Front End Popping... Rough offroad weekend.

[ROM4D]

I've been reading around on this issue but haven't found an answer that I'm comfortable with accepting.

This has been happening for a while but after this weekend I figured I'd reach out to the community. I've read that the front may give off a "popping" sound in 4hi/4low locked but why is this? These sounds are coming from the left and right front axle area (Or it sounds like). Mainly when I'm trying to climb and the front wheel turning. Or when I'm making sharp turns. I don't believe this is happening during the daily driving mode but it's possible I've heard it at full wheel lock. I'm worried something is about to break/snap and it makes me more hesistant to wheel. We had a 2 in our group get towed out of the woods yesterday and I didn't want to be number 3.
Is it supposed to make this sound when I am in 4hi/4low? If it helps my torsion bars are cranked so she is level and it's on 35's. Obviously things will eventially break offroading but I'd like to get some confidence back in my H3.
Thanks for your help. Build thread soon to follow.

 

[frumaker]

Check the crossmember bushing. My H3 made that sounds when the bushing went bad


FRU

 

[ROM4D]

Took a look under there and the bushing didnt seem torn or anything (worn maybe) but I did find something interesting in the fact that there seemed to be a small chunk missing in the metal around the bushing. Hope the picture below shows, you can see the gap on the right side. I don't believe that is normal. Wonder if this could cause shifting and make the "popping" sound to occur?:

 

[LagunaH1]

How many miles on the truck since it was leveled? A leveled truck will put more stress on the front end IMO, in particular the half shafts.

Set the parking brake, put the T-case in neutral and jack up one of your front wheels. Turn the wheel by hand and see if you hear any crunching / popping / clunking

 

[poncho1965]

Mine was popping in 4lo locked. Climbing/descending, when under load. Did not pop in 4high. Turned out to be my Tcase. You might take a look at your fluid. Is it a very loud pop?


Mike

 

[Zach]

What year do you have? 06's seemed to have an oil starvation issue. I saw poncho's and it was blue. Popping in 4lo could be shift fork or tcase is done. Won't know till its opened

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

it's moving up and down (the bolt in the bushing) - that's the popping sound. if you don't believe that's true; there's a pretty simple way of checking. Get a rubber donut and put it as a washer between the washer and the bushing. I did that with mine (okay, I was needless complex and machined a bushing out of poly) and it ended the noise. Interestingly, it was destroyed in 8000 miles, but there's a bit that's still jammed between the bolt and the bushing - and it doesn't make popping noises.... so really, (at least this time) listen to fru

 

[ROM4D]

^ lol I appreciate it.

For those that asked its a 2007 with 65k on it. I'll have to check out replacing the bushing and am curious on the gap where it looks like metal is missing. I'm 90% confident it's not coming from the transfer case because the noise really seems to be coming from one wheel or the other depending on which one seems to have the most weight shifted to it. Not sure if that helps any?

 

[alrock]

I've had front end popping noises for years now when in 4 low. Never been able to figure it out and I don't think there's a front end piece that hasn't been replaced. Correction - there's not a piece beyond the engine, from trans to tire, that hasn't been serviced or replaced.

Regardless, you probably should start with contacting PreferredChassisFab about a new crossmember.

 

[ROM4D]

Looks like the signs are all pointing to at the very least do the crossmember bushing as a starting point. I will try the advice superbuickguy gave me to start off but is this somethign that can be pressed out and new one back in? Seems like theres not many options out there or maybe I'm overlooking someone selling just the bushing. Once again though.. That gap on the right side seems to be cracked off so it may still be an issue.

 

[alrock]

GM does not offer the bushing separately. There are fixes people have done with 3rd party bushings and some rigging. It was Bigunit and I messing (unsuccessfully) with one of those attempts that led to the PCF crossmember being done. My repair (test unit #1) has been on since Nov 2011 and has not failed. I went through five OEM crossmembers before that.

 

[ROM4D]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but how did you know yours were bad and needing replacement?

