My friends got a 2001 Cavi with a popping in his steering when he turns any help would be appreciated (sorry I'm not an english major) thank you in advance.

Id try the wheel bearing

could possibly be the cv joint...is it a loud popping noise?

I suggested the cv joint to him and he said it was coming from the rack and pinion, I"ll tell him to check the wheel bearing, Thank you Brandon and Weston

its not the wheel bearing. you would hear a humming sound if it was. tell him to jack the car up and check the springs to see if they are seated properly.

^If they are seated correctly, check the Strut mount bearings.. had the same thing on my 96. every full turn it would pop in either direction, both front mount bearings were messed up. i replaced them and problem fixed

intermediate steering column.... goto your dealer... buy the lube kit... you can DIY or get the dealer to do it...

thanks everyone I"ll make all of yalls suggestions to him again thank you all.

I have the same problem, only happens once in awhile and has been this way for awhile so if you figure out what it is im interested to hear.

cv joint!

I can almost guarantee you if the pop is felt near the gas pedal.or if it is felt both turning the wheel left and right.. (sometimes it actually feels like the gas pedal pops) then it's the intermediate steering column... this is a well known issue in 2000+ cavs/sunfires.... when the vehicles were manufactured this part was not lubed enough... this is such a wide spread problem that GM actually makes a lube kit specifically for this issue GM#26098237... for more information check out this thread http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=11&i=126768&t=125718#126768

i have a 2001 cavalier 2.2 with 18" rims. i would hear a clunking sound when i would turn the wheel even a quarter turn when going slow, like in a parking lot. it only made one sound and loud. i upgraded the entire suspension and found the problem was that the bearings in the front strut mounts were shot. from what i understand, this is pretty common in cavaliers especially if you have lowering springs or coilovers. good luck

SMILE!! YOUR ON CAMERA

strut mounts... almost 100%... mine are shot too