NotFasty

I hate this game since this is a vague question, but...

When steering at low speed, I hear a knock or pop somewhere under the front half of the car. I took it to my trusted shop (who also complete fixed my leaving valve cover), was able to show them the sound, and they said:

Ball joints look good
Control arms look good
Frame bolts were loose and they tightened them

I left and made a low speed 180 degree turn in a parking lot and heard the pop again. I'm tempted to not worry about it and let it go, but it's not in my nature to ignore problems. Thanks.

Nospinzone

This is a SWAG, but I see you are in a cold weather state. Do you have summer tires on the car? If so, the noise you hear might be the tires. In the cold they are not pliable and turning the wheel at slow speeds could create this noise.

NotFasty

Thank you for the reply. I don't think it's tire related (I'm on all seasons that have maybe 30K on them and a decent amount of tread left).

I can put the car up on my lift at some point, but if the shop didn't find anything then I don't know how I will. These guys are super good and I can take it back and have them check again but not sure what to ask them to look at.

lwphat66

Often ball joints will only make a "popping" noise/knock when the full weight of the car is on them but not when in the air. How far was the steering wheel turned when the noise occurred? Near or at full lock is when a lot of ball joint noises/pops are heard. Also, when in reverse at a 90° turn, do you also get the pop/knock sound? I suspect a lot of the aftermarket upper controls arms may be fairly decent or average (bushing-wise); however, the ball joints are not as good as OEM.

swfla

iTrader: (1)

There was a recent thread about the electric steering actuator arm going bad.

BlazeViper

Check your steering arm dust boots. I had my metal undercover bent upwards and snagging on the boots and after I used a big vice to bend it back down it stopped.

I then had my bent rims fixed at a shop and the sound came back after they lifted it, so it could be the case that a shop just lifted your car and bent it too.

If this is the case, don't drive around too long as you'll tear the boots.

NotFasty

I hadn't drive the car a few days but did tonight. In a bumpy parking lot, I heard a few times when driving slowly and making sharp 90-180 degree turn and both my passenger and I could really feel it from the front right wheel area. The car has 110K miles and (I assume) it's on the original control arms.

Perhaps it really is the ball joints? I can ask the shop how they could tell it's OK when I'm clearly hearing things.

crz95

I think I'm having a similar issue.
My mechanic told me that it was my upper control arms. Got them changed and was sad to see that the noise was still there. He told me that it was nothing to be concerned about.

I feel like it's been getting worse, and it's several creaks and pops when I'm turning AND moving at the same time.
The noises don't always come up when the car is stationary.
I sometimes hear a single creak/pop when I sit inside the car or get out of it. (Don't know if that helps)

NotFasty

How much did those cost you?

I think I need some or all of that replaced, but don't have an estimate since my shop thought everything was OK.

crz95

The lower front control arms were replaced when I bought the car last year, I replaced the top front arms for around 800$ from an independent mechanic. OEM parts. Dealer wanted way more.

swfla

iTrader: (1)

Take the mechanic for a ride with you to demonstrate.

NotFasty

I did and the result was "nothing is wrong". Sigh.

Anfanger

I had a similar issue on my 2010 AWD. Upgraded front lower rearward control arms to 2013+ and the noise went away.