A broken sway bar link resulted in similar symptoms on my van.� Crawl under there and take a look.
jake

________________________________
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 6:59:43 PM
Subject: Loud and heavy popping noise up front

Recently I have begun to experience an occasional loud, severe "Bang" up
front - so severe it shakes the front end of the van. It does it at slow
speed, usually after a stop or slowing down. Or - after being stopped,
and stating off again - particularly when beginning or ending a turn of
the type in turning the corner at a stop light. It feels like the van
has been hit by a sledge hammer somewhere solid - not in the sheet metal
- but maybe in the suspension components or the chassis up front. I just
had my mechanic check this and he found nothing.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver