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I had been getting some minor 'popping' in when starting out especially in corners. Rust on the spindle splines first came to mind after seeing in on the forum, but installing new wheel bearings last year and remembering to coat them with antiseize put that possibility to bed.
I wondered if I did not get the proper torque to the 36 mm spindle nut as I didn't think I had used any type of lube and on a fastener that size, it seems one could loose a fair amount of torque to component friction.
So I removed the spindle nuts recently and lubed them with antisieze (one already had it-must have been thinking on that one!) and reinstalled with new torque wrench to 164 lb ft as per my factory manual.
Well, been about 100 miles and no hint of popping! It seems the wheel bearings rely on proper torque to ensure its integrity/strength...?