Front end rattles extremely loudly when going over any size bump. Took it to a shop yesterday, and they have no idea what the cause is. They said that everything is tight as far as all of the steering linkages/ball joints go. Any suggestions?
Front end rattle on my 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4x4
- Thread starter ulm4lyf
- Start date
99Sierra2500
Well-Known Member
Torsion bar bushings?
It's more of a slapping rattle that the clunking noise that a torsion bar bushing would make. It's driving me nuts.
A lot of times the noise is under dash and close to firewall and inside instead of outside.
Two likely sources for under dash noise, over bumps, the steering column lower end bearing cup. If you crawl under the dash and very close to the firewall, there is a steering shaft that comes thru the firewall and disappears inside the bottom of the steering column. There will be a small u-joint there that can be sloppy and right at the bottom of column, see if the shaft above that u-joint rattles back and forth, side to side. If that is loose it can make noise and also be felt in your hands on the wheel.
The other source is the brake pedal where it attaches at the top and pivots. Grab the bottom foot pad and shake side to side and see if there is play. If the rattle is here, it is easy to locate if going over bumps and hear the rattle and just lay foot on the pad and if noise goes away, that is the rattle noise source.
By the way, welcome to the forum from Oregon.
Two likely sources for under dash noise, over bumps, the steering column lower end bearing cup. If you crawl under the dash and very close to the firewall, there is a steering shaft that comes thru the firewall and disappears inside the bottom of the steering column. There will be a small u-joint there that can be sloppy and right at the bottom of column, see if the shaft above that u-joint rattles back and forth, side to side. If that is loose it can make noise and also be felt in your hands on the wheel.
The other source is the brake pedal where it attaches at the top and pivots. Grab the bottom foot pad and shake side to side and see if there is play. If the rattle is here, it is easy to locate if going over bumps and hear the rattle and just lay foot on the pad and if noise goes away, that is the rattle noise source.
By the way, welcome to the forum from Oregon.
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Another source of rattle can be sway bar end links. Rubber bushings flattened out and cracked and even chunks missing allowing the links to rattle. Shock mount bushings bad. Check top and bottom of bushings.
To try and duplicate the noise at the suspension or steering, need to floor jack lift at lower control arm very close to the lower ball joint. This puts the front end in a loaded position and tires off ground. Best if both sides up at same time. Can also lift and then settle on stands and then can check bushing that may not make noise when suspension is drooped down.
If check at shop, should be done on a drive on lift, 4 post rack.
You could have ball joints loose that will not show when suspension is drooped.
To try and duplicate the noise at the suspension or steering, need to floor jack lift at lower control arm very close to the lower ball joint. This puts the front end in a loaded position and tires off ground. Best if both sides up at same time. Can also lift and then settle on stands and then can check bushing that may not make noise when suspension is drooped down.
If check at shop, should be done on a drive on lift, 4 post rack.
You could have ball joints loose that will not show when suspension is drooped.
By the way, I encourage you to go to home page and to Introduction and give us some info about yourself and pics of your 2006 Sierra K2500HD.
99Sierra2500
Well-Known Member
As what @ORVietVet wrote plus if there doesn't seem to be anything going like bump steer, it can be wheel covers, or brake pads.
done
Intermediate shaft on steering column.1.remove bolt holding both pieces together.2. slide top piece towards firewall. 3. With needlenose pliers remove clip in top piece. 4. Stick hose of grease gun (Manuel) inside and give it 10 good pumps.5. move shaft back and forth several times.6. put clip back in and reassemble shaft with bolt. Should fix shaft rattle. Ok to use heavy wheel bearing grease. G.M
Used a light lithium,stuff wears out. Only takes 15 minutes. Piece comes apart beside drivers exhaust manifold.
Used a light lithium,stuff wears out. Only takes 15 minutes. Piece comes apart beside drivers exhaust manifold.
I already replaced it and the bearing at the bottom of the steeruing column. It had the noise before I replaced those parts. I did discover that the noise does not occur while braking. I removed both front wheels to see if the calipers were loose, but they were not. I just bought the truck 2 months ago, and haven't gone through it completely for routine maintenance tasks yet.
99Sierra2500
Well-Known Member
They might have left the clips out when replacing pads.
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