Popping from underneath as suspension cycles?

[gearhead22]

When the suspension flexes a little bit on my gladiator there’s popping coming from underneath. I notice it most when driving in town and making certain turns that get the body to roll over some. It’s like a creek/pop sound. I had my wife drive it in the yard as there’s a spot where yo can flex the suspension while I tried to pinpoint the area. It very clearly sounds like it’s coming from the skid plate area. I thought about removing it to see if it alleviated the issue but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced this. I first noticed it after my MC 3.5 lift. But that had nothing to do with the skid plate area so I’m not sure why it is doing this. Attached is a video showing the sound while getting the suspension to flex some in my yard.

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[Alpine Warthog]

Sway bar links.

Mine pop the same way and I can't get them to tighten down enough to stop the pop. Drives me nuts but not as bad now that I know what the source is.

Get yourself a helper and have them shake the truck while you hunt for the noise. I'm 99% sure thats a sway bar link. Most likely the one on the sway bar side.

 

[gearhead22]

Sway bar links.

Mine pop the same way and I can't get them to tighten down enough to stop the pop. Drives me nuts but not as bad now that I know what the source is.

Get yourself a helper and have them shake the truck while you hunt for the noise. I'm 99% sure thats a sway bar link. Most likely the one on the sway bar side.

Unfortunately it’s not the links. The noise clearly comes from the skid plate area.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Hmm, Id still do the shake test. Can you get an eye on the sway-bar frame mounts? The disconnect? I'm assuming it hasn't had anything done to the suspension. That plastic skid is going to have to come off

 

[gearhead22]

Hmm, Id still do the shake test. Can you get an eye on the sway-bar frame mounts? The disconnect? I'm assuming it hasn't had anything done to the suspension. That plastic skid is going to have to come off

As stated in the first post I have a 3.5” Metalcloak game changer lift. It’s hard to explain but the is a very metal on metal pop that happens as the suspension cycles or shifts enough. I have sat outside of it while my wife has moved it in the yard and you can audibly tell it’s coming from the skid plate area. There is no sound or movement from anywhere else

 

[GWolgamott]

As stated in the first post I have a 3.5” Metalcloak game changer lift. It’s hard to explain but the is a very metal on metal pop that happens as the suspension cycles or shifts enough. I have sat outside of it while my wife has moved it in the yard and you can audibly tell it’s coming from the skid plate area. There is no sound or movement from anywhere else

None of the bars in that area rubbing anywhere are they? I'd doubt it as probably would feel that, but something to check since it started after a lift take the skid plate off and take video all around the bars to see if there is any sign of that. Unless you are hearing something echo due to the skid plate. It sound different when in 2h vs 4?

IDK that's curious so just spitballing here really.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

As stated in the first post I have a 3.5” Metalcloak game changer lift. It’s hard to explain but the is a very metal on metal pop that happens as the suspension cycles or shifts enough. I have sat outside of it while my wife has moved it in the yard and you can audibly tell it’s coming from the skid plate area. There is no sound or movement from anywhere else

Oops missed that....

The only other thing I've ever heard pop like that is a loose lug nut... but that's not behind your skid plate. Maybe they jacked up the swaybar disconnect when installing the lift.

 

[gearhead22]

Oops missed that....

The only other thing I've ever heard pop like that is a loose lug nut... but that's not behind your skid plate. Maybe they jacked up the swaybar disconnect when installing the lift.

I installed the lift myself. The disconnect wasn’t affected as far as I can remember.

 

[gearhead22]

None of the bars in that area rubbing anywhere are they? I'd doubt it as probably would feel that, but something to check since it started after a lift take the skid plate off and take video all around the bars to see if there is any sign of that. Unless you are hearing something echo due to the skid plate. It sound different when in 2h vs 4?

IDK that's curious so just spitballing here really.

I’m thinking of taking the plate off and seeing if it stops. It feels as if the plate is popping against the frame or something

 

[Rlaw]

Had similar sounds, especially when turning. It sounded like it was coming center mass of the front suspension. Ended up being right front hub assembly. Pretty easy and cheap to replace diy.

 

[gearhead22]

Had similar sounds, especially when turning. It sounded like it was coming center mass of the front suspension. Ended up being right front hub assembly. Pretty easy and cheap to replace diy.

Mine are less than 2 months old

 

[Splenda]

When you add skid plates to the bottom of a vehicle, and they are bolted to the frame in multiple locations, that skid plate can become a stressed member. Any flexing of the frame can cause the skid plate to twist. Is it possible that your skid plate bolts are not all tightened down?

 

[chr15m]

While it might not be the front sway end-links, the front sway bushing are right where the edges of the skid plate is. Could spray some grease in there and see if it changes anything.

 

[Stan H]

As stated in the first post I have a 3.5” Metalcloak game changer lift. It’s hard to explain but the is a very metal on metal pop that happens as the suspension cycles or shifts enough. I have sat outside of it while my wife has moved it in the yard and you can audibly tell it’s coming from the skid plate area. There is no sound or movement from anywhere else

I went through this it is a combination of the metric bolt going through the hole of the new control arms and you may also like me have a loose lower control arm bolt. This is where I would look . I was only able to figure it out by parking down hill so that the pressure comes off the control arm bolts. The metric bolts that come with the original arms are an all thread bolt and are much smaller than the hole in you arms. Start with this likelihood of this being the culprit . 90%

 

[MT1]

I bet you'll find it when the skid plate is off. To my ears, it sounds like a loose bolt; a click or two then the stop. Like a bracket sliding along a loose bolt.

Good luck!

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