Low speed popping/tapping sound underside

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Sean Patt

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I have a 2014 chevy tahoe with 100k miles and have noticed a very low tapping sound when I travel under 5mph, and as I speed up the sound seems to go away. Definitely doesn't sound like it's coming from the engine but from under the vehicle. Not sure what it is? Anybody experience this before? Almost like there is a rock stuck in one of the tires, low volume pop, pop, click, click then goes away as I speed up then comes back as I slow way down.
 

B-train

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Try driving next to a building at a slow speed with the window down and listen to the echo. Sometimes that can help pronounce the noise better and help pinpoint it. Does it do it constantly or only over bumps? Does it go away with light brake pressure? Is it rhythmic? Can you duplicate the noise in park by raising engine rpm?

Possible noisy items at low speeds:

1)Check u-joints, rear are notorious. Usually it sounds like a small squeaky noise that speeds up as you take off, but if they are rusted up, they could have a popping sound. Another thing to check is if you feel a vibration under your butt when driving, sometimes it will resonate that way as well and feel like a bad tire or crappy shock.
2) brake pads rattling in their clips over little bumps

Without hearing it, I am only speculating based on past experiences.
 
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Sean Patt

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Try driving next to a building at a slow speed with the window down and listen to the echo. Sometimes that can help pronounce the noise better and help pinpoint it. Does it do it constantly or only over bumps? Does it go away with light brake pressure? Is it rhythmic? Can you duplicate the noise in park by raising engine rpm?

Possible noisy items at low speeds:

1)Check u-joints, rear are notorious. Usually it sounds like a small squeaky noise that speeds up as you take off, but if they are rusted up, they could have a popping sound. Another thing to check is if you feel a vibration under your butt when driving, sometimes it will resonate that way as well and feel like a bad tire or crappy shock.
2) brake pads rattling in their clips over little bumps

Without hearing it, I am only speculating based on past experiences.
I jacked it up and spun the front tires by hand and the driver side is making a similar noise and I'm thinking it could be the wheel bearing.
 

Geotrash

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I jacked it up and spun the front tires by hand and the driver side is making a similar noise and I'm thinking it could be the wheel bearing.
How many miles? I usually figure 100–160 K out of set of wheel bearings on one of these. Check the CV boots for tears or damage as well.
 

Joseph Garcia

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Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

You are already receiving sage advice from the knowledgeable folks on this Forum.
 

B-train

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I like your plan of attack. If there was stuff making noise inside the tire, I'd say remove it and test again by hand. But, it would be a dull noise, not a popping noise.

If you suspect a wheal bearing, you can also do a load method test where you turn left and right while driving at about 20 mph and listen to the noise increase or decrease. If it increases with turning right, you usually have a bad left bearing and vice-versa. The extra weight and stress will call it out.
 
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Sean Patt

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Looks like the noise is coming from the area where the cv shaft connects to the front differential, I checked the differential and it's full of clean fluid that was replaced 10k miles ago.
 

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