Clunking noise after some gravel roads?

[iboughtatahoe23]

Random intermittent Popping/clunk noise after some gravel roads.

I drive 2014 Tahoe 173k miles and I went shooting outside of town on some gravel roads. There was some loose gravel with some waves I didn’t see and I hit it kinda fast and was flying over them like a dune buggy. Now I’m hearing some popping noise on the left side I think. It is not dependent on anything it seems to just happen when ever. I hopped on both sides and rocked the car and no noise. I looked under the car and it looks fine. No broken pieces. No loose pieces. Anything else I can look at ? It’s really kinda scaring me. Don’t want my wheel to just fall off. It’s happened to me before riding in a friends civic.

 

[wjburken]

Check your sway bar links and bushings.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Check your sway bar links and bushings.

Ok thanks for the reply. What exactly am I looking for?

 

[wjburken]

Ok thanks for the reply. What exactly am I looking for?

They would look like the items circled.

Located on the rear side of your front wheels.

 

[petethepug]

Typically the culprits are those sway bar bushings, motor mounts, ball joints and upper / lower control arm bushings (UCA/LCA).

At 173k miles you’re ready for new bushings, about 75k miles ago. It’s least expensive to purchase the new UCA, LCA since they’ll have all the new ball joints and bushings correctly pressed in. Labor to remove & press in new bushes is nuts. Get poly sway bar bushings kit. On the bar, poly is best.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Typically the culprits are those sway bar bushings, motor mounts, ball joints and upper / lower control arm bushings (UCA/LCA).

At 173k miles you’re ready for new bushings, about 75k miles ago. It’s least expensive to purchase the new UCA, LCA since they’ll have all the new ball joints and bushings correctly pressed in. Labor to remove & press in new bushes is nuts. Get poly sway bar bushings kit. On the bar, poly is best.

So it’s gonna be expensive in other words? Cool.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

They would look like the items circled.

Located on the rear side of your front wheels.

View attachment 425490

Ok and this photo is showing bad ones? Or.

 

[wjburken]

So it’s gonna be expensive in other words? Cool.

Man, get back inside and off the ledge.

You haven’t even looked any these items. These are simply possible things to look at.

Ok and this photo is showing bad ones? Or.

The picture I posted was what they would look like normally. A broken sway bar link will be very obvious. A bad bushing a little less obvious.

 

[petethepug]

Nope. 1st find a magnet and see if your UCA & LCA are aluminum or steel. You may have one of each.

So it’s gonna be expensive in other words? Cool.

 

[Fless]

Ok thanks for the reply. What exactly am I looking for?

A mechanic.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

A mechanic.

I wanna try to fix it first. I can’t afford that. Labor rates are absurd.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

@Fless I know every job isn’t for everyone but never know until I try. Just need to get my hands on a three ton jack. I have sockets (chrome, should probably get some ones that aren’t chrome) I have a drill and an impact drill. It’s a Milwaukee and not the fuel series. Just the regular impact so maybe it’s can at least break the smaller nuts and what not. Maybe not lug nuts. I really doubt it. I’m looking under my truck now @wjburken i will take some photos of the front to start off than let me know if you need photos of the back. I’ll just grab those to.

edit:if the drill don’t work I’ll just throw my ol ratchet on there and wack it !

 

[wjburken]

@Fless I know every job isn’t for everyone but never know until I try. Just need to get my hands on a three ton jack. I have sockets (chrome, should probably get some ones that aren’t chrome) I have a drill and an impact drill. It’s a Milwaukee and not the fuel series. Just the regular impact so maybe it’s can at least break the smaller nuts and what not. Maybe not lug nuts. I really doubt it. I’m looking under my truck now @wjburken i will take some photos of the front to start off than let me know if you need photos of the back. I’ll just grab those to.

You’re good.

I think @Fless was just busting your chops a little. He’s one of the first guys on here to try and help a person out.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

@wjburken here is my shocks and struts. First 4 are front and last two are rear.

 

[wjburken]

edit:if the girl don’t work I’ll just wack it !

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Lol girl?! I said drill!!

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Let me know if these angles are sufficient. Can always take more photos.. any other ideas or suggestions? Of course I’m taking it in Monday to get LOOKED at. Not fixed. I just want to know what’s wrong right now.

 

[wjburken]

@wjburken here is my shocks and struts. First 4 are front and last two are rear.

These look a little suspect. Can you grab the black plastic and see if it moves? Maybe jack up the drivers side from the frame and then try it with that wheel hanging down.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Sorry. That was the front left and right side I sent you? I will check those black pieces. Unfortunately don’t have a jack but will try to get my hands on one or maybe use a friends this weekend.


Or what if I use two scissor jacks. That’s gotta be enough right? (Kidding)

 

[wjburken]

Sorry. That was the front left and right side I sent you? I will check those black pieces. Unfortunately don’t have a jack but will try to get my hands on one or maybe use a friends this weekend.


Or what if I use two scissor jacks. That’s gotta be enough right? (Kidding)

Yes, the front driver side is the one that looks the most suspicious. Your tire changing jack on just the driver front would be sufficient . Just trying to get some load off the link. Then do the same on the passenger side. If one is bad, you’re replacing both of them. They are pretty inexpensive. Actually, I would recommend you just plan on replacing them anyways because if they are not broken, they are well on their way.