Front end "cracking" noise
 

2004 Blazer 4wd. Had the upper and lower ball joints replaced, idler arm and driver's side front wheel bearing replaced.

When backing out and turning the wheel to the right, I hear a cracking noise. Doesn't do it if I'm backing out the opposite way. Now when I brake, I hear a cracking noise upon full stop. Any suggestions on what could be wrong and the cost? I'm plum out of money!

check your cam bolts on the control arms, there known to loosen up .hows the alignment feel?

The alignment was just done after the idler arm was replaced. Feels fine to me. Maybe a little leeway to the right, but not much.

If you have aluminum wheels, it could be that the lug nuts need to be retorqued. The lug nuts have to be torqued to 100 pound feet. They will loosen up and cause a cracking noise as the wheel turns. When you had the front end work done, the technician had to remove the wheels and then retorque the nuts. After you have driven about 25 miles or so after the job, the nuts should be retorqued to 100 pound feet. Do it yourself if you have a
torque wrench capable of 100 pound feet, or just take it back to the shop where you had the work done, and ask them to retorque all of the lug nuts. I had the same noise after some front end work recently, and the noise went away after I retorqued the lug nuts. I'm just sayin'...

:icon_twocents:

Thanks for your help. It turned out to be the upper left control arm. Costly, but all noise, cracking and occasional clunking is gone. I wish I was capable of doing the work myself.

I'm also going to ask about re-torquing the lug nuts!

Thanks again!