Noise coming from front left part of car...
 

When I steer the car left or right when going slowly or stopped, I heard this "pop" come from the general area of my strut or control arm. When I get in and out of parking spots, that when I hear the one "POP" sound the most. Could it be a bad bushing somewhere?

I took my car to a regular Auto Mechanic chain, and they looked at it. They said, "Yeap, definitely coming from that front left strut." That'll be about $500 b/c you want to change both struts. (I could tell they weren't sure about the problem, they were just trying to sell me something) How can the sound come from the strut if I'm not rolling anywhere? It comes when I steer the car all the way left, right, and then back to left...I don't have to be moving for it to happen. Thanks.

There was a post on here not that long ago about that same problem
 

He had the same prob as you, but worse. Try doing a search or scolling back through some older threads.

Re: There was a post on here not that long ago about that same problem
 

I think I remember that post. It didn't help me much. I will look for it again. Thanks.

When my father and I put new struts in we got this problem. The top metal piece of the strut assembly was not aligned with the spring correctly. I don't remember too clearly but I think you can tell if this is the case by seeing if the same amout of thread is visible on the three nuts that attach the metal piece to the strut housing under the hood. We took the strut assembly back to an auto place with a spring compressor and had them re-align it. We could've done it oursevles but our compressor wasn't good enough to compress the front springs.

I'm sorry that this post probabally didn't make a whole lot of sense. I'm not a mechanic so I probabally got most of the terms wrong. If you need clarification I'll try my best to help.

-Marc

My car was making a multiple pop noises ( almost like creaking really loud) when coming from a stop or starting up while turning sharply..

Turned out the CV boots were bad on the axles, and most of the lubricant had dripped out, so the creaking was metal grinding on metal

Just a thought

I agree w/ this one also. Get under there and see if if that CV boot is cracked or if there is a bunch of grease flung everywhere.

Yeah I know what CV boots are and that clicking noise. I am talking about one "POP" that comes from turning the wheel. If you turn the wheel back to the right and then back to the left again, it will, more than likely, "POP" again.

My CV boots look like they are brand new. I guess the previous owner has replaced them before. That's a good sign he took care of the car. Thanks for your help anyway. Any other ideas? Would a bad control arm bushing make a pop like that? b/c I know I need that bushing replaced.

Strut Spring Noise Cause
 

This noise is caused when the upper spring seat is not put back on correctly. the upper spring seat has a notch in it that must be positioned facing out from the engine compartment. to install otherwise causes the spring to rub inside the tower and thus cause the noise.

thanks for bumping a thread that's almost 12 years old.

from the OP: