1995-2003 S10 & Blazer Front End Clunk Pop Fix!!! Read!!

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by vballfun

That was going to be this summer's car project.. get rid of that rattle /clunk.. always freaked my gf out cause it sounds like it coming from the front axle/supports.. (only happens on 'bumps) So always made her anxious to get in the blazer... in her words : "sounds like the front tires' gonna fall off"

I crammed a bunch of paper towels in the side of the trunk (mines on driver side.. not passenger side tho..) and drove through our pothole laden entrance to our appt complex.. and.. viola.. no rattle!!!!.. Amazing.

now I've just gotta get that washer...

Thanks BlazerLT

Glad to have helped.

[JoshBarber]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Guys,

I thought I found that the sway bar bushings were causing my front end passenger clunk and popping but guess what, they weren't.

Before I drop the bomb and show what I learned through scouring the internet, I have replaced the following:

Lower Ball Joints
Passenger Upper Ball Joint
Sway Bar End Links (Had to be replaced Anyways)
Sway Bar Bushings
Front and Rear Shocks

Total bill: ~US$600

After all of that, it wasn't even the problem. There is a service bulletin that talk about this in this upcoming video.

Want to know what the clunk is? Here you go!



Remove this 7mm screw holding the small outer cowl inserts over the hinges. Close the hood.

Remove the covers carefully and don't break the clips.

The hingles will be attached and they are a 13mm nut and bolt.

http://www.tweaknews.net/decarbon/clunkfix.AVI <----Right Click, Save As

That's right, a $2 dollar part fixes this problem that has pissed so many Blazer owners off.

This is the service bulletin that came out in 2001 I believe. Covers all S10 and Blazers.

http://www.zr2.com/frequently_asked_.../clunking.html

Scroll Down to Rattle.

There you have it, I temporarily laid a couple bunched up shop towels under the flat part in the video and went for a drive on the roughest washboard road within 50 miles and never heard a thing.

Hope you don't go through what I went through.

Ok, I'm about ready to jump off our local bridge. Even though I checked the noise from the hood, and I could make it make the same noise, NOW THAT I'VE ADDED THE WASHER, THE SOUND IS STILL THERE. I've done a bunch of things to make sure it's NOT coming from the hood. And now I think Ive isolated it to the passenger door. I can make the noise stop by holding the door slightly open when I hit the brakes etc. And it doesnt make the noise. Anyone else have this same issue? I can't MAKE the door make the noise, but I can make it stop by opening it while driving. Do I have to replace the pins and bushings? Is this expensive? Is it easy to do myself?
thanks in advance

[BlazerLT]

Did you put the washer on the sholder portion of the bolt with the narrower end of the washer pointing towards the thread portion?

[chcknugget]

hahaha this thread will never go away!

Pin and bushings are easy. The parts were actually cheaper from the dealer for me (upper and lower -13 bucks). You'l need a spring compressor tool, hammer, and a bolt and washer mechanism to seat the bushings in properly. Should take about a half hour for the beginner.

[JoshBarber]

Originally Posted by chcknugget

hahaha this thread will never go away!

Pin and bushings are easy. The parts were actually cheaper from the dealer for me (upper and lower -13 bucks). You'l need a spring compressor tool, hammer, and a bolt and washer mechanism to seat the bushings in properly. Should take about a half hour for the beginner.

I think I need to do this. Can you explain the parts a little more? And the tools: Spring compressor tool? bolt and washer mechanism?
Does anyone have photos or images of this?
I can't get the door to make the noise...just stops by opening it while driving. I've noticed I have slight play in the door up and down, while the drivers side has none.

[cubanlorenzo]

i never used the spring compressor tool. i just took the bottom pin out and lifted the door and the spring fell out. better than buying a tool you will only probably every use once, i also strongly reccomend having 2 people for this job or use jack stands covered with towels so you dont scratch paint. that door gets pretty heavy after holding it up a while.

[davidm5377]

I bought the spring washers in Okla and they cost $5.20 from the dealer, installed in minutes and the old ones from the hood hinge were shredded up, so far no noise.
Thanks

[chcknugget]

Originally Posted by cubanlorenzo

i never used the spring compressor tool. i just took the bottom pin out and lifted the door and the spring fell out. better than buying a tool you will only probably every use once, i also strongly reccomend having 2 people for this job or use jack stands covered with towels so you dont scratch paint. that door gets pretty heavy after holding it up a while.

How did you get the spring back in? Obviously it's not hard to get it out, but putting the spring back in is another issue. Also the tool only costs 20 bucks. Chances are that if one of your doors needs new pins and bushings, the rest will too.

Joshbarber: The new bushings need to be pressed into their holes. What you do (just like seating bike bearings) is you take a long bolt with a matching nut and at least 2 washers, you put it through the bushings with one washer outside of each bushing, and you tighten it with the nut. It will seat the bushings evenly in the holes. Then you take the bolt out and put your pins in, use the spring compressor tool to bring the spring back in, and you're done.


I'm gald people have been getting the clunk fixed. I've told all my s-series friends and they love it.

[deadman2312]

Originally Posted by Alexxn 00 Si

Just got mine...I'll let everyone know when they are installed....

This is applicable to both driver and passenger sides? I as well have a loud pop, sounds like something going in and out of place. I believed it to be the suspension, almost like it was coming from the passenger floorboards?

[BlazerLT]

Yip, that isthe noise I had too.

The washers will fix it right up.

[Allbert]

I'm so glad this thread popped up again last week... the washer fixed my clunk noise from passenger side and now the ride even FEELS smoother without that noise.

[JoshBarber]

did anyone get a part number for these washers?

[Allbert]

I didn't feel like driving to the dealership, so I cut a washer out of the plastic of an old oil container. As easy as it was to get to the bolt in question, I won't mind doing this job again correctly (with GM parts) if I ever have to, and if I don't have to, I saved a trip and a couple of dollars.

[JoshBarber]

SHIT!
well, I replaced the drivers side washer again, as it DID need to be replaced. I flattened it out on install, which is why it started to rattle. I didnt really understand what good it would do flat when I installed it, which makes sense. ONLY TIGHTEN THEM SO THAT THE CONE IS PRESSED TIGHTLY INTO THE HINGE HOLE.

The SHIT! is for the fact that I still feel the rattle in the floorboard.

[chcknugget]

I would also like to remind everyone that the rubber hood adjustment bumpers need to be at the right height. One of mine was too low (screwed in too much) and the hood would vibrate at high speeds.

This will cause rattling and flattening of your new washers.