That infernal clunking!!!!!

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:59 pm

Quote:

It could never hurt to replace it since youre going to have it torn down that far anyway.

that's always been my basic ideal too, while initially it seems more expensive, it appears that usually in the long run it saves time and money when applied across just about everything

how is your clunking problem going JL?

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:59 pm

well i can have it torn down in about 20min, so thats no big deal, it was the spending 187 bucks that i dont have, for a new half-shaft was the thing, but ill try the clip first and see if that fixes it! thanks man!

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat Aug 08, 2009 8:08 pm

My clunking is now worse than ever. The CV thing kinda came in and went with replacement but this has been an issue long time! I had a passenger in the back seat in MOAB and she said all the noise seems to be coming from the PS rear. I got the tire in the air today and kicked it, turned it, screamed at it but nothing! You really need a shift of momentum to get the noise.

I checked the u joints (like I know what I'm doing) and noticed that the grease-able u-joint in the rear that I paid for to be installed back in FL wasn't grease-able. The front one is, but the rear isn't. You may remember my story back in Dec when I had them replaced and the shop managed to break both the front and rear yokes in the process stranding my Jeep there for 10 days while they found replacements (FL is a bit of a talent vacuum). So now I'm wondering if the rear one is an OEM one that they threw in last minute since they broke the rear yolk right after they told me to pick it up. Maybe it was used and already attacked to the yoke. But I digress......

So I am thinking that maybe once again the rear u joint is bad. The rear drive shaft seems nice and tight but I did notice that there is some old grease and dirt outside of the seams where the caps are. I don't know if that's normal.

The noise has progressed to the point where I can drive slowly in a parking lot, push the accelerator a bit and let off and with each action, get a small clunk. Hitting bumps and stuff the clunk is much worse. It's bugging me so much right now, I am seriously contemplating an insurance fire! In desperation, I brought it to the dealer and they came back "the only noise our tech hears is the usual C clip axle noise from the rear"..... so that was no help at all.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:55 pm

Well you can also check the rear upper tri-link ball joint and bushings and the rear lower control arm bushings.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sun Aug 09, 2009 12:00 am

What's the best way to test those? Upon a visual inspection, what I am looking for?

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 09, 2009 1:47 pm

get a prybar and just pry on the parts and wiggle them around.

i had my dad backing me up into the garage when i was replacing the rear bushings, and he said when i put the jeep into drive and park, you could see the rear-axle moving back and forth like crazy. i had him shift it back and forth into park and drive while i watched the back axle, and the whole axle sure as hell did move around a lot

on my rear tri-link bushings, the middle steel sleeve was totally loose from the rubber in the bushing, and was moving around. i doubt it will take very long for these new bushings to do the same thing after flexing it back and forth for a while offroad

cmohr · **Posted:** Sun Aug 09, 2009 6:59 pm

This sounds farmilair.....
I had my 4.10 gears and a DDT put in the front a little while back, the guys doing the work said my rear diff centre, mainly the star gears were very badly worn. After I got the car back I had a very bad CLUNK in the "front" end, mostly when turning, sometimes going straight ahead, sometimes when braking. Even standing still in the carpark, turning the wheels left and right you could hear a big clunk......either in 4wd or 2wd made no difference.

It was the rear diff centre star gears binding up and jumping.... I replaced the rear diff with a DTT and all noises went away.

Pull off the rear diff cover and have a look at the star gears..

Worth a look.

cmohr

Budke · **Posted:** Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:42 pm

I had a horrible clunking, took out my front driveshaft and drove it and it went away.
Don't know if that will solve your problem or not. But its worth a try.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:23 pm

After some scrutiny by a very OG Jeep shop (TeraFlex Plus in Murray, UT) I'm pretty sure the problem has been identified and solved. I say probably because I've had the noise go away for three days after someone found a problem only to have the noise return. The problem seemed to be the bolts that hold the DS rear lower control arm were loose at the bracket. It seems that since I am so hardcore, the bracket was hit causing the metal to spread and knocking the bolts loose. Pimpin' ain't easy.
The tech tightened the bolts on both sides and so far, it's quiet.

This has been bugging me for more than a year, I am enjoying the silence so far and I hope it remains.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:13 am

Yeah well, I thought it was cool.

durangotang · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:18 am

...we have exorciiiiiiiiiiized the dee-mon!

Gopher · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:27 pm

Mine's been doing that too but I haven't been able to isolate the problem. That is until I saw your videos. Sure enough, my axle does the same thing. I'm just going to replace the entire CV axle, but do I need to order a new c-clip too? Or will that come with the new (remanufactured) CV? Thanks

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:36 pm

My remans from NAPA came with clips. However, the DS axle would not go in until I removed the clip from the new cv and switched it for the old one. I have no explanation.

Gopher · **Posted:** Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:53 pm

Thanks JL. It'll be nice to finally get rid of that clunking gremlin

Gopher · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 4:21 pm

When I took my CV axle off of the intermediate shaft (or half shaft or whatever you want to call the shaft that runs from the CV to the Diff) I found what looked like a disintegrating rubber O-ring. Is this an important piece that needs to be replaced and if so, can I get something at the hardware store to do the trick? Does it keep water out or is it just used as a sound dampener? The new CV seems to fit really tight without it. Any thoughts? Wow this post is longer than I intended...sorry, I'm Irish and the Blarney Stone is in my blood. Thanks

Hood297 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:57 am

Gopher wrote:

When I took my CV axle off of the intermediate shaft (or half shaft or whatever you want to call the shaft that runs from the CV to the Diff) I found what looked like a disintegrating rubber O-ring. Is this an important piece that needs to be replaced and if so, can I get something at the hardware store to do the trick? Does it keep water out or is it just used as a sound dampener? The new CV seems to fit really tight without it. Any thoughts? Wow this post is longer than I intended...sorry, I'm Irish and the Blarney Stone is in my blood. Thanks

as long as it isnt the axle seal, but you would know that since it would be leaking diff fluid everywhere.

I just checked the parts illustration for the front IFS and it doesnt show it on the illustration, but is does list an "axle shaft O-ring" I doubt its a necessity, but here is the mopar P/N 05066067AA

hope this helps!

That infernal clunking!!!!!

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