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Anyone get the random popping noise?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by macgyver, Apr 6, 2010.

  1. Apr 6, 2010 at 7:30 AM
    #1
    macgyver

    macgyver [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So recently my truck has begun to make a random single pop whenever I change directions. I.E when I start reversing it pops once, then when I take off forward I get a single pop. It only does it whenever I change directions or sometimes starting off from a complete stop. It always just one single pop

    I need to get someone to listen for me and let me know whether its coming from the front or the back. But im leaving more towards the back.

    Anyone else get a random pop?

    My truck is an 07 DBLCB SB 4x4 6spd with 61k miles.

    It just started doing this about a month ago. The suspension is completely stock. The only thing I have upgraded was my tires to 265/75/16 duratracs. It has never been heavily offroaded, just dirtroads and stuff. I re-greased all of my zerks with mobil 1 synthetic grease about 10k miles ago. Both diffs, the t-case and tranny have all been converted to mobile 1 synthetic fluid.

    Maybe a ball joint? but that would probably pop whenever I turn the wheel and probably pop more often. I have had bad ball joints on previous vehicles so I understand the symptoms.

    Maybe a loose bolt on the leaf springs?

    I know this thread is kinda a shot in the dark but I figured i'd try.
     
  2. Apr 6, 2010 at 7:32 AM
    #2
    Zombie Runner

    Zombie Runner Are these black helicopters for me?

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    i get it, it sounds more like a metal clunk to me. when backing up it comes from the front, i was told it was from a metal sheild that covers the brakes. it was totaly harmless
     
    Earfarmer and ready6delta like this.
  3. Apr 6, 2010 at 7:33 AM
    #3
    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    Some stuff. Not a lot, just some.
    I would regrease the zerks and inspect the u-joints. Also check the tranny and engine mounts.
     
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  4. Apr 6, 2010 at 7:35 AM
    #4
    Sparky4.0

    Sparky4.0 Well-Known Member

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    sounds like a u joint with slop
     
  5. Apr 6, 2010 at 10:43 AM
    #5
    Zombie Runner

    Zombie Runner Are these black helicopters for me?

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    oil change...
  6. Apr 6, 2010 at 11:01 AM
    #6
    macgyver

    macgyver [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Mine doesn't sound like a clunk. More like a pop..kinda has a hollow sound to it. It only does it when I go from forward to reverse or from reverse to forward. It only pops once. Kinda like something is shifting due to the change in intertia of the truck. I just drove to the bank and it didn't do it at all...weird.
     
  7. Apr 6, 2010 at 11:11 AM
    #7
    Sparky4.0

    Sparky4.0 Well-Known Member

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    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
     
  8. Apr 6, 2010 at 11:19 AM
    #8
    tmat

    tmat Well-Known Member

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    if it sounds like it's coming from the rear of the truck (the exhaust to be exact) it could just be the truck scavenging (sp?). I actually don't know if that's the right word, but when I had a straight pipe on my tacoma it would make popping noises alllll the time. When I down shifted, when i change gears, etc.
     
  9. Apr 6, 2010 at 12:08 PM
    #9
    macgyver

    macgyver [OP] Well-Known Member

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    its not an exhaust sound. My exhaust is stock. Sounds like its suspension related. I'm gonna climb under it tonight after work and inspect a few things.
     
  10. Apr 9, 2010 at 1:05 PM
    #10
    rzimm001

    rzimm001 Tearmytaco

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    Brake pad float. Try driving straight and come to a stop on a flat surface. Take your foot off the brake pedal and then shift into reverse. When the truck begins to move apply break and listen for the pop. If you hear a pop after doing this procedure it is your front break pads or possibly the rear, however on my truck it was the front. Simply your brake pads shifting. Not bad just annoying and will go away when you replace the pads.
     
    Earfarmer, ChadsPride and ready6delta like this.
  11. Apr 9, 2010 at 1:11 PM
    #11
    macgyver

    macgyver [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I just replaced my brake pads two weeks ago. I'm pretty sure I noticed it before I changed my pads. I will double check this evening. I'm also gonna climb under there tonight and inspect the driveshaft and regrease the zerks again just for good measure.
     
  12. May 13, 2010 at 6:49 AM
    #12
    macgyver

    macgyver [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok guys. I regreased the zerks again a few weeks ago and its still doing the same thing. I checked the U-joints and they all look ok. I even inspected the flange areas where the U-joints bolt up (to the driveshaft, tranny etc.) and didn't see any indication of shifting/slipping. All the bolts are tight. I'm beginning to think its some sort of tranny or transfer case mount thats shifting.

