Front End Noise

98 Blazer makes a popping noise in the front when you make a right hand turn(sounds kind a like popcorn). Nothing happens when you turn left. Blazer has a little over 60,000 miles on it. Would could it be?

It is a 4 wheel drive and pops throughout the entire right turn

I found a recall on the Lower control arm detaches. Could this possibly be the problem?

Is it 2 or 4 wheel drive?

I have the same exact problem in my 96 2WD Blazer.

I have the same exact problem in my 96 2WD Blazer.


Is yours just a pop or two, or is it a more consistent throughout the right hand turn? How many miles?

BTW, if it is a 4WD I would suspect the CV joint in the right axle shaft. In a 2WD, just a pop or two when turning one way or another, generally going through a dip can escalate the popping sound, I would take a look at the A arm bushings, upper.

Is it 2 or 4 wheel drive?


It is a 4 wheels drive and pops throughout the whole turn

I have the same problem with my 96Blazer 4x4 LS 2Dr. It was recalled
back in 2000 , but GM said it would only replace the bottom ball joints
I had my ball joints checked out and they were fine. When I drive over
a bump or on stones the pop is present. I check my tires every month
to see if the truck is out of alignment but its been okay so far. I had
my truck serviced last month and lubed and the pop hasn't been heard
of since. Maybe the ball joints will have to be replaced soon..
I have 78000 on the 96Blazer

check your wheel bearings....

My 90 has the same issue...when turning left, instead of right. It's not the CV axle, because I had that replaced shortly after I bought the vehicle. It sounds like it's in the suspension somewhere, as it really only makes the sound if you hit a bump (but ANY bump will do it...not just the big ones). It also thumps like that if I hit a big bump while driving straight...but pretty much never while turning right.

It hasn't affected the handling, as far as I can tell (the problem was there when I bought the vehicle, getting the front end worked on for steering issues didn't get rid of it...) My next guess is that it may be a problem with the shock mount on that side, but I haven't had time enough to get back under it long enough to really look.

Any suggestions on how to get rid of squeaking in the suspension? Mine has recently started that (I'm not surprised, I'm well past 250k miles, but if there's a good way to get rid of the noise, I'd love it, because I'm tired of the neighbor kids gawking any time I hit a bump and my suspension groans...)

From what I get from your info, I would check cv boots and see if any are bad. If you find one bad then that would be the joint I would replace. From what you said I would look at the left side. A cv joiny will pop through the whole turn and stop when back straight. Now this is at first. Left bad long enough it will start to make more all the time. It should be worst in 4 wheel drive. It has the most pressure then. But now I am only going my what I get from what you said in your post.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=302656

everytime i go to watch that clunkfix file it plays to about 33 secs of the 57 and then the video freezes but the audio still plays. so i still hear you talking but dont see what your doing. :(

Mine does this same thing. Ususally when turning into a parking space kind of slow. Just a clunk or two while turning. While stopped, I try to get it to replicate the noise and it will not do it. Sometimes I do not hear it, sometimes I do. Will look into that link LT. I need to replace the balljoints and what not anyway in the very near future but I will do the fix LT suggest first in the next week or so and get back to let you guys know if this fixed my particular problem. If not, I have to replace joints anyway so we will see from there.