Jump to content

Mystery popping/creaking....


RareGMFan

Recommended Posts

So.....after a big fiascoe last week (long story, not getting into it), I got the CV axle done. The reason I had it replaced is because something was popping, cracking, and snapping in the front passenger side, and when I took it in to the local muffler and brakes shop, all he could find was a boot ripped on the inboard side passenger CV axle. It's been doing this when turning the wheel for quite some time. It got really bad last week. Everytime I slowed down at a light/stop sign, it would do it just before I came to a stop. Everytime I got on the accelerator from a stop, it would pop again. And it sounded god awful when I turned the wheel either direction at times (more so when I turned right), as in popping several times in one turn, and again as I straightened out the wheel. So.....I'm all excited when I go to pick the car up (the shop had closed) thinking that was it. I drive off, and hear nothing at first. I'm like ahhhhhh, that's the stuff. But as I kept going, and approaching lights, making turns, etc.....it was still doing the same exact thing. :eek:

 

I just took it back to him today. He said he heard it on a test drive, and checked the suspension out top to bottom. He couldn't find anything. :neutral: Just as before, when all he found was the CV axle which we replaced. I had asked him to make sure the cradle/cradle bolts were ok, which he said looked fine. One bushing was a little worn, but all of them were in there snug. He also said there was just a little play in the engine mounts. Not nearly enough to cause what we were hearing. So....the car left that shop the same way it came in, today. Needless to say, I was a wee bit pissed. I have just started getting things together on this car, and this was quite the setback.

 

So I'm open to suggestions. Anyone know what else it could be? The passenger side now has a new CV axle, and I replaced the hub a few months ago. I have heard the snapping like pop sometimes as soon as I take my foot off the brakes, even before it's had a chance to roll forward, or before I've hit the accelerator. I'd really like to get to the bottom of this, because with his one issue, better tires, and a new starter out of the way, this thing should have all immediate problems out of the way and be fairly reliable for a while

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know this may sound absolutly retarded because you probably checked this already, but I had the same problems (sounds) and it is a combination of ball joint and cv axle. so check your ball joints and tierods too... u never know. check out your calipers to see if they are loose... check the pads.... ahh hell just take a look at everything on that side of the car :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Double check the subframe bolts. My regal started to pop everytime just before the car came to a stop, and everytime i took off. After I fixed tmy cutlass, it started doing the same thing. I had lowerd one side of the cradle, so i decided to check the bolts, and they were all a little loose. Never has made that noise again since tightening them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mmmkay, I spent pretty much the entire day at JNGTP's place, and he got the car up in the air to check out the cradle bolts situation. Our first clue something was wrong is when we watched the engine go up an inch or two before the car started rising at all. All of the bolts were actually in there tight as hell. BUT.....the bushing on the back passenger side is starting to go, and the front passenger side lower one is TOAST. I mean, I was wiggling around the bolt like a loose tooth. SO......trip to the dealer tomorrow, I guess. But at least we found the problem, and I know I don't have a loose bolt about ready to fall out. Though the stress on that front bolt can't be good for it, so I gotta' get this done as soon as possible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recall Date:

JUL 11, 2000

 

Summary:

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.

 

Consequence:

IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

 

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

 

Potential Units Affected:

713435

 

Notes:

GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 00061/00065

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hope this helps ya, maybe you can force them to replace these for free. I have not found any other information but if I run across any I will send it out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's all about the VIN, and if it actually comes up as qualified in the dealer's computer. Many members have had problems getting their cradle bolts replaced with this recall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, I forgot to mention it here, but I posted on the TGPforums that I went to the Pontiac dealer Monday about this. At first, the guy was cool about it, saying "sure, drop it off Wednesday. There's no need for an appointment, it's first come first served." But after he looked up my VIN #, he found nothing. He said this means one of 2 things: Either it's already been done on my car, or there was never one issued for my VIN. :evil: He wasn't being a jerk about it, just saying that's the deal, but I was pissed regardless. I can almost tell you for a fact the retard that owned this car before me didn't take it in for a recall. He didn't take very good care of this car at all. So why wouldn't the recall be issued for certain VIN #'s? That's ridiculous. Anyhow, I spent pretty much all of yesterday at JNGTP's place, and we found it was the front passenger cradle bolt bushing. It is TOAST! I can wiggle the bolt around like a loose tooth, even though the bolt is on as tight as can be (all 4 of them were, so them falling out isn't an IMMEDIATE threat, though the stress of it getting slammed on probably isn't going to help). So at least I know what the problem is, now. I'll be changing EVERYTHING, on it. All 4 nuts, bolts, and all bushings. I don't want to have to deal with them for a very long time, if ever again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...