Hi. 1987 Trans AM WS6. At parking lot speeds (5 mph) t or backing out of garage and turning steering wheel all the way, I will sometimes (not all the times) get a pop noise from the front end. Never hear it or feel it when car is in motion driving.

Before anyone states its the steering box, frame, tie rods, ball joints, it isn't as these have all been checked multiple times.

Guessing its a strut mount or bad strut. Wondering if anyone has had this issue and the strut or mounts fixed it. If not, what was your issue with the pop noise? again only happens when very low speeds (parking lot speed or turning into a driveway) and doesn't always happen but when it does , you can hear it in the cabin....thanks.

 

A seized strut mount bearing can cause that, do yours still have caps? You might jack up the front end and rotate the wheels side to side by hand and feel for any notchiness/grabbing. It would also be a good idea to check the area around the steering box bolts for cracking.

 

Thanks. Yes still has the caps. Yes I spun the wheels and moved them with the car on jackstands and didn't hear. Guessing suspension has to be loaded to hear it....

 

Check the sway bar end link bushings. Our cars tend to eat these alive. If bad they will make popping noises. I've seen them shot on mint condition very low mile cars.

Factory stock 3rd gens with the 16x8 wheels and 245/50 R16 tires have a tendency for the tire to rub on the plastic inner fender liners at steering full lock. Closely inspect the inner fender liners for rub marks. The factory stock front end alignment specs for our cars suck. Might try the using better alignment specs for a street car that have been posted here on the forum.

If the problem is the tire rubbing on the inner fender liners, and it can't be corrected with a revised alignment, then don't turn the steering wheel to 100% full lock or modify the steering stops so the wheels can only be turned just shy of rubbing.

 

Every car I ever serviced as a tech I put a dab of grease on the steering stops. Jack the car and turn the wheels as far as they co and look to see where the spindle would touch the control arm. Of course this is after you've checked everything mentioned above including the ball joints.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I will check all items over the weekend. Appreciate the responses and advice!

 

Mine does it too, but i traced it to the a-arms/spring. Both are aftermarket and the a-arm doesnt have a large enough stop for the pigtail (coil). Pigtail wants to slip over the stop when turning it lock/lock or backing out. Slow speed issue only and doesnt do it all the time either. Might have to weld a larger stop on the arm to fix.

 

Note also that most car/truck turning wheels don't track the exact same direction, especially in sharp turns. This will lead to one front tire, or the other, essentially dragging sideways at times during the turn. That can sometimes be felt, but not always, it can also sometimes result in a 'popping' noise as the sliding tire 'pops' back into place. This will result in a low-frequency popping noise, maybe once every few seconds.

Also, check the fender liners at the back of the wheel well. They are 'wrinkled' a bit on our B4C Camaro, and will get caught by the tire, and only when backing and turning the wheels. This will result in a higher-frequency popping noise, kind of like sticking a playing card in your bicycle spokes you did as a kid (well I did anyway!).

I really do need to get out there with a heat gun and 'iron' the liners back out, but I just know about it and don't let it bother me.