Riddle me this................

[68Stepbed]

OK, I've had a popping noise in my front end for a while now. I never noticed it before the LS swap. I only mostly heard it when barely moving the steering back and forth.

I took it to a shop this past week. Nothing in the steering/suspension is showing any signs of wear or unnecessary movement, but the noise was still apparently obvious. We noticed the sound would resonate through the frame, and could be felt when holding the frame. Then we noticed it was felt even more through the crossmember brace. Not the main engine crossmember, but the one in front of the engine. The mechanic used a stethoscope and discovered the noise was most audible there as well. We did notice that the top left hand factory rivet was slightly loose. The passenger side was still tight. The lowers have been replaced with bolts when I added the sway bar years ago. The bolts were also still tight.


Has anyone ever had this issue before? For the time being, I plan to grind out the factory rivets and replace with grade 8 bolts, but shortly in the future, I'll probably replace with a Porterbuilt tubular core support brace, or make one very similar.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Check the frame by the steering box. Common area for them to crack there
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[68Stepbed]

That's just it. The frame isn't cracked. The noise is an apparent stress reaction in the forward crossmember. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this happen on their truck(s).

[king-918]

Put it on a alignment rack with someone inside so you xan pinpoint the noise
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[andrewmp6]

Check the bolts on the steering box loose can make sounds,A loose or cracked sway bar can do it too.