Loud Pop Sound When Backing Up And Turning Left

I have a 2020 DCLB with Bilstien 5100’s (4th notch, oem springs) up front and icon leafs and 5100’s in the rear giving about 2”-3” of total lift. The truck sits on Toyo AT3’s with 16” trd pro wheels. I also have a knockoff trd skid plate and sway bar drop brackets.

Since installing the lift (but not immediately after), I’ve noticed a popping/bang noise that comes from the FR of the truck. It ONLY happens when I’m backing up, and turning to the left. It may coincide with hitting the brakes as well. ALL other driving scenarios, the truck is quiet and rides like a dream, for what it is.

The noise only happen once per backup. To make the noise happen again, I have to go forwards, then go backwards. If I didn’t know any better, it almost sounds like the brake rotor is moving in the hub, or as if something is catching on the coil spring. The noise is substantial enough that I can feel it in the floor and it makes my wife go “ohhh what was that?” Every time it happens. I’ve also had some people look at me funny in parking lots.

A visual/jiggle test doesn’t show any signs of wear or contact from any moving parts, and everything seems to be tight. Fully articulating the steering, I can’t see anything interfering with anything.

Has anyone heard anything like this? It’s got me stumped and is very difficult to diagnose solo.

 

Mine has done that on two different occasions.
Each time was AFTER and alignment.
Tightening the LOWER control arm bolts solved my issue.

I don't know what the alignment shop set them at?
I got them "tight" by feel.

 

I tracked a noise that only happened in reverse and after replacing my struts. I found out it was my LCA bushing.

 

Interesting. I did have it aligned after the shocks went in, but it was from a reputable shop who lifts trucks everyday. I’ll put a torque wrench on them in the morning. Thanks!

 

I was wrong.
Looks like it's 139 ft/lbs on the 3rd gen

 

See my post above.....139 is the spec.

 

now that you guys mention it, the noise could be the LCA hitting the frame from the bolt/bushing being loose. And that would make sense when it only happens once when I back up. I’ll torque it in the morning and report back.

 

Yup. Mine started happening shortly after an alignment. I tightened up and helped for a min, but ultimately, I had to replace the bushing.

When I had my 5100s on, the lower strut bushings also went out pretty quick and were giving me a big popping noise on the driver side, usually when going over bumps though, not just reversing. My reverse noise wasn't much of a pop, but a nasty sounding noise lol. I have some videos on her somewhere about that..started a thread on it if I recall.

 

Alright! So I dropped my skid plate and checked the torque on my LCA bolts this morning. All of them were slightly loose. I tightened them all to 139 ft lbs and got about half a turn on them. When I got to the right rear bolt, it made a got awful sound when I turned it. It almost sounded like a ratchet skipping. That was 100% my noise. I brought it up to torque, loosened it, and re torqued it. Now it’s quiet and my noise is gone.

Worth noting that prior to checking torque, I put a wrench on a lug nut with the truck in the ground to see if there was any play in the wheel. It was rock solid. I couldn’t even get them to wiggle with a pry bar.

What a bizarre issue. I took a video of the noise, but I don’t know how to post it. Thank you for the pointer!