a rude surprise even though it's probably not "the" "problem" you're asking about.

 

I'm gonna have to inspect it farther

 

If its not a crack then what could it be

 

Have you bothered looking to see if there is a crack behind the steering box yet? If not then I have no other answer for you until you do.

 

You get the Darwin award so far this year.

For you to suggest it doesn't sound like the steering box crack and basically steer him away from checking the most critical thing to rule out first is just plain stupid advice.

Lastly- does the word "Constant" give any clue to you that it might bassicaly mean "Every Single Time"?

 

Check the front sway bar links. One of them could be broken with a portion of it left causing the popping noise since it could contact the lower control arm or other suspension componets. Seen it happen on lots of vehicles.

 

I appreciate the help guys. And no, I haven't checked anything you guys have mentioned yet. Brothers in hospital but I wanna get my basket of tips and things to check for before I jack it up again. I did peak at the sway bar links and they look decent?? I gotta check for the crack and any bolts loose. I'm just gonna check everything possible. Praying its not a cracked frame. I have no money and I don't have a welder or anything

 

Yes I did say the K-MEMBER check the bolts make sure they are tight. I have owned MANY of these cars and have found quite a few to have loose K-MEMBER bolts especially on the passengers side.

 

Dean, give me a forking break.

I know you like to put words in my mouth; I'm long accustomed to that.

What I ACTUALLY SAID was:

(all of the above, in reference to the steering gear mount area cracking)

However, since the crack IS NOT the simplest explanation that FITS ALL THE FACTS that he posted, I also told him

because IT VIOLATES THE MOST BASIC RULE OF TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM HE ACTUALLY ASKED ABOUT. (see my signature)

I know you enjoy being a jerk to me and showing everybody how superior you think you are (see your use name), but there are lines of decency that should not be crossed. At least, if you're going to call me names, please read what I post, FIRST; and quote me accurately.

Thank you in advance for your gracious apology which I'm sure is forthcoming.

 

Not to hijack, but Sofa has to be one of the most entertaining people on this board. I learned long ago to pay close attention to any advice he gives, and the tone in which he (usually) delivers it just adds to it.
Also, kudos for being one of the few eloquent people on the internet.

 

Sofingdumb, make sure you also tell him his noise is coming from the LF because his "camber split" pulls the noise that way.

Then you can also again demand the moderators make your incorrect advice a "sticky".

You now even have a one member fan club- goes proof the blind does lead the blind.

 

Dean, your apology is accepted in the spirit in which it was offered. As it usually is, whenever you make a fool out of yourself like this.

I don't know why you do this to yourself though; you're obviously knowledgeable, smart, and experienced. There's no need in going around picking pointless fights you can't win with people you can't beat. Stick to something you're good at instead.

{edit} Oh, and Memphis, thanks for the compliment. I take pride in my ability to speak the English language.

 

Enough said.

JamesC