popping in the front suspension

hello all......i hope someone can help us with this one.......we have a 2001 grand am 2.4DOHC......many many problems......most of them worked out but now the newest and worrysome one is there is a popping noise in the front end suspension somewhere.......we had the control arm bushings checked and the mechanics say there fine.......what else could it possibly be.....at times it sounds like its at the wheel and at times the sounds in the middle ..........but also at times you can feel it under the feet while riding the passenger side front...........could it possibly be the shocks and struts or even the spindle........its worrysome

Not quite sure what you mean by popping sound, but have you checked your strut mountings, upper tower end and steering knuckle lower mounts? I am only guessing, as I can't really grasp what you mean by a popping sound.

Does the car drive or steer differently? Is the noise apparent only when you go over a hard bump? EtcEtc. Let us know more detailed, i sure some of the others here can help ya zero in on the possible prob.s.

sounds like metal hitting metal........it dont really do that when you go over a bump ........mostly when you make a hard right turn.........but now on straight stretch as well.........could it be cv joints........the dealer ship keeps telling us no problem found...........but the rack and pipion went out power steering went out. twice......coil packs.....pcm...theftlock locked us out ..sway bars on the rear were bent.....ignition switch went out....its been something ever since we bought it.......thank you so much for your reply.......hope this can be figured out

It could be the struts, mine would make a metall screech noise over bumps, making turns etc. My strut and mount were bent. The place i kept bring it to said there was nothing wrong and they could not find anything... i ended up bringing it some place else and they found the problem. If anything bring it to either a different dealer or another garage and get another opinion, since it seems like they are completely blind and deaf at times.

I with grf above, get it checked by a second shop, best would be some shop specializing in suspension or front-end work.

Tam

BTW. grf, is that your ride, it NICE!!!!!!!!!!

Doubt it cv joints, but look at the joints, and check out the boots!!!!!!!!!!! Normal first indicate of cv joint problem is a clicking noise.

Yeah that's my ride, it doesn't quite look like that at the very second, since pic was taken in 2002. all the grille work is long gone, i still have some in my garage just haven't put it back on and right now i have my front plate on cuz of the amount of driving i do and Jersey cops can be picky about these things at times, but thanx I'm glad you like it.

I had that same issue with my 03 Alero. It was a VERY simple fix. I just sprayed WD-40 on the Stabilizer Bar Bushings and problem was solved. Try that before you throw any money into it...

it seems to be getting worse...........now its popping when you put the brake on as well.........is it possible its the pins that should have been tapped down on the brakes.........my husband seems to think its the calibers sticking.....but would that make it pop (the calibers)........sears says its the pins in the outer control arms..........but then told us its a guessing game.......the mechanic said if the control arm pins didnt fix the problem then try the shocks and struts.........we push down on the fenders ..........but no noise can be heard by doing that...its so frustrating

greeneyedgirl35247,
when does this noise happen?
Slow speeds, going over bumps?
While turning the steering wheel?

I thought I had an answer for you, but you threw me off in your last post with "now it's popping when you put the brake on as well" :/

Two things i'm thinking..
a) Have sears, or whoever, put a wrench on every suspension, steering, brake bolt under the front of the car to make sure they are tight.

b) Upper strut mounts. This will make a consistant, steady popping noise while driving, or a sqwauk/creak when hitting bumbs.

regards

it seems to be getting worse...........now its popping when you put the brake on as well.........is it possible its the pins that should have been tapped down on the brakes.........my husband seems to think its the calibers sticking.....but would that make it pop (the calibers)........sears says its the pins in the outer control arms..........but then told us its a guessing game.......the mechanic said if the control arm pins didnt fix the problem then try the shocks and struts.........we push down on the fenders ..........but no noise can be heard by doing that...its so frustrating


I'm telling you this is exactly the samething my Alero was doing. It started out as just popping when I would turn out of a parking lot or something. Then it was getting worse and started popping as I would come to a stop. I sprayed some lube on those Stabilizer bar bushings, and all has been well since.

everything is tight more than 1 garage has put like a crow bar under the bushings and all and they say its ok...........we had it sprayed today............hopefully that will help ours too.........how long does it usually take to tell after you have sprayed the bushing bars and all..............thanks you all for your help.........im new on the site......forgive me for being frustrated

i forgot to ask.......is there any fittings on the 2001 grand am to where it can be greased......ball joints and all... some garages say yes and some say no.........we had the oil changed first time at a new place and my husband asked if they greased everything........the reply was there are no fittings to grease

No there are no fittings on the N-body cars. After I sprayed both Stabilizer bar bushings on my Alero, it took about a day before the popping noise went away. Be sure you soaked them good.

thank you .........brsexton.......i sure hope that works for mine......

thank you .........brsexton.......i sure hope that works for mine......


that helped for a day.........but after it snowed again .......it started doing the same thing again......sounds like metal hitting metal........could the salt from the roads have dried it up again or not

that helped for a day.........but after it snowed again .......it started doing the same thing again......sounds like metal hitting metal........could the salt from the roads have dried it up again or not


You may need to have those bushings replaced. They may just be shot. But if the noise did go away even for a short time, I would say that is your problem.