When you only hear it at lower speeds, the most likely suspect is binding upper strut mounts. They hold up the weight of the front of the vehicle, and have bearings in them that allow the struts to rotate smoothly while you're turning. To verify this, reach over the top of a front tire and wrap your fingertips lightly around part of the coil spring. Have a helper slowly turn the steering wheel to either side. You should feel the spring rotate smoothly with the wheel and tire. If that upper mount is binding, you'll feel the spring wind up and build tension, then suddenly pop free and turn.
Upper strut mounts can be replaced separately, but to do so requires removing and disassembling the strut, just as when the struts are being replaced. Since you're going through all this work, this is the perfect time to replace the struts too. It doesn't make sense to do the job allover again in the near future. An alignment is required whenever the struts are removed too..
There is also a safety issue when compressing the coil springs as part of the job to replace the struts or the upper mounts. To add to the misery, there are other problems the upper mounts can develop that can't be seen until the assembly is taken apart. This is where it's common for us to have to find you and tell you more parts are needed when we were expecting to just replace the struts.
To avoid all these problems, the better aftermarket replacement strut manufacturers now offer "Quick Struts". These are new struts with new coil springs, upper mounts, and damping hardware all pre-assembled and ready to install. You'll pay only slightly more for the parts, but the job takes about one fourth the time. On Chrysler products that I'm familiar with, a pair of Quick Struts can be installed in less than 15 minutes with time left over to wipe off my tools.
As a suspension and alignment specialist, I am very picky about correct suspension ride height. Coil springs sag with age. That changes the geometric angles the suspension parts go through as the car bounces up and down. With sagged suspension, there definitely will be greatly accelerated tire wear even when the alignment numbers look good on the computer screen. Those numbers only apply to a car that's standing still. With the new coil springs that come on the Quick Struts, front ride height is restored back to the published factory specs.
There are other things that can cause popping noises, particularly ball joints, but those are usually heard at higher speeds or when cornering. You're less likely to hear noises from those things at parking lot speed.
Check out this article too:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/popping-noise
for more ideas. Keep in mind these other causes have clues related to speed, braking, or steering maneuvers. Look for observations that we can use to help with the diagnosis. You already listed a dandy one about this occurring at low speed.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 4:41 PM
