Popping sound from front end

[Stinggraygladdy]

Hey guys, i hope everyone is doing well on here. Patiently waiting for the warmer weather up here in Rhode Island! I am just posting in hopes I can find some answers because the dealership that has had my truck for the past month is just running in circles.

So this happened about a month and a half ago, it started out of nowhere and I ended up bringing my truck back to the dealership to have the PCM update/recall and for them to look at this.

So I have a 21 gladiator with 17k miles on it. I also have the rough country 2" puck lift in the front end and 35" tires, It was installed the night I picked up the truck so its been fine for the last 17k miles. Surprisingly, they have not given me a hard time about the lift, in fact they havent even said anything about it.

When I drive under 10-15mph and turn my wheel right or left and hit even the slightest bump, it will make a loud pop noise from front end. I cannot feel it in the cab or even in the steering wheel, I just hear it. The weird thing is that it WILL NOT make the sound again unless you turn to the opposite direction, and then it will make the sound, and again wont do it until you turn the other way again. I can't hear it going over 15, so its just really annoying in parking lots.

The dealership said they replaced the track bar and drag link, and they tightened the ball joints. After about 3 weeks they told me it was fixed so when I got there to pick it up, I drove it off the lot and turned right around because it was making the same exact sound. for the last two weeks, it seems like the techs just drive it around the parking lot to listen to it and park it because they dont know what it is.

I've read on here that some people are saying its the steering box, but I have no reason to believe it because theres no slop in the steering, but I could be wrong. So with the track bar, drag link, and ball joints out of the question, what else could be making the sound? Could it be pitman arm? The guys at the dealership are doing nothing to help and instead just letting the truck sit pretty much.

Any answers would be extremely appreciated, I just want my truck bad in time for warm weather! Thanks guys.


ALSO, I know it's probably not related but as you guys can tell, at this point i'm getting desperate for answers. About 2 days prior to the sound happening, I undercoated the whole truck with fluid film. Like I said I dont think that would have anything to do with the sound especially because it's a lube, so it shouldnt cause anything to stick, but I'm reaching for answers now

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[Gvsukids]

Hey guys, i hope everyone is doing well on here. Patiently waiting for the warmer weather up here in Rhode Island! I am just posting in hopes I can find some answers because the dealership that has had my truck for the past month is just running in circles.

So this happened about a month and a half ago, it started out of nowhere and I ended up bringing my truck back to the dealership to have the PCM update/recall and for them to look at this.

So I have a 21 gladiator with 17k miles on it. I also have the rough country 2" puck lift in the front end and 35" tires, It was installed the night I picked up the truck so its been fine for the last 17k miles. Surprisingly, they have not given me a hard time about the lift, in fact they havent even said anything about it.

When I drive under 10-15mph and turn my wheel right or left and hit even the slightest bump, it will make a loud pop noise from front end. I cannot feel it in the cab or even in the steering wheel, I just hear it. The weird thing is that it WILL NOT make the sound again unless you turn to the opposite direction, and then it will make the sound, and again wont do it until you turn the other way again. I can't hear it going over 15, so its just really annoying in parking lots.

The dealership said they replaced the track bar and drag link, and they tightened the ball joints. After about 3 weeks they told me it was fixed so when I got there to pick it up, I drove it off the lot and turned right around because it was making the same exact sound. for the last two weeks, it seems like the techs just drive it around the parking lot to listen to it and park it because they dont know what it is.

I've read on here that some people are saying its the steering box, but I have no reason to believe it because theres no slop in the steering, but I could be wrong. So with the track bar, drag link, and ball joints out of the question, what else could be making the sound? Could it be pitman arm? The guys at the dealership are doing nothing to help and instead just letting the truck sit pretty much.

Any answers would be extremely appreciated, I just want my truck bad in time for warm weather! Thanks guys.

Can you post a video of the noise?

 

[Stinggraygladdy]

Can you post a video of the noise?

I can try to get one later on today for you guys

 

[Lunentucker]

It's going to be tough to figure out here if they can't fine it with hands on.
Everything that SHOULD be checked is pretty obvious.
Lug nuts, wheel bearings, tie rod, drag link, trackbar, ball joints, stabilizer, brake calipers, swaybar and end links, steering gear, pitman arm and nut, etc.
Every single component should be checked by hand and each and every fastener checked for proper torque.
Perhaps something shifted in the lift components. See if you can make it do it while in park and turning the wheels to full both ways. If so, then either lay your phone under it and record or get someone else to record for you while you do that.

 

[Lunentucker]

Perhaps to assist others, here's the lift you described.

 

[RTB]

Had the same problem, popping noises at slow speeds while turning the wheel and backing out of my driveway. After three trips and new ball joints the dealership finally found the problem. There are nuts welded into the frame that hold the skid plates in place. All the welds were broken. The dealership fixed the nuts and the popping noises were gone. It’s been almost a year since the fix and still no popping.

 

[Lunentucker]

It seems to be a common thing with Rough Country

https://search.brave.com/search?q=poping+noise+from+rough+country+leveling+kit&source=desktop

 

[Dryfly24]

This is awesome because I’ve noticed the same thing when off road and under flex over an obstacle. I was thinking it might be the plastic on the inner fenders flexing or coming into contact with the tires. I also have 35’s. I’ve noticed I have two broken clips on mine on either side. Also it seems to not do it when you disconnect the sway bar.

 

[Proximo]

@Stinggraygladdy my popping was from sway bar end links. I had them disco in August, and popping happened months later. Torqued em down, and good to go.

 

[Stinggraygladdy]

Had the same problem, popping noises at slow speeds while turning the wheel and backing out of my driveway. After three trips and new ball joints the dealership finally found the problem. There are nuts welded into the frame that hold the skid plates in place. All the welds were broken. The dealership fixed the nuts and the popping noises were gone. It’s been almost a year since the fix and still no popping.

Wow! Thats nothing that I would expect. If it's possible, could you post a pic of where those nuts were broken so i could show the dealership? I want to show them all of the posts on this thread because they seem to be at a stand still.

 

[tom.mary.glad]

Not sure if this is the same issue, but I had a clicking sound from the front while turning at low speed. Just had "TSB" #RSU 21-170 done at the dealer. Basically retorqued upper and lower ball joints. Noise seems to be gone now.

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