Strange, loud popping sound/feeling in my '03 GS430
05-09-16, 05:56 PM
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Strange, loud popping sound/feeling in my '03 GS430
I've searched on this topic, but didn't find any threads that matched exactly to what I am experiencing. The thread that came closest is this one, but it still didn't address my issue:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...and-facts.html
A quick recap on my car. I've owned my '03 GS430 for 6 years now, and up until 5 weeks ago, it was an entirely stock front suspension. As I am rapidly approaching 200,000 miles, I felt it was time to upgrade/replace some parts. Forum member Straight6 helped me install new coilovers and TRD sways front and rear, and then I had my mechanic knock out the rest of the front suspension..
So last month, at approximately 194,400 miles, I replaced the following:
Coilovers (Megan EZ II's)
TRD sways front and rear
Megan Racing UCAs in the front
Front ball joints (Moog)
Front tie rod ends, both inner and outer (Moog)
Lower control arm bushings (Roca)
Sway bar end links (Moog)
Steering rack bushing (eBay)
The ball joints were greased prior to installing, and the sway bar bushings were lubed as well. The lower control arms themselves were in great shape (the underside of the car is extremely clean, as it is rarely driven in the winter here in NC), so I had my mechanic press the bushings in.
I noticed that after I had everything done, I was getting a really loud popping/binding sound when I would put the car in reverse to get out of my driveway. The pop is REALLY loud, and intense enough for me to feel it through the steering wheel. The noise happens before I've even backed my car up 10 feet, and repeats itself when I move forward from that point.
The interesting thing is that once I start out, I don't hear/feel this noise. I took the car back to my mechanic, who re-tightened every thing. He couldn't replicate the noise while the car was on the lift, but he did hear it while sitting in the passenger seat as I backed away from his shop.
What I haven't replaced are the motor and transmission mounts (they are original), but would those make a loud popping sound at what amounts to 2 mph?
Anyone experienced anything like that?
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...and-facts.html
A quick recap on my car. I've owned my '03 GS430 for 6 years now, and up until 5 weeks ago, it was an entirely stock front suspension. As I am rapidly approaching 200,000 miles, I felt it was time to upgrade/replace some parts. Forum member Straight6 helped me install new coilovers and TRD sways front and rear, and then I had my mechanic knock out the rest of the front suspension..
So last month, at approximately 194,400 miles, I replaced the following:
Coilovers (Megan EZ II's)
TRD sways front and rear
Megan Racing UCAs in the front
Front ball joints (Moog)
Front tie rod ends, both inner and outer (Moog)
Lower control arm bushings (Roca)
Sway bar end links (Moog)
Steering rack bushing (eBay)
The ball joints were greased prior to installing, and the sway bar bushings were lubed as well. The lower control arms themselves were in great shape (the underside of the car is extremely clean, as it is rarely driven in the winter here in NC), so I had my mechanic press the bushings in.
I noticed that after I had everything done, I was getting a really loud popping/binding sound when I would put the car in reverse to get out of my driveway. The pop is REALLY loud, and intense enough for me to feel it through the steering wheel. The noise happens before I've even backed my car up 10 feet, and repeats itself when I move forward from that point.
The interesting thing is that once I start out, I don't hear/feel this noise. I took the car back to my mechanic, who re-tightened every thing. He couldn't replicate the noise while the car was on the lift, but he did hear it while sitting in the passenger seat as I backed away from his shop.
What I haven't replaced are the motor and transmission mounts (they are original), but would those make a loud popping sound at what amounts to 2 mph?
Anyone experienced anything like that?
05-09-16, 06:39 PM
#2
if it's doing it when you put it in reverse than it does it again when put into drive it could be the rear knuckle spherical bearings. they connect the rear lower control arm to the rear knuckle. jack the car up and grab the rear wheel at 12 and six and rock it back and forth. if theres play you can feel, its more than likely the slop in those rear bearings that pop when the movement of the drivetrain is transferred to the rear wheels. just throwing that out there. it happened to me. i bought the rear knuckle bearings off of ebay to resolve it. it was also destroying my rear tires due to the excessive play.
05-09-16, 06:52 PM
#3
Pole Position
Thread Starter
if it's doing it when you put it in reverse than it does it again when put into drive it could be the rear knuckle spherical bearings. they connect the rear lower control arm to the rear knuckle. jack the car up and grab the rear wheel at 12 and six and rock it back and forth. if theres play you can feel, its more than likely the slop in those rear bearings that pop when the movement of the drivetrain is transferred to the rear wheels. just throwing that out there. it happened to me. i bought the rear knuckle bearings off of ebay to resolve it. it was also destroying my rear tires due to the excessive play.
