2004 Impala, about 120,000 KM
Today I did a U-turn not to sharp or out of the ordinary just average driving. Shortly after when I parked a "clunking" noise came out of the front drivers side wheel well. I went for a short drive to try diagnose the issue, the sound only appears when turning (more-so to the left) driving straight, no problems.

My feeling is that its the tie rod end, it appears to be quite rusted where as everything else seems to be in decent shape. Or am I out in left field? Could it also be the CV joint? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Well it appears that either god sent a mechanic at night or the problem has remedied itself. Today I started it and there was not a sound, took it for a 15 minute drive and there were no problems at all. So Im assuming there was just a rock or some gravel that got kicked up into the works and it came loose when I parked it last night. Hoping thats all. Time will tell. Still planning to take it to my mechanic to have it looked at, can never be to careful.

I had similiar problem - first it was front left outer tie rod, then front left inner tie rod. Following these repairs my steering locked up turning left while driving. It was a total surprise when this happened. I had the rack, the pump and the fluid lines replaced. I highly recommend you get that steering noise checked out.

This morning on the way to work I noticed a noise again. Not nearly as bad but still there, it happened after making a U-turn again, sounds almost like grinding noise(for lack of a better word) Any ideas? CV Shaft? Tie-rod Ends?

This morning on the way to work I noticed a noise again. Not nearly as bad but still there, it happened after making a U-turn again, sounds almost like grinding noise(for lack of a better word) Any ideas? CV Shaft? Tie-rod Ends?


grinding noises are usually wheel bearings also when turning as weight increases on bad bearing noise will get louder...if left driver side bearing bad turning right will increase noise....

poping noises and feel in steering wheel when turning is usually the cv joints...

inspect for cv boot damage every oil change and replace if grease is coming out and rubber boot cracked and damaged..

so I booked an appointment @ the dealership for tuesday @ 7:30am to get the steering as a whole looked at, I did notice that the inner cv boot (on drivers and passenger side) were leaking so those are getting redone. Im also noticing a bit of a shimmy at highway speeds, so Im assuming that the problems are all related.

Im also noticing a bit of a shimmy at highway speeds, so Im assuming that the problems are all related.


this shimmy at all hywy speeds is usually tie rod wear...if all these problems are what you are experiencing i feel that you should get pricing from other quality recommended repair shops that will guarantee their work to correct these issues ,and obviously in writing......

let forum know how this all worked out good luck.

Just got the car back from the shop. Turns out the boots on the steering gear were damaged, thereby letting dust and junk into the steering gear which was causing the issues, so that replaced, the shimmy was bad balance apparently which was corrected and they did an alignment. All seems well with it now, rides much better, no noise. Hopefully nothing else comes about from all this.

Hi guys name Vince ( vinny) and i have been on this site for 2 hrs and i have got some tips on what to do with my 2002 Impala...Thank you very much but i have a question of my own. My front end is making a weird noise it sounds like the bushings when i go over bumps and or speed bumps.. you know when they start to go bad..any way i was hopping that someone has some input about this and help me out.

Thank you very much for all and any help..

Vinny