Thread: Pop in right front when stopping and leaving

Okay, along the way on the Power Tour I developed a pop in the right front when I would come to a stop. When I take off from the stop, it pops again. Just a single pop, enough you can slightly feel in the floorboard. I thought it was just my trashed motor mount, but I replaced that tonight and I still have the pop.

Any ideas? Notable front end mods would be lowering springs, shortened dogbones and F-body brakes. Everthing looks A-OK, so really stumped on this one and hoping someone has had this happen and can't point me in the right direction before I start "one-at-a-timing" front end parts.

Okay, I dont have a specific answer, but Im just gonna kinda work this through cause the only such popping Ive ever had was due to a bad wheel bearing, but that only happened in sharp turns like maneuvering in a parking lot.

When you come to a stop. the rear unloads to some extent and weight is transfered to the front. Likewise when you take off, the front unloads and the weight is transfered to the rear. That itself would have me inspecting the struts and related components. I dont 'think' the sway bar and end links would be the issue, but I would at least inspect the end links since they are connected to the LCA and would perhaps be moved some due to strut action.

The only other thing I can think of after that would be the ball joint but I dont see one popping like that unless it has just bound up, but they typically dont do that. My best guess would be to check the thing that would bind and such when stopping and release when taking off.

I suppose the upper motor mount bushings could be at fault too and easy enough to inspect, but I would thing a failure there would result in some knocking or something just revving the motor as it would allow more movement regardless of stopping or taking off.

Strut mount seems to be the overwhelming answer on our local boards. Suppose that's as good of place as any to start. Swash replaced the driver's side one before I bought the car, so the passenger one may be the culprit afterall.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

The only other thing I can think of after that would be the ball joint but I dont see one popping like that unless it has just bound up, but they typically dont do that. My best guess would be to check the thing that would bind and such when stopping and release when taking off.

I have had a ball joint on every gm car I have own go out. It would pop while going over bumps and whatnot but I don't remember about stopping and accelerating. I would check the cradle bolts also.

My bet is with cradle bolts.

^^^ LOL! Looks like a whole new front end is in my future. haha

I've seen CV shafts do this also. A complete front end rebuild should solve your problems.

I had the same thing happen a year ago... my control arm bushings were shot, especially the passenger side front bushing. That cup where the arm goes in floats. With the bushing tore it'll hit that cup. When I would take off, it would make a clunk.

Well here's an update. Brian came over today and helped me change the strut mount and all four tie rod ends (both inners and outers). He also rebuilt my driver's side outer CV boot since it somehow got a slight punture in the boot and was throwing a little grease. Big thanks to SyntheticShield for the boot kit!

Anyway, after the tie rods and strut mount, the popping is gone. Now for the great news as far as I'm concerned. The car drives SO much better. It no longer feels like it's fighting me down the road. No more vibration and no more following the ridges in the pavement. Oh yeah, and my steering wheel is centered again. Really an unbelievable difference considering I haven't even gotten it aligned yet.

We checked the LCA bushings and they looked great, so we didn't mess with those.

So, with all that said, thanks to everyone for the ideas on what was going on.

Glad I could help out and glad you got everything lined out.

Originally Posted by Reptile

I was just there for the moral support. Rebuilding the boot and putting the brakes back on was about all there was left to do by the time I got there.

He's always telling me how your 'timing' seems to work out where you come in just as the work is being finished.

Actually, I always start on things earlier than I tell him. The way most of my projects go is that they usually take a LOT longer than I anticipated. I figure if I get a head start, I'll know what we're up against by the time he gets there. Your help Brian, is very much appreciated.


Now.... call off the hit.

I just started having a very similiar issue,, When i start out or sometimes when i put it in reverse a nice loud pop sounds that also rattles the floor just a little happens. This does not happen everytime, just when I am in a hurry to put it in reverse or sometimes when i start out.. What should be the first Thing I check, or have checked out? 05 GTP

Well, it's been a looong time since I visited this thread. I had originally stated that the strut mount fixed the pop, but after a few drives, I noticed it was still there.

I am happy to report that the pop is now completely gone. I know I've mentioned it already, but I got the rest of the GMPP parts I needed for Christmas. After installing the new parts and bushings the pop is dead. I can only assume it was either the front sway bar mounting bushings or the sway bar end links. More likely the end links in my opinion.

Anyway, just thought I would post up the final findings on this issue in case anyone else runs into it.