I recently did a complete cradle/drivetrain swap on my car;

I essentially took the cradle complete with engine, transmission, steering rack, sway bar and swapped it into my car.

I now seem to have this weird occasional tick or popping noise that seems to come about when dry steering, or when making left hand turns.

I am at a complete loss as to what the noise is coming from.

I was going to recheck my cradle bolts, my cv nuts – and if possible, the sway bar/rack bolts, but I am pretty certain everything was torque properly.
From my cursory inspections, the brakes and everything appear to be fine...

I left my struts/spindles/brakes assembled and just disconnected from the a-arm – connecting to the “new” cradle’s a-arms.

If it matters, the donor car was an early '09 model year build.
I did some searches and read of a steering rack tick - but I am not sure if that's what this is.

If you have done a drivetrain swap, and have any idea where I might look to chase down this (somewhat un-nerving) noise, please speak up – I could earnestly use the help.

 

I get a loud and distinct click/tick hear and there when getting on or off the gas since the day i owned the car. I cannot replicate it by getting on or off the gas but here and there it just happens usually in 1st or 2nd gear. Never had any clue what it is... Sounds external, something is hitting something.

 

does it only do it with weight on the wheels? or can you do it in the air

 

I get a click when I first pull out of the garage, or leave a stop sign slowly. The click sounds like my beat up knees/ankles when I walk around in the morning, lol.

Prob my axles. Started after I lowered the car. Although I do have rack spacers, rotated trans mount, and brand new beefier axles.

I just live with it.

 

Driver side axle would be my guess. Its not gonna hurt anything if its just an occasional click. Eventually it will just snap like mine.