Strange Popping noise when accelerating, braking and bumps?

[Grizzly]

First off, It's nice to see you all again! It's been so long. But I am here seeking some insight and kinda desperate help...
Here is the deal, I have a 2004, Chevrolet Tahoe Z71, 5.3. I have had this strange popping noise for at least 6 months, (Cold weather and Warm). It only happen when I hit bumps, accelerate quickly, braking etc... Little bumps in the road and you can sometimes hear it, It's a very distinct popping noise or like a clink? It FEELS like it is coming from the driver side towards the seat? So now you know what the noise sounds like, let me continue. I recently (about a month ago) had to replace the water pump because I was going through a gallon of coolant every 2 days... Once I had it replaced the NOISE stopped, completely. So I thought GREAT it was just the water pump, two birds with one stone! I was wrong... I was on the freeway going about 75, had a idiot pull out from the pull off lane with no blinker, I jerked my steering wheel to get out of the way... SURPRISE! It's back... The popping noise returned that night, and it seemed worse when I put more people in the car... So I took it to a shop and was told I needed new shocks, and I wasn't surprised because it had the original shocks and I am about at 180k miles. So I gladly spend 500 dollars getting new shocks (Top of the line), on my way home... It started AGAIN. I then went to about LITERALLY 7-8 Mechanics I had two say it was the Pitman Arm and the Idler Arm, then two others said it wasn't and that they are tight, I then had another tell me the Transmission Mounts needed replaced, Then I was told it was the Intermediate Steering Shaft(which is what I suspect.). No Mechanic can give me a straight answer... I have had two places keep it over night and spend HOURS trying to find the problem with NO luck.. I don't wanna throw parts into my Tahoe cause I can't afford that. To sum it up- Popping noise from the middle driver side when hitting bumps, dips, accelerating, braking, etc. New Shocks, and My car is a giant iceackle right now from the snow I got last night and it's like 5 degrees... But the noise is GONE as of right now only cause the cold (I'm thinking whatever it is popping has ice in it or something. But I KNOW it will return)... Anyone have ANY ideas of what it could be after explaining the above? ANY insight will be of GREAT help... I really don't know what to do...

 

[SunlitComet]

get some remote microphones and listen while you drive with them in different spots and home in on it.

 

[01Konvict]

Intermediate steering shaft???
I had bad upper A-arm bushing that would cause a terrible pop sound. I replaced the arm and no more sound for me. I would check all those parts too.

 

[Grizzly]

Just ordered my new Body Mounts... Hope that solves it. *fingers crossed* will keep you updated!

 

[Grebbler]

Next time yer under the truck grab the drivers torsion bar at the back and jerk it up and down. Possibly an overlooked bushing there.

Good luck. Chasing noises is the worst way to kill time.

 

[ltdan]

My guess would be control arm bushings or ball joints. One of the moving suspension parts.

Sent from my Glade Air Freshener using Tapatalk 2

 

[Grizzly]

I've had all the bars looked at and even needed adjusting. Joints are all fine, none of the 8 mechs had s straight answer for me. So my last resort here is the body mounts.

 

[PlazaEJ]

Try checking the sway bar links and/or bushings?

Transmitted noises can be pain to pinpoinot.

Good luck,
EJ

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

Even though the mechanics said they checked the ball joints, idler and pitman arms are good, I would check them yourself. It is fairly easy to do. For the idler and pitman arms, while the truck is in park and running, have someone sit in the driver seat and turn the wheel with you under the front of the truck (without jacking it up). IF the idler and pitman arms move up and down ANY, if there is ANY play at all, replace both of them and have it aligned.

For the ball joints, jack the truck up on one side at a time, but don't use the lower control arm to jack it up. While it is in the air, use a large pry/tank bar, and using the bar and the ground for bracing, try to pry up on the lower control arm. When you do that, watch the upper and lower ball joints, if there is ANY play in them, I recommend having them all replaced.

I also agree with prying on the tortion bars. When the bushings or springs go bad they can cause intermittent noises.

But you MAY fix it with the body mounts as well.

 

[Grizzly]

Update: Pitman Arm, Idler Arm, Intermediate Steering Shaft and Steering gear box ALL replaced, noise is still there.... Loud and proud. FINALLY got my hands on the body mounts I have been needing, have a apt on the 9th to get em' installed.