Front sway bar end link nuts

[jdwood1111]

I have had a popping from the front suspension for a few weeks now ONLY when backing and turning out of my driveway. No noises when moving forward. So I looked around real quick and shouldn’t there be a nut on top of the washer on the end link?? Both fronts are the same. Are the nuts internal to the top bushings? If I am missing it should I just get some nuts or change the end links? I have 105,200 miles on my 2011 xl Denali.

 

[Doubeleive]

I have had a popping from the front suspension for a few weeks now ONLY when backing and turning out of my driveway. No noises when moving forward. So I looked around real quick and shouldn’t there be a nut on top of the washer on the end link?? Both fronts are the same. Are the nuts internal to the top bushings? If I am missing it should I just get some nuts or change the end links? I have 105,200 miles on my 2011 xl Denali.
View attachment 462070

Those are assembled correctly, are not missing anything and is unlikely to be the source of your popping noise, you could however loosen the and lube the 2 center D bushings (under the center of the truck).
and yes the top is a nut and thread goes down inside the bushing.

 

[jdwood1111]

thank you! I had a feeling since both sides were the same but I searched for a while and could not find an picture that looked like mine.

I’ll have to work on diagnosing my popping then. Going to try and check ball joints this weekend and hope it’s not the CV. If I back out real slow and turn it doesn’t happen only with a little bit of speed.

 

[Fless]

Relatively speaking, I would rather change a CV axle than a ball joint!

 

[Charlie207]

How's your alignment? That camber plate looks like it's shifted a lot. If the nut is loose then Jack up the front end, use a wrench to adjust it back to its old location, and tighten the nut down to like 137lb.ft.

 

[Charlie207]

Relatively speaking, I would rather change a CV axle than a ball joint!

Same, considering the axle has to come out to change the ball joint.

 

[jdwood1111]

How's your alignment? That camber plate looks like it's shifted a lot. If the nut is loose then Jack up the front end, use a wrench to adjust it back to its old location, and tighten the nut down to like 137lb.ft.

I haven’t had an alignment in a while actually. It drives straight but to me it does look that that wheel has some reverse camber (tilted out at the top instead of in). Where exactly is its old location supposed to be? Wouldn’t be different for every vehicle?

 

[Charlie207]

I haven’t had an alignment in a while actually. It drives straight but to me it does look that that wheel has some reverse camber (tilted out at the top instead of in). Where exactly is its old location supposed to be? Wouldn’t be different for every vehicle?

If that bolt is loose, then the upper control arm can bang around in the frame mount.

It certainly appears that the camber plate has rotated clockwise, exposing that bare area.

 

[GMCChevy]

Make sure that's loose before moving it. It could have been moved purposely at some point.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Check your front differential mounts/bushings while you are under there.