Clunk... Coming from the front.

[RobTJ]

There's a clunking sounds coming from underneath the front end of my jeep.  And seems to be getting louder.
I have no idea what it could be. I've been under the front end 3 times now.

All the control arms bolts seem tight. The steering components look fine. The track bar seems ok, although I didn't check the ball joint. I checked the swaybar and the discos, they seem ok.  I've turned the steering hard over to both sides,  nothing seems to be binding.

The clunk seems to happen when I turn the wheel. Especially when I make a right turn and the road I'm turning on has an incline. But I just heard it when I was backing out of my drive way and turned left. So I have no clue.

What else should I look at?
Steering
Track Bar
Shocks & Coils
Control Arms.

 

[NomadJeep]

have factory control arms, or aftermarket....


the Poly bushing can sometimes be bad... if you used the wrong grease, it can actually start to eat the poly.

However that usually takes some time to happen....

 

[RobTJ]

They're the factory control arms. 

I've rocked, bounced,  pulled, pushed every part of that front end and can seem to find the source.  But then I get in the drivers seat and I can hear it loud an clear.

 

[tjcoastie20]

front u-joints?

 

[beaker]

front u-joints?

Beat me to it.

A bad u-joint will sound like a thumping that keeps pace with wheel speed. 

I know this will sound really bad but trust me it works.

Crank the wheel one way and grab the inner shaft and wiggle it.

 

[jeep.xj.4x4]

I had the mystery front end clunk. I found it to be my front hub assembly. Check that out!

 

[JeepinMaxx]

I had the same clunk this weekend.  It turned out to be the track bar relocation bracket that I installed with my lift.  The bolt loosened up over time.  Have someone turn the wheel lock to lock while you watch the linkage. Beaker used the 'hands on' trick on my steering issues over the weekend and it works  :smile:  Now I need to re-tighten the bolt or go with a JKS adjustable to eliminate the lift bracket.

 

[RobTJ]

front u-joints?

I'll check them out.  But I don't think it's a u-joint.    It only happens once and a while. 
It doesn't thump at wheel speed.  Like I said before it only really happens when I'm turning right and going up an incline.

But,  I hit a large enough bump in the road this morning,  that I heard it a little bit.

 

[gymrat]

Engine or Tranny mounts,
when my tranny mount went it did exactly the same thing.

 

[RobTJ]

I take that back... 

It might be the u-joint.  How much,  if any,  play is there supposed to be in it.  I can wiggle the drivers side pretty good.

It would suck if that's the problem,  because I don't have the tools or the knowledge to switch those out.

 

[RobTJ]

Thanks Bullet,

I let you know.    It's going into the shop this weekend to see if that is in fact the problem.

Then,  I see how much it going to cost me.  :doh:

 

[RobTJ]

Thanks for the info Steve.

I still don't think it's the u-joint.  But I've checked everything else.  Even the JKS discos.

 

[xjmark]

Make sure the trackbar at the axle end is tight. Put some serious weight into it with a wrench. I had that same noise a while back. Tried everything, and tightening the hell out of the lower trackbar bolt fixed it. It's been quiet for over two years now.

 

[tiggertj]

I wonder if it could be your tire rubbing on the control arm? Check the arm to see if some of the paint may have rubbed off.

I picked up a thunk noise when I bent my drag-link...It was banging into the bracket for the steering stabilizer.

Good luck finding the noise.

T.

 

[NomadJeep]

If your in the area, stop by I will crawl under it... take a looky for yaa....

 

[tjcoastie20]

well the way i check axle u joints is with the wheel straight. i put a screw driver in one one side of the yolk then try to make the truck roll. (in gear with p-brake set) by pulling up and down on the screwdriver.  if one yolk moves even a 1/8 of an inch with out the other doing the same you need a u-joint.  that much play will become multiplied  when you turn the wheel while in motion quite a bit. lots of times u joints will only make noises with the yolks at close to there maximum angles ( the wheel almost turned to one side)    if you turn the wheel almost all the way to one side and then pull forward about 10-15 feet very slowly and quietly. listen out the window for a clicking or popping noise. if you hear something like that, its probably a u-joint.    or have nomadjeep check it out.  :biggrin:

 

[RobTJ]

If your in the area, stop by I will crawl under it... take a looky for yaa....

Damon,  thanks for the offer.  Actually I'm going to be in E. Haddam tomorrow morning.  If you are going to be around,  I might take you up on your offer. 

If not,  no biggy.  It's scheduled to go in the shop on Monday morning.

 

[NomadJeep]

How Early in the morning?  Give me a call after work today, I should be around Saturday so I can take a look.

860-662-0999

 

[RobTJ]

I found it.  :dancingfool:

I found the clunk that has been annoying me for about 3 weeks, now. 
It wasn't the u-joint by the way.    It seems the shop that did my front end alignment after I put the lift it had to readjust the trackbar and did a half-a$$ job of tightening the ball joint nut. 

The clunk was the nut slamming against the mounting bracket.

I tightened it up and the noise was gone.

I just hope the ball joint is not f'd up.

Damon,  that's again for offering to look at it on Sat.  Sorry I couldn't make it up there.