96 GMC Jimmy thump under feet when turning

car_guy_88 · #1 10-10-2006, 07:55 PM

hey, i have a 1996 GMC Jimmy...just got it a few weeks ago, and im impressed..but one question, just within the past week or so, every time i turn a corner or have to stop very suddenly, i feel a thump under my feet...is this a tie rod issue?? hopefully something i can fix myself..any help would be appreciated..thanx

DelCoch · #2 10-11-2006, 03:18 AM

Is this a 4x4?

car_guy_88 · #3 10-11-2006, 02:54 PM

Yes, this is a 4X4 Jimmy SLE...and it just so you know, it makes the noise when i turn left and right

herkyhawki · #4 10-11-2006, 03:00 PM

check your stabilizer bar bushings. bushing kits are cheap at auto part store.

car_guy_88 · #5 10-11-2006, 03:05 PM

ok sounds great, yea i didnt even think of that..but thanks for the advice, ill check those out as soon as i can....and just outta curiousity..how much are we talking for the bushings? cuz im a lil low on cash right now..so im just wondering how much they are

DelCoch · #6 10-12-2006, 09:08 AM

They're like 10 bucks or less, for a set of 2 - take an old one with you to the parts store to make sure you get the right ones, as they come in different sizes.

jdmccright · #7 10-18-2006, 04:49 PM

I have a follow-up question related to this thread. I recently replaced all the front bushings and stabilizer bar mounts with polyurethane and now I get the same thumping sound when I am turning and go over an uneven surface (i.e. one front wheel goes up or down relative to the other).

I know that I torqued everything to spec with the exception of the sway bar to a-arm bolt which said 132 in-lb (or 11 ft-lb). Since the nuts used are the nylon insert type lock nut, that can affect the torque applied, so to me it felt that they weren't tightened enough, but have no way of knowing for sure. Of course, no instructions for the sway bar bushings were included in the package. Any suggestions on how to correctly torque these bolts?

jdmccright · #8 10-24-2006, 10:00 AM

Here's a follow-up to my own question. It turns out that the thumping I was hearing was caused by the end of the sway-bar link bolt getting caught up with the tie rod adjustment tube bolts. It was sticking up and was long enough (abt 1/2" above the nut top) plus the tube was positioned just right so that as I turned and the suspension flexed, they would interfere with each other, causing the thump sound as they got caught up and then released. I solved it (at least temporarily) by reinserting the sway-bar to control arm bolt with the threaded end pointing down. Not perfect for those needing ground clearance, but I'm not one of them. Still haven't found the right torque method...just tightened them down to reasonably firm with a box-end wrench.

trackrat · #9 10-30-2006, 08:55 PM

I had the same problem. Make sure That your upper and lower ball joint bolts are tightened properly. I took it to 3 stealers(dealers) and they couldn't figure it out untill I took it to the dealership where I purchased the truck. They tightened them up at no charge and took care of my thumping problem.

It seems that the least looked at solution is never looked at at all.....

Hope this helps.

BlazerLT · #10 10-30-2006, 10:15 PM

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=302656

Had the clunk as well, it is the hood.

Install these washers and it will go away.

DO NOT DO ANY FRONT END WORK UNTIL YOU DO THIS OR YOU WILL BE WASTING MONEY.

jdmccright · #11 11-01-2006, 10:52 AM

Well, the stuff I did replace did need to be and the interference was an issue as well. And I did use a torque wrench for all of the suspension bolts, though truthfully, the ball joint to arm bolt spec (~17 lb-ft?) was at the low end of my wrench's range (10-150 lb-ft). Hafta crawl back under & recheck....thanks for the tip.

But I do want to do this hood fix too...can you only get the washers from the dealer? Do you have a part number or service bulletin number to refer to (the link you gave was dead)? Thanks!

BlazerLT · #12 11-01-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdmccright

Well, the stuff I did replace did need to be and the interference was an issue as well. And I did use a torque wrench for all of the suspension bolts, though truthfully, the ball joint to arm bolt spec (~17 lb-ft?) was at the low end of my wrench's range (10-150 lb-ft). Hafta crawl back under & recheck....thanks for the tip.

But I do want to do this hood fix too...can you only get the washers from the dealer? Do you have a part number or service bulletin number to refer to (the link you gave was dead)? Thanks!

All the information is in that thread.

jdmccright · #13 11-13-2006, 11:07 AM

Well, I did the hood hinge fix but that wasn't it. i'm hearing two distinct types of clunks. One is when the suspension deflects from side to side (going over a dip at an angle) and the other is when I accelerate from a stop.
I've checked my torque wrench and found that it is low by 12-15 lb-ft from the dialed in number. That can mean all the suspension bolts are not tight enough. What a PITA....
The acceleration clunk I hear can be a bad u-joint somewhere or maybe a bad front CV joint (seems to be coming from the front left side) though I hear it even though I'm in 2wd mode...that or the front driveshaft u-joints. Will keep this updated!

BlazerLT · #14 11-13-2006, 12:39 PM

1.) Swap bar end links and bushings. If you hear the clunk in the front when the truck sways, that is usually the problem.

2.) Acceleration clunk is the u-joint or the rear springs and spring bushings need to be sprayed down with oil so they don't catch.

jdmccright · #15 11-13-2006, 01:49 PM

Swap bar end links which way? Left to right? Flip them (head end on top versus head end on bottom)? As stated before, I flipped them head end up to prevent interference with the tie rods. They're both the same, so how will swapping them left/right improve it? Please clarify.

Also gonna look into getting a calibrated torque wrench and retorque all the suspension parts. I appreciate all the suggestions.

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