Clunk sound when driving over bumps

Tiny
SWEETIE1965
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 GMC ENVOY
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
I changed an upper ball joint on my vehicle listed above thinking that was the source of a clunking sound while driving over bumps. I changed all brakes and rotors, everything is torqued to specs. I checked the hub bearing by grabbing the tire at the 3:00 and 9:00 position. It moves about a half inch. At the 12:00 and 6:00 position it does not move. No slack (play) in anything. Only in the 6:00 and 12:00 position. I am thinking the hub bearing is the culprit. If your thoughts are the same as mine, could you give me the torque specs for the hub assembly and the axle nut? This will avoid me having to ask you for it. Other suspension parts do not have any slack in them at all. It sounds like it's coming from the front passenger side. That's where I changed the upper ball joint.
Tuesday, April 6th, 2021 AT 6:27 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Wheel Drive Shaft Nut. 140 Nm (103 ft. Lbs.)

Wheel Hub and Bearing Mounting Bolts 77 ft. Lbs.
Wheel Hub Bolt 95 ft. Lbs.
Wheel Speed Sensor to the Wheel Hub and Bearing Mounting Bolt 13 ft. Lbs.

These are the torque specs I found. There were no drawings to go with them. The axle nut torque seems very low to me, but I ran into something similar a few weeks ago. If you do replace a bearing assembly, go by the torque spec on the sheet of instructions that come with it. I'm used to seeing 180 foot pounds most often, and as high as 240 foot pounds on some GM trucks.

It sounds to me like you have a sloppy tie rod end. If you get any movement in the wheel bearing by shaking the tire at the top and bottom, you've had a worn bearing that was making a buzzing noise for a long time. If it really was that worn, you'd see the half inch movement regardless where you grabbed the tire.

For checking play in a wheel bearing or tie rod end, it doesn't matter how the vehicle is raised and supported, but for ball joints, you have to look at how they are "unloaded", then support the lower control arm or the frame on the jack stand. Most commonly if you put the jack stand under the frame and let the suspension hang, it will be the upper ball joint that is under tension and holding everything up. Even one with the most wear possible will appear to be tight that way. On most trucks the spring is pushing down on the lower ball joint, and that pressure prevents any objectionable movement from showing up. You have to move the jack stand to under the lower control arm. That removes the pressure on the two ball joints so any movement will show up when you pry the tire up and down with a lever.
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Tuesday, April 6th, 2021 AT 6:14 PM
Tiny
SWEETIE1965
  • MEMBER
  • 158 POSTS
I did all the necessary steps to figure out where this noise is coming from. I changed the inner tie rod the noise is still there. I checked: sway bar links and bushings, tie rod ends on both sides, hub bearings, sway bar links brake caliper and mounting bracket. Nothing has play in it. Everything seems tight like it should be. I checked lower control arm bushings and lower ball joint also. Everything seems to be tight as they should be. This has me puzzled. I hear a slight knocking sound at low speed. Everything seems like it is like it should be. I guess I will replace the sway bar links. They are a little worn more than anything else but they're not too bad.
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Saturday, June 12th, 2021 AT 6:55 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Some vehicles have a tendency to develop worn inner anti-sway bar bushings. You'll rarely see that when inspecting parts because that bar usually has some pressure on it when the vehicle is jacked up. They make a dull thumping noise that you won't hear at higher speeds. You'll hear the thumping best while driving slowly through a parking lot. The best clue is the noise will stop occurring when you have the steering wheel turned slightly to either side. That puts the anti-sway bar into a twist, with pressure between the bar and bushings that holds it from thumping. If the vehicle is on a drive-on hoist, you can feel the play by touching the bar and bushing at the same time while a helper bounces the car.
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Saturday, June 12th, 2021 AT 7:35 PM

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