Tahoe Clunk

[JPVortex]

Hello, I've been having a clunk in my Tahoe's suspension for a while now, and I've narrowed it down to 2 things. The CV Axle or wheel bearing. Here's a video of the clunk, and you can see a bit of movement/play in the CV Axle, is this normal or is that causing the clunk? The other thing I would think it'd be is a wheel bearing, nothing else has play. When I wiggle it with the tire on I can feel the clicking and hear it aswell.

Video:

Thanks!

 

[B-train]

Hello, I've been having a clunk in my Tahoe's suspension for a while now, and I've narrowed it down to 2 things. The CV Axle or wheel bearing. Here's a video of the clunk, and you can see a bit of movement/play in the CV Axle, is this normal or is that causing the clunk? The other thing I would think it'd be is a wheel bearing, nothing else has play. When I wiggle it with the tire on I can feel the clicking and hear it aswell.

Video:

Hello, I've been having a clunk in my Tahoe's suspension for a while now, and I've narrowed it down to 2 things. The CV Axle or wheel bearing. Here's a video of the clunk, and you can see a bit of movement/play in the CV Axle, is this normal or is that causing the clunk? The other thing I would think it'd be is a wheel bearing, nothing else has play. When I wiggle it with the tire on I can feel the clicking and hear it aswell.

Video:

Thanks!

Have you jacked up that side to get the wheel off the ground to see if there is bearing play when unloaded? Also can check the upper ball joint for movement. Grab a long bar and a block of wood and pry up and down under the wheel to check lower ball joint.

Could be CV, but I would think they are more of a growl or rhythmic noise if bad. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though. Last time I had a bad CV it sounded like there was gravel rolling around inside it

 

[JPVortex]

Have you jacked up that side to get the wheel off the ground to see if there is bearing play when unloaded? Also can check the upper ball joint for movement. Grab a long bar and a block of wood and pry up and down under the wheel to check lower ball joint.

Could be CV, but I would think they are more of a growl or rhythmic noise if bad. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though. Last time I had a bad CV it sounded like there was gravel rolling around inside it

Yeah I did jack it up and wiggled the tire around, that's when I felt the click and clunk, I also put a pry bar underneath the tire and didnt feel any play there. I may try just removing the bearing and seeing the condition of it with it off

 

[JPVortex]

Yeah I did jack it up and wiggled the tire around, that's when I felt the click and clunk, I also put a pry bar underneath the tire and didnt feel any play there. I may try just removing the bearing and seeing the condition of it with it off

I also just pried on everything like I did in the video and nothing else moved or clicked, no tears in anything

 

[B-train]

Then I'd say you got er figured out. Those are nice and easy to change

 

[OR VietVet]

I am not convinced it is the cv joint. There should be a minute amount of play in there that could be heard with a pry bar but not in the grease pit when driving. What play do you have when jack up under the lower ball joint and when just a couple inches off the ground, use a pry bar under the tire at 6 o'clock and see what play you have at the ball joints? Do you hear anything when driving at 30-40 mph on a straight road and jockey the steering wheel from 10 to 2?

 

[JPVortex]

I am not convinced it is the cv joint. There should be a minute amount of play in there that could be heard with a pry bar but not in the grease pit when driving. What play do you have when jack up under the lower ball joint and when just a couple inches off the ground, use a pry bar under the tire at 6 o'clock and see what play you have at the ball joints? Do you hear anything when driving at 30-40 mph on a straight road and jockey the steering wheel from 10 to 2?

I put a prybar under the 6 o'clock position, didnt feel or hear anything, also pryed at everything like in the video and nothing else had play. The only play/clunking noise I had was when I used my hands to wiggle the tire back and forth at the 9 and 3 position. The noise can be heard at all speeds, bumps, no bumps etc. Any condition of driving creates the sound, which leads me to believe its the wheel bearing or the cv axle there.

 

[JPVortex]

I am not convinced it is the cv joint. There should be a minute amount of play in there that could be heard with a pry bar but not in the grease pit when driving. What play do you have when jack up under the lower ball joint and when just a couple inches off the ground, use a pry bar under the tire at 6 o'clock and see what play you have at the ball joints? Do you hear anything when driving at 30-40 mph on a straight road and jockey the steering wheel from 10 to 2?

I may just end up removing the wheel bearing to see if wiggling it back and forth by hand renders any play in it, and if not I would guess it's the CV axle.

 

[B-train]

Wiggling at 9 and 3 could be steering linkage as well. If it wiggles the same at 12 and 6, then it's most likely a bearing

 

[Fless]

Your sway bar links appear to need replacement soon; I'd recommend replacing those and the sway bar bushings on the frame before you tear into anything else.

 

[OR VietVet]

Based off what you say did you get any of the normal bad bearing noise that happens when driving and rock steering wheel from 10 to 2.

 

[JPVortex]

Wiggling at 9 and 3 could be steering linkage as well. If it wiggles the same at 12 and 6, then it's most likely a bearing

Wiggling at 9 and 3 could be steering linkage as well. If it wiggles the same at 12 and 6, then it's most likely a bearing

I pryed on everything, didnt feel any play in any ball joints, tie rods, idler or pitman arms. Only the click from the bearing or cv axle.

 

[JPVortex]

Your sway bar links appear to need replacement soon; I'd recommend replacing those and the sway bar bushings on the frame before you tear into anything else.

Yeah they definitely do, but I dont think those are the cause of the clunk. I've had multiple vehicles that needed the links and they sounded different and the clunk usually only happened over bumps, whereas the Tahoe happens anytime

 

[JPVortex]

Based off what you say did you get any of the normal bad bearing noise that happens when driving and rock steering wheel from 10 to 2.

I guess you could say it sounds a little bit like gravel or something rocking around in the bearing like someone else mentioned, but I dont notice it in any one specific condition. it seems to just happen all the time. I may try to get a video of the noise drivingm

 

[JPVortex]

Another thing is driving it in the rain today, I didnt really hear it at all, its more when its dry out, interesting.

 

[OR VietVet]

You did not hear it over the noise from driving on a wet road. Sounds like a bearing/hub problem.

 

[Rocket Man]

I pryed on everything, didnt feel any play in any ball joints, tie rods, idler or pitman arms. Only the click from the bearing or cv axle.

Unbolt the cv axle, slide it away from the hub and try again to see if it’s the bearing. It’s pretty easy, 6 or 8 bolts.

 

[JPVortex]

You did not hear it over the noise from driving on a wet road. Sounds like a bearing/hub problem.

Yeah thats what I'm thinking.

 

[JPVortex]

Unbolt the cv axle, slide it away from the hub and try again to see if it’s the bearing. It’s pretty easy, 6 or 8 bolts.

Yeah I'm going to go ahead and do that. It's very simple to get it off and from there it'll be easy to tell if the bearing is bad.

 

[JPVortex]

Alright y'all here's an update, back to the drawing board! I wiggled the tire on the other side and heard a slight similar clicking sound.