Easiest way to describe when my 2007 Avalanche clunks when turning:

Going slow 25-40 MPH, turning left when going down hill- CLUNK. A dull, almost insulated thud that can be felt on the bottom of the left foot- like it is traveling through the body mount.

Cannot reproduce noise or find any play (by hand) in steering ends or ball joints when the truck is on jackstands at the frame and the control arm is on the jack. No free play in steering. No bad handling. Just an unsettling clunk.

I saw in another thread there was a steering hose replacement? Wild.

 

The truck is RWD, has 100,000 highway miles on it. It actually rides and steers like a dream. It's quiet and smooth and comfortable. But there is a weird, audible thump that almost feels like its coming from the front left body mount area.

Last PM, I checked:
Ball Joints, wheel bearings, steering rod ends, brake caliper bolts, body mounts, and the bolts on the steering rack.

I tightened the bolts on the cross brace between the two rearward, lower control arm pivot points. I got almost a full turn on the front left body mount.

I tightened the end links on the anti sway bar and lubricated the frame mount rubbers on the bar.

Cannot reproduce the noise/ feel by loading or unloading the control arm or jacking up just one side of the truck, while turning, or anything.

This does not give feedback through the steering wheel. It feels like body/ frame or suspension/ frame but I cannot find it.

Could it be that the body mounts are just worn out? Can a ball joint pass my inspection and still bind internally?

 

how about the intermediate steering shaft? my 2007 tahoe is headed to the dealer to have mine replaced next week due to clunk when turning. they said it was re-designed in 2007 but the service writer at my dealer told me they have had to replace many 2007 units too.

 

Thanks for the info.
I will keep checking it over until I find the problem.

 

sounds good

 

$4.00 for GM Part # 15899719 body Insulator- a flat, teflon donut- washer about 2" across inserted between the rubber bottom of the body mount and the frame on the top side of the body mount bracket was the cure.

It seems the frame was just flexy enough while turning left at speeds, then straightening, occasionally turning right, and again at straightening the wheel to cause the rubber to bind/ grab the frame, then break free and clunk! Felt in the bottom of the left foot while driving.

The noise is gone and the truck rides quieter in general. I might put these under every body mount on the truck to get that mercedes feel.

In my case, it was body mount #2 on the driver's side. There is a service bulletin for this that I found on a Tahoe forum.

 

I've got a 2004 Silverado. I bought it about 3 months. It's been doing the same thing since I got it. Only I know for a fact mine is coming from the rear. I had my girlfriend drive it while I was in the bed and it's mainly coming from the drivers side rear. It's like the tire is bouncing up and down. It's got a new axle shaft, wheel bearing, and seal. I only notice it when I'm making slight left turns, or just ever so slightly turn the wheel to the left. It's mainly noticeable on downhill roads and sometimes straight. Uphill, it doesn't do it all. If anybody has any suggestions or has/is having the same problem, I'd really appreciate the input. I literally cannot find ANY forums having the same problems as me. This is the closest thread I've found to my problem.