I don't know if it is my ball joints or my tie rods in the front end that is making a clicking noise. Only when I'm at a very low speed ( like turning in to a parking lot) when it does it. Sounds like someone cracking their knuckles a few times.

So I jack the car up, check the tie rods, move the wheel back and forth a bunch.... nothing, everything is tight and seems fine. Put the car back on the ground, and started it up. Had a friend just move the steering wheel a little so I could crawl under the car to see where the noise was coming from. Seemed to be coming from the steering box under the crank. Felt the tie rod, and I could feel the popping in the bar. Can these actually go bad? I did have a miss-hap with a curb once. Could that have done it?

 

Most likely the posi unit. I bought my Z28 in February of this year and it made a simular noise. Does it ever make the noise when you are backing out of a drive way and turning the steering wheel, Making tight turns in parking lots, coming off teh roadway onto the turn-off? If so, it is probably the posi unit needing some TLC. I asked a ton of Q's on this forum and did searches for the same. The proof was in the puddin'. I changed the differential fluid and added the GM posi additive (see shoebox's Tech Page for excellent instructions). No more noise and the posi unit work great. BTW, the dealership in Reno NV never figured out how to cure that noise.

 

no the noise is definatly in the front end.
The rear is fine. Just changed fluid not too long ago.

 

Where did the curb hit??? On the rack & pinion???? Tie-rod end???

Usually r&p will leak from worn seals... Since the OEM tie-rods do not have grease fittings, they will wear out..... If you do go with new tie-rod, change both sides and dont buy the cheap stuff.. A good set will be around 20 and up.. I use MOOG..

 

Does this noise happen when you are backing up and turning at the same time?

 

nah, I was showing off once, and started to slide the *** around to do a U-turn, almost made it, but smacked the right frount tire, pretty hard on the curb. Knarled up the rim a good bit, and scuffed the tire, but that was it. Hell that was about 4 months ago.

And yes it does it when I'm backing up, or going forward and turning the wheel.

 

Might be the hub assembly.....