Are these rear knuckle spherical bearings a regular wear item, or did they go bad because I lowered the car? I didn't lower it drastically -- about 1.5" in the front, and slightly more than 1" in the back, as I recall.
How was it destroying your rear tires? I ask because mine are pretty trashed, but a lot of that was from bad struts.
05-09-16, 10:47 PM
#4
Interesting, I had this issue but not as prominent. You did specify that the motor and transmission mounts has not been replaced. I was encountering a hard thumping sound when I slow down to a near stop, and during high speeds when let off the gas briefly and accelerate again. All of this went away after the motor mounts were replaced. I am riding on air and gets really low but have not notice any thump issues since. Just some consideration, May or may not be related to your issue.
05-10-16, 12:01 AM
#5
Both of the above responses are great suggestions, check out your differential bushings as well. If you have 13 year old motor/tranny mounts with 200,000 miles, they're probably due to be changed. I think my rear knuckle bushings are starting to go, I'll have to check when I change my rear brakes next week. Good luck and please keep us updated with what you find.
05-10-16, 07:34 AM
#6
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Interesting, I had this issue but not as prominent. You did specify that the motor and transmission mounts has not been replaced. I was encountering a hard thumping sound when I slow down to a near stop, and during high speeds when let off the gas briefly and accelerate again. All of this went away after the motor mounts were replaced. I am riding on air and gets really low but have not notice any thump issues since. Just some consideration, May or may not be related to your issue.
Both of the above responses are great suggestions, check out your differential bushings as well. If you have 13 year old motor/tranny mounts with 200,000 miles, they're probably due to be changed. I think my rear knuckle bushings are starting to go, I'll have to check when I change my rear brakes next week. Good luck and please keep us updated with what you find.
05-10-16, 07:37 AM
#7
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I just walked outside and noticed something -- my passenger side front wheel is exhibiting negative camber, but the driver's side front wheel is not. It's not drastic negative camber, but it's definitely there.
The car was just aligned last week, and I'm sure it didn't look like that. Could the popping sound I'm hearing be responsible for the shift in camber?
The car was just aligned last week, and I'm sure it didn't look like that. Could the popping sound I'm hearing be responsible for the shift in camber?
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05-10-16, 11:49 AM
#8
Originally Posted by ntwrkguy1
I just walked outside and noticed something -- my passenger side front wheel is exhibiting negative camber, but the driver's side front wheel is not. It's not drastic negative camber, but it's definitely there.
The car was just aligned last week, and I'm sure it didn't look like that. Could the popping sound I'm hearing be responsible for the shift in camber?
The car was just aligned last week, and I'm sure it didn't look like that. Could the popping sound I'm hearing be responsible for the shift in camber?
05-10-16, 12:02 PM
#10
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I had my mechanic re-use the lower control arms and press in 4 bushings total (2 per side).
05-19-16, 08:07 AM
#14
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Sorry for the delay -- I've been swamped with work and haven't had a chance to update.
Here's where things stand. Last week, I took it in to have the alignment guy check on things. It made the popping sound again as I backed out of my driveway, but it did not make it when I started going forward in Drive down the street.
The alignment guy checked ALL of the connections on the front end, and tightened everything to spec. He said the front end was still showing to be in perfect alignment. He also said the rear alignment was just slightly out of spec, due to the fact that he had adjusted the rear LCAs as far as they could go. I've ordered replacements, and will have them installed in the next 2 weeks.
I've driven the car approximately 300 miles in the last week, and the noise has completely vanished. I don't know if it was something the alignment guy did (maybe something was loose enough to make the noise, yet stopped when he put the wrench to it slightly?). Or maybe it was just the parts "settling" in, since at the time of the noise they had less than 100 miles on them?
Either way, for the moment, I've got no noises coming from the front end.
Here's where things stand. Last week, I took it in to have the alignment guy check on things. It made the popping sound again as I backed out of my driveway, but it did not make it when I started going forward in Drive down the street.
The alignment guy checked ALL of the connections on the front end, and tightened everything to spec. He said the front end was still showing to be in perfect alignment. He also said the rear alignment was just slightly out of spec, due to the fact that he had adjusted the rear LCAs as far as they could go. I've ordered replacements, and will have them installed in the next 2 weeks.
I've driven the car approximately 300 miles in the last week, and the noise has completely vanished. I don't know if it was something the alignment guy did (maybe something was loose enough to make the noise, yet stopped when he put the wrench to it slightly?). Or maybe it was just the parts "settling" in, since at the time of the noise they had less than 100 miles on them?
Either way, for the moment, I've got no noises coming from the front end.
05-19-16, 09:01 AM
#15
Did the Moog ball joints come with grease fittings installed? Mine didn't, but they had plugs so that grease fittings could be installed. Might be worth taking a look, and if the plugs are there install fittings and grease the heck out of the joints.