popping when turning wheel

[gxp revenge]

now i undertand this may not be a huge issue or it could be a really big one.. so heres my explanation of what i have.

2007 gxp GP

when im at a dead stop (sitting) or rolling slowly, i will jiggle my steering wheel and i can feel and hear a pop coming from the front end.

now i have replaced:
upper ball joints
wheel hubs.

anyone have this issue? what could it be?

thanks guys & gals

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Did you mean lower ball joints?

We dont have uppers, just lower control arms.

Have any play in the tie rod ends at all?

Make sure all rack bolts are tight to rule that out. If anything else it might be the intermediate steering shaft.

[gxp revenge]

if its the steering shaft how hard is that to replace? and yes im sorry im used to my truck when i said that LOWER ball joints

[Scottydoggs]

jack each wheel up lugs tight, one at a time. then push and pull the wheel @ the 3 and 9 o clock areas, if it moves the tie rods are bad, if it move a lot you may feel a click.

if you turn the wheels and do this test you can look from behind the wheel and look at the tie rod end to knuckle and see the play if its loose.

[Seachicken]

I had the same symptoms. Jiggle the steering wheel when the car was not moving, POP,POP. and it would do this when cornering at low speeds,

after doing a tierod check and finding nothing, I replaced the endlinks and swaybar bushings

Problem fixed, it was the endlinks for my car. Might not be problem on your car but worth mentioning.

[douger]

Did you mean lower ball joints?

We dont have uppers, just lower control arms.

Have any play in the tie rod ends at all?

Make sure all rack bolts are tight to rule that out. If anything else it might be the intermediate steering shaft.

It's not like they never go bad. Based on your description, I'm betting that's what it is.

How hard is it to replace? You be the judge.

• Insert J 42640 into the steering column access hole in order to lock the steering column.
• Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle

• Position the seal in order to provide access to the lower pinch bolt on the intermediate steering shaft.
• Use paint in order to place match marks on the intermediate shaft and on the steering gear.
• Remove the lower pinch bolt from the power steering gear stub shaft.
• Disconnect the intermediate steering shaft from the power steering gear stub shaft.
• Reposition the seal in order to gain access to the upper pinch bolt of the intermediate steering shaft.
• Use paint in order to place match marks on the intermediate shaft and on the steering column.
• Remove the upper pinch bolt from the intermediate steering shaft.
• Disconnect the intermediate steering shaft from the steering column. Note the shaft to column alignment for installation.
• Remove the intermediate steering shaft from the vehicle.
• Reverse for installation.

[Scottydoggs]

ive changed that shaft, theres no need to paint jack or mark any thing.

wheels dead straight, park and lock the steering wheel, dont touch it or un lock it.

pop the boot off the rack 11 mm and 12 inches of extensions will get you to the bolt that is facing the d/s wheel well. remove the bolt with a large screw driver pry it up and off the rack. now you know how that works the top is easy.


now open up under the steering wheel, and follow the column it has that same boot inside, pop it off and look inside, the bolt is on the left side of the column easy to get to when the wheels are straight. remove that bolt and pry the shaft off the column.

reverse to install the new one. getting the ends back on the rack and the column do suck some times. its a snug fit on both sides.


mine has a green ring at the end of the column. theres a very sharp edge there, look/ feel for this so you dont slice your finger open like i did.

[Scottydoggs]

oh, that shaft can only go back on one way, both side are shaped a bit different, the bolt side of the shaft goes where the notch is on the rack or steering column so the bolt locks those shafts once more.

100% moron proof lol


http://www.justanswer.com/pontiac/37...grand-pri.html justanswer is dead on with 2 diagrams too.