Thread: Creaking Popping noise from front end.

Everytime I go up or down a drive way, or if I am shifting gears between Drive and Reverse while turning the steering wheel, I hear cracking or popping noises from the front end of the car. I just had the ball joints replaced last year, but it was making that sound even when I got it back from having them repaired. No creaking noises when I drive straight just when I am at low speeds. Anybody know what it could be?

Did you ever find out what the problem was? My '99 GT is doing exactly the same thing!!!!

Thanks

I still have no idea... It might be the tie rods but I'm just guessing..

That's a drag....I'm new to this forum. Is there anyway this post can show up on the general forum so it gets more traffic. I'm sure there are lots folks who must have encountered this before..?

I put it in the brakes suspensions chasis forum because that's where it belongs... I guess this doesn't get to much traffic. I think I'm gonna take to a mechanic to analyse it when I have time... I'll let you know if I find out

mine does the same thing, but if you look around on this forum, you'll find it could be the engine cradle bolts coming loose, sway bar end link, cv joints, or strut mount. i haven't looked into mine as of yet but i will let everyone know when i do figure it out. annoys the SH!T out of me when it does it.

Same problem here, replaced all the struts, tie rods, sway bars and bushings, wheel bearings and axels. What the hell else could it be???? I notice it most when I'm backing up my driveway, very baffeling?

Mine seems to directly coincide with steering so I would guess that it's steering related...which would explain why new axles, sway bars etc. doesn't address it . This would be my first forray into steering world so I'd like to know where to start before I start unbolting stuff.

I have the same issue with Miss Lisa's GTP.It is a 99 model.Last week I had it on our new lift while doing a pad replacement and myself along with our top 2 mechainics could not find any problems.It could possibly be worn sway bar bushings.

I have the same problem. I am very confident that it is the lower control arm bushings. The rubber warps/ wears out/ goes to crap and it is initially hard to see when inspecting the front end. The bolt that holds the bushings in place hits the subframe of the car and makes that awful noise. An experienced mechanic at a shop my family goes to missed this as being a problem- after he already replaced an outer tie rod and did an alignment. From what I have gathered online the fix options are
1. buy a two piece lower control arm bushing by MOOG for about 40 bucks a side- ease of placing new bushings without having to use a ton of lube and a ton of pressure
2. buy a performance control arm (also made by MOOG??) that has the steering nuckle attached with a welded connection- about 130 bucks a side online
3. buy the old school bushings at NAPA or any other auto store for less than 18 bucks a side
I went with option 3 and am thinking of installing (or trying to install) the bushings myself.
My problem is I cant think of any way to remove & replace the bushings without disconnecting the tie rod, abs sensor, sway bar, knuckle, basically most of the front suspension. Also if I mess around with all of the front end members I will have to get another alignment.
If anyone knows of a clever way to do the bushings themselves without moving everything else PLEASE post how.

Thanks for the reply, I'm going to look at the bushings closer.

As for tearing apart all of the front suspension to access the control arm bushing...I've had my control arm off a few times. Just undo the the sway bar link (no need to remove the bar) undo the ball joint nut, separate the ball joint (be careful not to damage the ball joint grease boot when separating it !), undo the the control arm to subframe nut/bolts and it's off.

Not sure if an alignment is necessary or not. I'm sure there are those who would say yes some who would say no.

Hey guys... I had the same problem. It took me forever to figure out what it was but I finally found it and it was the control arm bushing. I have a 98gt and it was the control arm on the drivers side and the brushing towards the front of the car. After a million times of taking my tire of I finally noticed a shiny spot on the control arm where it had been rubbing against the mount. Took a few hours to change the control arm and I haven't had a problem since.

Check the strut mount under the hood!!! My 97 was doing something similar, and when I opened the hood and grabbed the wheel, I could watch the strut top and rock the wheel I saw the strut rocking in the bushing. All I ever did was tighten it up a bit ( after centering ) and it did the trick. Try that.

Well we finally got time to get it checked out, been a bit busy, but they told me that both control arms need to be replaced and the ball joints. The ball joints were just replaced so I doubt this is the problem. Idk we'll see when we take it to get repairs.

wow...Even 98 grand prix have this problem...I have a 2005 GP GT and mine does the same thing...Guess Pontiac never really fixed that problem with future cars...As soon as I hit Reverse and tap the gas to back up in my drive way, it makes that harmful clunk noise...So...after reading all of the posts in this section, have we come up with the conclusion that it is 100% the control arm??

I just fixed that clunk noise yesterday...It happen to be that my sway bar link was demolished... I put a new one in and wa la...No more noise

Do the later GP's like mid 2000's have the engine cradle problems? or is it just the 90s ones?

I have a 2007 GXP and when i turn the wheel at slow speeds i hear a creaking/clunking noise. The dealer said its the steering rack when they had it for an oil change. I find that hard to believe. A bushing, tie rod or ball joint i would think. Going to look at it myself soon.