Clicking sound in front end

Tiny
LEE SON
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 153,322 MILES
So I bought this car for $700.00 thinking it only needed a new ignition, leaving me purchasing without a test drive, but whatever live and learn right. I actually don't mind doing the work or investing some money in it. It's the first car I've ever really worked on and I'm finding a good deal of pride in being self sufficient with it. So, here's what I've replaced so far. Front end : driver and passenger inner and outer tie rods, control arms, sway bar links, rotors, rear end. Driver and passenger upper control arms, toe links, sway bar links, rotors, springs. Also have 4 new tires for it. I get this "click" or "pop" every now and then, which seems pretty random. It may happen on a bump or turning or braking, it's only every so often when I hear it but I can feel it in the steering wheel when this noise occurs. All the parts I've mentioned replacing were replaced with new parts. My initial research led me to believe the intermediate steering shaft was the culprit but I'm losing my faith in that. I know I need hubs in the front due to a grinding I still hear after replacing rotors. I know the practically only 3 things left I could replace in the front end are CV axles, strut/spring assembly and the hubs. From what I've been reading it seems like all 3 of those things could be what's making the noise. The need for the car on Tuesday for a job 30 miles away will have me unable to wait for (or wanting to pay the price for local stock) ordered parts to be delivered so I'm hitting the scrap yard I'm less than a mile from all day tomorrow (Monday). Just really wanted to see if anyone could narrow the problem down a little and also advice on examining and choosing scrap yard parts. Anything anyone could tell me would be highly appreciated.
Sunday, March 28th, 2021 AT 8:59 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
If this is happening when turning you are correct that this could be a spring/strut (more likely a mount) but the most likely cause of this is a CV axle.

Here is a guide that talks about this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clicking-sound

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-cv-axle

Does this make this noise on turning one way or the other? If it were me, I would be looking to replace the axle joints or the axle assemblies.

Below is the process from the manual on how to replace the axle. If this is clicking in one direction then I suspect it is the axle but let's start with this info and go from there. Thanks
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2021 AT 5:08 PM

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