 

[Bigunit]

I new mine was bad during a wheeling outing with forum members Alrock and Dwaine (Preferred Chassis) and feeling like my front diff was bouncing up and down several inches like a basketball on a hardwood court. The diff was moving so much because of the play of the worn off pieces of the diff bushing that it led to the diff bolt sheering off on the trail. Can't say enough about the Preferred Chassis ctossmember fix. I have test unit #2 or #3 ( I can't remember which), more than 2 years old and the bushing still looks as good as new and has over 25k miles on it.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapataint

 

[alrock]

How to know it's bad? See if the bushing is torn or cracked. Grab the diff and see if you can move it up/down. Or have someone start the truck, hold the brake, and put it in gear (and maybe step on the gas). If the diff moves then it's bad.

Also, mine would make a noise anytime I shifted torque on the diff, like from Park to Reverse, Reverse to Drive, etc. The diff would rise up, fall back down and clang on the crossmember. Good metal on metal sound.

 

[ROM4D]

It sounds as if replacing this in the near future will be a good idea but as of present is anyone noticing an issue with the pictures I posted or does everything look pretty normal?

 

[poncho1965]

It sounds as if replacing this in the near future will be a good idea but as of present is anyone noticing an issue with the pictures I posted or does everything look pretty normal?

Can't see the top of it. I'd say mine looked similar with moderate wheeling (06' Adventure). One thing that struck me: when I was underneath it one day I grabbed the front drive shaft and turned it both ways. Wow! Diff was flexing, torquing every which way. It's under a lot of strain. Made my decision right away to do the PCF crossmember. Now if I'd get off my butt and install the PCF steering bracket


Mike

 

[PreferredChassisFab]

Now if I'd get off my butt and install the PCF steering bracket


Mike

Really Mike? I'd install it for you if I was closer.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

 

[poncho1965]

Really Mike? I'd install it for you if I was closer.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

LOL I talked myself into that it's over my level of shade tree mechanic! In the end just procrastinating. No worries Dwayne I'll be tackling it soon. Thanks though!!


Mike

 

[PreferredChassisFab]

The install is confined and time consuming but I would not consider it tough. Nothing you can't handle. Follow the install guide and you'll be fine.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

 

[06 H3]

I would check the crossmember and also I would change the t case fluid while your at it. These t cases are stout and I haven't heard of many issues about them but I know old fluid is not good for a t case. They recommend every 100k miles I do mine around 20-25k.

One more thing to check and this isn't for you per say but everyone. I had popping in my front end and sure enough my bolt for the crossmember was not even tight! It loosened up over time so I would recommend using loctite on it. Seeing yours is stock though it's probably ****ed anyways. Those bushings suck

 

[poncho1965]

The install is confined and time consuming but I would not consider it tough. Nothing you can't handle. Follow the install guide and you'll be fine.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

I will post up when it's done. Couple go to guys in town to assist. I'm not worried. Luis even volunteered to help, but we scrubbed SP.


Mike

 

[4speedfunk]

I'm having similar "popping and binding" issues...and I have none of the IFS stuff.

I thought I would mention that t-case issues can also cause noises like this. Mine has become so bad I'm going to pull it out for a rebuild. If I keep driving around with the t-case like this, it will damage the diffs for sure. Several times I have read threads about t-case and diff failures at the same time (trailbreaker)...and I always thought it was strange that a dealer would replace both at the same time. Now that I'm experiencing the t-case problems, I can totally see how it would destroy anything downstream of it. My popping sounds awful, and its not something minor. I'm not saying that's your problem, just saying that noise from the front axle....isn't necessarily the front axle.

Jeez these things (H3's) are a pita to troubleshoot.

 

[ROM4D]

Would another symptom be hard shifting? I was actually thinking about changing my transmission fluid but after everyone mentioning everything being linked together it got me thinking. I'm getting what feels like a hard shift sometimes. Nothing extravagant but definitely noticeable. Would the crossmember bushing come into play in that as well?

I wonder if my extended warrantee covers this? Not sure about bushings..

 

[cdarveaux]

Well this has been helpful pretty much convinces me to get the new crossmember, cause mine are worn as well. What is the difference between the styles?

 

[06 H3]

Would another symptom be hard shifting? I was actually thinking about changing my transmission fluid but after everyone mentioning everything being linked together it got me thinking. I'm getting what feels like a hard shift sometimes. Nothing extravagant but definitely noticeable. Would the crossmember bushing come into play in that as well?

I wonder if my extended warrantee covers this? Not sure about bushings..

I would say a hard shift is more of the diff moving up and down. Thats what I had in the past atleast.