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Where to begin.... lol! H3's suck ....

Happy Hummer

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,465
Location
Wisconsin
I thought I'd share some insights and information. I learned quite a bit which of course is always priceless.

*lower ball joints are a bastard on the H3 when winter corrosion is involved
*ya better have a lot of tools handy
Torch check
Welder check
Grinder check
Impact check
Air compressor (really big lol) check
Did I mention patience
Tools, tools and more tools....

The tie rod ends went well. The linx were rotted in place. Shocks were pretty straight forward because it was the 3rd time I've had em out.
The lower ball joints were just a b!tch.
But the icing on the cake of absolute sh!t was the frozen drivers side upper a arm forward bolt.
3 + hours later had to cut it out piece by piece and torch and BFH and cuss... did I mention salt covered roads?

I think the H3 is now in the running for tie with Jeep as a absolutely crap product to fix issues.
Ugh!
But hey its done and the sweetest can take the car load of girls for the weekend to the lake area.

I was damn near ready to shoot the H3 with a shot gun! Hahaha.
18 hrs of work in 90's with high humidity and very little sleep.

P.S
For those who have followed my other threads the popping, snapping noise is still there loud as ever.
No doubt the front end needed every bit of the work done to it but the problem noise persist.

Items replaced:
UCA (arm, bushings, ball joint)
Lower ball joint
Outer tie rod end
Shocks
Linx
Hubs
Brakes
Rotors
Slide pins and retainers


There is only an cv axel, lower arm and torsion spring left.

Hope this can help some other poor bastard in the future. Have a good jack, stands, wheel blocks and plenty of time.....
 

alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,677
Location
Scottsdale
I've had a snapping or popping noise in the front end for the past few years. I believe every nearly piece of suspension and steering has been replaced and the noise remains. UCAs, LCAs, diff, steering rack and tie rods, CVs, sway bar bushings. Hubs have not been replaced.

My suggestion is to move somewhere without road salt.
 

JPaul

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,436
Location
Way up north, UT
The body mounts like to pop when flexing or making fast turns. Kinda low frequency, almost sounds like popcorn popping.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I think I was having that issue right up until I took it to Moab for the Black Sheep run this last spring, I realized afterwards that the popping noises had pretty much gone away! Guess it just needed some exercise.
 

Happy Hummer

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,465
Location
Wisconsin
Priceless! Yes I agree just get rid of the front suspension and go with a SAS that will get rid of the noise. I actually Laughed pretty hard reading the responses here. Yes, I told her to turn up the tunes and she wont hear it any more. Also, she called me when she got to the lake, with that car load of girls to say it ran great. Just that it got really hot! Ugh! I told her its because they left in Friday rush our traffic thru Milwaukee with the a/c just pump'n. haha...On a side note i'm now looking at the A arms I removed and developing a set of strong steel tubular or rectangle with replaceable ball joints. I'd like to utilize a set of bolt on ball joints similar to what Dodge and Chevy trucks have used in the past. Of course the factory riveted the oem on. I'd use a solid grade 8 or higher bolt with equivalent nut/washer.What thickness of steel to use? I'd like to see 1/4" wall....The plate between the arms would be 1/4" minimum.Is mild steel strong enough?
 
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