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Here’s Why Your Cadillac Escalade May Have A Pop Or Clunk Sound When Turning

The fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade got its big debut for the 2021 model year, introducing a long list of upgrades and changes compared to the preceding 2020 model year. Among these was a new independent rear suspension setup. However, some fifth-gen Cadillac Escalade owners may notice that their SUV’s suspension makes a pop or clunk sound when turning, but now, a possible cause for the issue has been identified, as has a fix.

Badging on the Cadillac Escalade luxury SUV.

According to a recent report from GM TechLink, some units of the 2021  through 2023 model-year Cadillac Escalade may emit a rattle, clunk, pop, or click sound from underneath the vehicle while turning. It’s possible that this sound can be duplicated when making a full left turn, followed by a full right turn, at slow speeds in a parking lot. The report indicates that the noise may sound like it’s coming from the front of the vehicle. However, the culprit could in fact be a loose rear sway bar link upper mounting.

To address the issue, a GM technician will inspect the rear of the Cadillac Escalade to ensure that the rear sway bar link upper mounting bolt and nut are properly torqued. If the rear sway bar link upper mounting bolt and nut are loose, the GM tech will torque the assembly to 74 pound-feet.

To note, a similar issue may be present for the current-generation Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, and GMC Yukon. All three of these vehicles, as well as the Cadillac Escalade, were overhauled for the 2021 model year, introducing a new independent rear suspension setup.

As a reminder, the fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade is available with two engine options, including the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, and the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax engine. The GM T1 platform provides the underpinnings, while production takes place at the GM Arlington plant in Texas.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Yes nothing says 140k vehicle (or a 80k suburban etc) like loose suspension parts. if you have to torque something down that much it means its a bad design and there is slop. instead of fixing the mount they are just tightening it so it dont move… brilliant!

    something as complex as a rod and a bolt stumbles 4000 engineers in 2022..

    Reply
    1. Those engineers are too busy trying to figure out how to make cars drive autonomously…they don’t have time to get bogged down in this type of minutiae!

      Reply
      1. More likely, the person responsible for tightening these bolts on the assembly line either had a malfunctioning auto-torquing wrench, or was not tightening the bolts. The latter happens more often than you’d think (they touch the wrench to an easier to reach bolt to get the “all clear” torque signal)….

        Reply
        1. So much for engineering. What a hack company

          Reply
  2. Lol really milking this news across all individual T1 models aren’t we, better have one article for Tahoe and another for suburban 🙄

    Reply
    1. What is it, 4-5 now? Or more? How about adding packages with different suspension options? -Might be more milk there…
      Ridiculous, GMA!

      Reply
  3. GM is trying to fix stuff. Let’s give them a heads up. So some guy on the line had a bad torque wrench at least they figured it out. At least my 160,000 Escalade is fixed and I can drive around making my rounds. The roads In Elizabeth are terrible.

    Reply
  4. Typical Cadilliac quality
    Gets worse every year

    Reply
  5. Having a hard time believing people are still buying this piece of junk.

    Reply
  6. Tony Soprano here, in reference to someone calling the most important and iconoclastic vehicle in the world a piece of junk is a direct and immediate consequence. I defer to my associate Sill to come to your house for a visit.

    Reply
  7. 2023 Escalade with 20k clicking when turning left low speeds. Dealer can’t figure out issue. Dealer reached out to GM and said all Escalades make that sound…

    Reply
  8. Sounds like a bad CV joint . Simple fix. Do both sides.

    Tony

    Reply

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