- #452 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [gmck9]
by jlflemmons
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May 03, 2008 (6:27 am)
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Replying to: gmck9 (May 03, 2008 4:23 am)
With that many miles the idler arm should have been changed by now. When worn, it makes a really loud clunk going over bumps. My favorite test is to find a road with the little reflector "bumps" down the stripe. Drive down the stripe with the wheels hitting the little bumps and a worn idler arm will really sound off. It doesn't take a lot of play in an idler to create a loud clunk. The driver can usually feel it in the steering wheel also.
About a $50 part, takes about 20 minutes to install, will need a puller to separate the center link from the idler.
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- #453 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [gmck9]
by angieandrohan
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May 03, 2008 (3:06 pm)
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Replying to: gmck9 (May 03, 2008 4:23 am)
I have a jimmy too and it dose that but mine is a loud pop like some thing just Brooke but it only do that when I am backing out my driveway and the wheel role off the sidewalk, one day I let my wife drive it up the sidewalk and I lay flat on my stomach and I saw what made the pop sound it was the tie rod ends I change all of them and the drag link too no more popping sound, but bear in mind that if you are going over a bump with the steering turned all the way there will be a loud clank which dose not mean anything is wrong it's just the way most GM trucks are it's the coil spring that snaps back into position from turning, but any other noise other than turning must be taken seriously.
Hope I was of help.
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- #454 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [jlflemmons]
by gmck9
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May 04, 2008 (4:38 am)
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Replying to: jlflemmons (May 03, 2008 6:27 am)
That sounds great if thats what it is!!!! Question: When I remove the idler arm, is it under force? Do you have to worry about it flying apart? OR is is as simple as you are describing.....just have a puller to seperate the part, and throw the other in, then tighten it up? Sounds simple enough if thats correct!!!! 
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- #455 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [angieandrohan]
by gmck9
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May 04, 2008 (4:43 am)
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Replying to: angieandrohan (May 03, 2008 3:06 pm)
Thank you for the reply, but it is more along the lines of the other reply to my post. Happens when you go down a "washboard" style dirt road. Im going to put in the idler arm like the other reply said, and prey it stops the clunk. Buying a new to me vehicle is never any fun.....I also found missing bolts(on the oil pan) while I was looking for this clunk. Geese I wonder who was the master mechanic who did that?
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- #456 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [gmck9]
by jlflemmons
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May 05, 2008 (9:01 am)
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Replying to: gmck9 (May 04, 2008 4:38 am)
Nah, no springs to fly or anything like that. The shaft of the idler arm is tapered where it goes through the center link, so when tightened up it becomes a "press fit". A simple puller will separate the parts easily.
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- #457 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [jlflemmons]
by gmck9
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May 05, 2008 (5:59 pm)
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Replying to: jlflemmons (May 05, 2008 9:01 am)
Welp, bad news my friends.....changed the idler arm(was as easy as you said), no problems. The problem is the clunk is still there. I can feel it in the floor boards better then the wheel. You dont have to be going fast at all to have it make the noise....I'm talking 5mph on a washboard style dirt road, Or just hitting the pits and bumps when you stop at some traffic lights. Man.....this sucks 
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- #458 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [gmck9]
by jlflemmons
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May 05, 2008 (7:42 pm)
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Replying to: gmck9 (May 05, 2008 5:59 pm)
Wish you were in central Texas so I could hear the sound. Have you looked to see if the transmission mount is broken? Motor mount maybe, but those generally don't "clunk".
Do you feel any pulling in the steering wheel when it clunks? Check the upper control arm mounts at the frame where the shims are installed for alignment.
Is there a lot of free play in the steering? Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth a couple of inches and compare the movement of the input shaft of the steering gearbox to the output shaft movement. Check for excessive play. The gearbox is adujstable, but I wouldn't do it unless you see noticeable play in the gearbox itself.
I'm just going with what you are driving over when the clunk occurs here and trying to come up with some things to look at.
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- #459 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [jlflemmons]
by gmck9
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May 06, 2008 (3:24 am)
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Replying to: jlflemmons (May 05, 2008 7:42 pm)
I cant thank you enough for helping with this!!!!! The "clunk" sounds EXACTLY like a worn out shock bushing. Steering is very tight....no play. Also no pulling when the clunk occurs. My spare jimmy is a '94 model but it is 2wd. It had the same noise resembling a ball joint/ shock bushing......so I changed EVERY part on the front end including control arm bushings. The noise stopped. Im wondering since I put new ball joints on.....and a new idler arm and new shocks, if I shouldn't just do the pitman arm,, tie rod ends, and control arm bushings and see if that does it, but thats a job!!!!!! Im wondering if it isnt something to do with the 4wd system on this '01? Everything is working(4wd) doesnt clank or bang when you put it in 4wd and turn tires full left or full right and go in a circle.....no jumping or popping.......also sway bar bushings look GREAT, but should I change them to be sure? 
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- #460 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [gmck9]
by jlflemmons
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May 06, 2008 (6:33 am)
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Replying to: gmck9 (May 06, 2008 3:24 am)
Well, generally a tie rod end that is loose enough to be heard will really affect the steering. There are a couple of bushings in the center link that could do this, but here again, when that loose you can get a lot of play in the steering.
On the full size trucks, there has been a problem with the intermediate shaft in the steering column. The S series has a different design, but they can get noisy. Try grabbing the the steering shaft in the area of the center spark plug and give it a good yank back and forth and see if you hear the noise. You mentioned that the noise seems to be from the floorboards, and this is usually felt in the steering wheel, but don't want to overlook anything.
Next, I would put the vehicle up on ramps, or with safe support under the front wheels and get underneath with a rubber mallet and start whacking. Sometimes a noise/looseness will disappear if the wheels are suspended, such as using jack stands on the frame.
Okay, and this is a stretch, check the frame to body mounts. If the rubber of the mount is loose, or the bolt has backed out just a bit, loud clunk occurs.
Does this vehicle have step bars? Notorious noise makers.
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- #461 of 511
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Re: HELP!!!! clunk in front end HELP!!!!!!! [jlflemmons]
by gmck9
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May 07, 2008 (3:39 am)
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Replying to: jlflemmons (May 06, 2008 6:33 am)
How about this description, maybe this will help pinpoint......When the "clunk" happens, it is not just one "clunk" it sounds like something is slapping together with repedative "clunking". And it is really weird....if you hit a pothole or a speed bump....no noise. If you hit a row of ripples in the pavement resembling a washboard....better turn the radio up!!!! There was a post somewhere about the hood hinges rattleing, not that either. I hope the new description will help steer you in the right direction. All the mechanics at GMC and misc. other places all are scratching their heads and WANT the work badly since there is a warranty on the vehicle, but we need to find the problem before we can send in warranty info. Someone needs to invent an allignment rack that you can attach tires to and it will shake them like a paint mixer.. 
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