Mystery popping/creaking....

[RareGMFan]

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.   :icon_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.   :icon_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

[jimmy]

hey man, I don't care what that man told you, it is your cradle bolts . I drove around about a thousand miles before I found it. I've asked several mechanics around where I live and nobody could figure it out. I just so happen to be in Daytona Beach saw a pontiac dealership and with cash money this 19 year old kid took an impact wrench and literally drove the front bolts up nearly 2". I saw this with my own eyes and couldn't believe it, because I just got it out of the transmission shop. I guaranty this will fix your problem

[Prospeeder]

well, my mazda does a slighty simlar thing, creaks when taking off hard or taking corners a certain way and was told suspension bushings like swaybar specifcly, wich mine are in terrible shape, mabye look into somthing like that? Because my mazda has new CV joints also.... Just a thought dont jump on me for it, lol

[RareGMFan]

Jimmy - Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.  Most mechanics don't fully appreciate the degree of problems the engine cradle/bolts present on these cars.  They'll take a quick glance at it, and be like "nah, they're fine."

Pro - Anything's a possibility at this point.  Someone else had suggested sway bar bushings, as well.  I'm just trying to think of everything possible so I can make a list of what I need the next mechanic to go through (I'm not taking it back to the last guy again).

I'm also going to see if the Pontiac dealer right next to the shopping center I work at will be willing to do the cradle bolts recall without a hassle tomorrow.

[dbtk2]

Sounds exactly like cradle bolt/bushings.

My dads TGP has ALWAYS made that noise.  He replaces the cradle bolts and bushings every year and it quits making the noise for a month or two and then starts up again.

FWIW his cradle fell out a couple weeks ago.   :icon_biggrin: :icon_rolleyes:  He didn't put new bolts and bushings in it this spring like he usually does....although due to how it broke that wouldn't have helped.

But my money is on the cradle. 

[jimmy]

RareGMfan, I've replaced everything your about to and spend alot of money doing it. So let me save you the expense now and hit the occurring problem on the nail. trust me when I tell you I spent alot of money, drove alot of miles, and work alot of hours on this crazy problem that nobody could tell me what it was. :icon_evil:

[RareGMFan]

dbtk - Yeah, I read what happened to your dad's car, which is only furthering my fear of something similar happening to mine.

Jimmy - Trust me, I'm not about to go nuts replacing things, especially when 2 mechanics have said everything else is in decent shape under the car.  I'm going to attempt checking the bolts myself tomorrow if I can get my hands on some jackstands.  The trip to the Pontiac dealer didn't go so well today.  They typed in the VIN #, and it didn't come up, so the manager said it's either been done already, or the cradle bolts recall doesn't pertain to this particular car.  So much for that.

[Prospeeder]

I think its the 1G5 it means like ASC/Pontiac and it doesnt register in the computer properly, i wonder...if you went to a junkyard, got the VIN off of a regualr GP and then temporily put it on yours for the fix if it would work...

[RareGMFan]

Mmmkay, I spent pretty much the entire day at JNGTP's place (from the w-body board), 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.

[GangstGP]

I have been following along with this one too. mine has some creaking and was going to have my friend throw it on the lift and check it out. 180 k I will be hitting this month or next so wouldnt doubt it.

[Shifter23]

Does this recall cover all early W-bodies?  Wondered if it also covered TSTEs?

[grinders_18]

It does cover the TSTE.

[GutlessSupreme]

Depends on the dealer... our VINs are different than those listed in the recall so good luck. A lot of guys have had quite a hassle.

[pontiac6ksteawd]

I have called Pontiac directly on this, NHTSA, and a few others. Althou the NHTSA says the recall does cover ALL W-bodys, in certain parts of the country, Pontiac, and GM, both say that it doesnt cover this car. I have fought this tooth and nail with both of them, and its a agrivating battle to say the least.

I plan on doing some cradle work next year, when I move to my new house, with its 4 car garrage, and 12 car driveway.

[grinders_18]

For what it's worth, I had my shop replace the bolts. They ordered them from the GM dealership, and when they sent me a bill for the parts, I sent them the NHTSA recall notice sheet and highlighted that phone number. They backed off and paid for it.