Posted: May 02 2005 at 8:39am | IP Logged

About a year after I bought my 02 Frontier XE, I had a popping noise out of the front end.

Took it in, the dealer thought it might have been the brakes, so they installed new pads, and turned my rotors.  Didn't do anything.  They then switched out my right torsion bar.  That did it for about 6 months, then it came back.  Right now, I have a good relationship with them... and they grease the torsion bar everytime I bring it in. 

But if I have to move, I might not get the same service.  I just want to see if anyone has had the same problem?

Posted: May 05 2005 at 7:10am | IP Logged

Is your truck a 4x2 or 4x4 vehicle? Dose the sound "popping noise" happen when backing up while turning the wheels and/or when on hard braking is applied regardless of the direction the vehicle is moving.  

I have heard of this same "popping noise" problem several times overat other web sites, and the people who were experiencing the same problem with the dealer doing to same type of repairs with little or no long term results to correct the real (issue) problem.

Here are a few items you'll want to check on, both the upper and lower control arm bushings for wear or excessive play, both upper and lower control arm ball joints, all the bolts on the front cross member that are know for coming loose. Also check your steering system, start with the idler arm and center link ends, also be sure to eyeball the shocks as well as the shock connection bolts, all of these items are very easy to check for wear...

If 4x2 you may also want to check the front spindle ends to make sure the nuts are tight and properly seated. Either way it will not hurt to check the axle/spindle bearing as well.

If you can try to give us any other information about your truck and at when the popping noise happens.

Posted: May 05 2005 at 9:44am | IP Logged

It's a 4x2, sorry forgot about that part. 

I would get the popping just about all the time.  Accel, braking, forward, reverse.  Didn't matter.  I don't hear it much anymore... considering I don't hear anything if I turn my subs up. 

You probably saw my post over at 4x4parts.com  The spindle wasn't something I have seen posted before. 

I haven't checked out the truck yet... considering I haven't been home yet.  I'm planning on doing a thorough check when I do get back.  And it seems I have a lot to check.  Warranty is probably up by now... SWEET.  I've been itching to dig in, I'm a mechanic by trade.  But I figured I'd look around for as much info as possible first.

Posted: Jun 07 2005 at 5:26pm | IP Logged

Grease will not fix the problem! While your under the truck check the torsion bar adjusters I have seen them not seated properly. also check the drive shaft. if its a crew cab it has a 2 piece drive shaft the carrier bearing could be failing.

Posted: Aug 19 2005 at 11:01pm | IP Logged

Well the popping noise has been taken care of for now. The dealer claimed they had never heard a noise like that before and could not figure out what was causing it. So they took a Torque wrench though the front end and retightened every nut and bolt. Like I said its quite for now.

Does anyone else have an '04 and have rocker knock on cold starts? I saw a service bulletin for early '04's and before. But mine is a late '04 and it knocks like crazy, enough to make my meat head, muscle car loving neighbor to make fun of me every morning.