    I have noticed it does it if im in traffic in first gear if I am lightly accelerating forward to move ahead and it let off the gas abruptly (nose of truck drops) it will pop, then when I press the gas again it will pop again. Only one pop when I put load on the drivetrain or let load off the drive train.

    Like before it pops just once when I first let out the clutch backing out of a parking space. basically when I load the drivetrain. Then when I put the truck in 1st and start moving forward it will pop once. If I feather the clutch and back out really slowly it won't do it.

    I had a buddy of mine back my truck up and move it forward a few times in my driveway to see if I could see/hear where the pop was coming from. It was hard to pinpoint but sounds as if its coming from around the transfer case area.
     
  13. May 13, 2010 at 8:38 AM
    #13
    rzimm001

    rzimm001 Tearmytaco

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    Well that illiminates the brake pad float. Does it make the popping sound just by shifting into forward or reverse? Or ony when you start to move? If it were the drive train I would imagine the noise would be present just by shifting and not even moving since that will put some torque on the drive train. I would investigate further. That sounds sketchy to me.
     
  14. May 13, 2010 at 8:42 AM
    #14
    macgyver

    macgyver [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It only makes the noise when I start moving. I.e loading the drivetrain.
     
  15. May 13, 2010 at 8:46 AM
    #15
    rzimm001

    rzimm001 Tearmytaco

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    So the second you touch the gas basically? I mean I would think you could keep the brake pedal down and touch the gas in forward and than in reverse and replicate the noise. Holding the brakes doesn't lock down your drive train until the wheels so if there's any slop anywhere in that drive train than keeping the brake pressed hard and shifting into forward/reverse should do something.
     
  16. May 13, 2010 at 8:49 AM
    #16
    rzimm001

    rzimm001 Tearmytaco

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    I beat the hell out of my truck at the dezert and I can sit in my driveway and without hitting the brakes bounce the truck back in forth from forward to reverse without getting a single noise or slip. My only noises are from the stupid brake pads which are irritating. They don't pop however. They click/clank/etc
     
  17. May 13, 2010 at 8:51 AM
    #17
    macgyver

    macgyver [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have a manual transmission. lets say i'm backing out of my garage or a parking spot. I put the truck in reverse and when I let the clutch out and the truck begins to move it pops. But if I feather the clutch and move very slowly (not putting abrubt load on the drivetrain) it won't pop.

    So once I pull out of the spot, put the truck in 1st and let the clutch out to move forward it pops again.

    Same thing happens if I'm in traffic and moving in 1st gear with the clutch completely let out, if I let off the gas without pushing the clutch in (causing the truck to jerk forwards slightly), it will pop. then when I push the gas again it will pop again. Basically any abrupt load onto the drivetrain causes the pop. I have zero vibrations that would indicate u-joint slop.
     
  18. May 13, 2010 at 9:26 AM
    #18
    rzimm001

    rzimm001 Tearmytaco

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    Okay I see your point. That definitely sounds like something is not tight or is shifting under strain. I would take it to a mechanic/ the dealer if you can. Otherwise have a buddy drive your car for you while you listen to it from the outside. If you can make a good guess as to what the problem is you're a lot less likely to get taken advantage of. Is the car new?
     
  19. May 13, 2010 at 9:38 AM
    #19
    macgyver

    macgyver [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I do all my mechanic work myself. I have been working on cars for years. The only reason I would ever set foot into a dealer would be to buy a part or have them do warranty work. My truck is out of warranty anyways(65k miles). They don't call them "stealerships" for no reason. The only time anyone but me touches my car is for AC work or alignments or getting tires mounted/balanced. I had a buddy drive it while I crouched down next to it but I couldn't seem to pinpoint where its coming from. I'm gonna try again.

    I figured I would post here to see if anyone else experienced the same thing.
     
  20. May 13, 2010 at 11:44 PM
    #20
    Kyouto42

    Kyouto42 Iron Beard

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    I'd suspect the mounts (eng/trans/diff). Aside from that, it could be the coils... they do have some miles on them so it's not that unreasonable. My Z pops under shifts too... I'm 90% sure it's the coils.

    Something else you could do is strap down a crappy cheap little digital video camera and aim it at components and go for a drive to cause it to happen. That way you can be more aggressive than when you're under it and truly represent it and see what kind of shifts the components are going through..... might get lucky. Additionally you can setup a microphone in different spots and try to figure out where it's louder that way. Just a few ideas... hopefully you find it.

    Also you could try jacking corners of the truck up on the frame a bit to see if the suspension does it... another way to help isolate.
     

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