That infernal clunking!!!!!

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:25 pm

I've been cursed with noises coming from seemingly the front of the vehicle when I go over bumps and accelerate or decelerate. The major banging seemed to be loose front diff bracket. Once tightened, the major noises went away. That noise seem to be coming from right under my feet and I was right.

Since then the noises come mostly from the passenger footwell. I had an expert in Colorado Springs check things out while he was doing my front brakes. He checked the ball joints, sway bar and visually inspected the motor mounts. The conclusion was nothing was going on up front with the usual suspects, but it was discovered that my t case skid was bent and was coming into contact with the tcase. I did occasionally hear clunking from behind me when offroad and after some english with a crowbar, all seemed well.

A few days after, the clunking was just as bad as ever (particularly off road). I now have all skids off and the clunking is still there :evil:

Since I am no expert, I have found some stuff making noise when I hit it with my hand but I don't know if it's normal or not.

Here are my findings:

When I hit the passenger side axle where it connects to the diff (right where the boot is) I get a clunking noise. I do get a bit of the noise on the driver side, but nowhere near as bad. This would be the only thing I could make noise with and would be consistent with the passenger side noise. Maybe the driver side is making noise too but I can't hear it. Is it normal for the CV to make clanking noises when you pound them with your fist?

I also grabbed the front DS coming from the t case and tried to move it. Front to rear it hardly moved at all. I could turn it about 1/4", is that normal? The rear DS does not budge.

Thank you for any input.

Hood297 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:20 am

Sounds to me like it was the same problem I had and one or two other members on here had...

The passenger side stubshaft that connects the CV axle to the differential has a c-clip to hold it in place. once this is loose or broken then it will rattle and make a terrible clunking. I'd look into that. I do not beleive the drivers side has one since it goes right into the differential.

The front Drive shaft sounds fine, front to rear motion is bad. rotational about 1/4 of a turn is normal.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:27 am

You da man. Is this clip easily replaceable? Can it be ordered separately or does it come with the axle shaft?

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:30 am

ThunderbirdJunkie's front end clunk is a worn out bushing where the clevis bolts to the LCA.

You have an all pro stereo, why don't you just crank it and drown it out

Hood297 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:40 am

JL Rockies wrote:

You da man. Is this clip easily replaceable? Can it be ordered separately or does it come with the axle shaft?

In theory, yes. But I'd be prepared to be down a day or two with no KJ. the reason I say that is the shaft have the splines worn down, in which case you would want to order a new one, but It doesnt sound like it is as bad as mine was.

You can order the clip seperately. P/N 05066064AA Axle shaft P/N 05066057AB

rt_power · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:05 am

Finally someone is hearing the same thud i have!! mine has got progressively worse over the past 6 months but i or my mechanic could not seem to put our finger on it and i didn't feel like throwing parts away for the heck of it. I'm at the point now where it seems to do it at all low speeds and some times even highway speeds. i will definitely be checking the axle this weekend and hopefully my fiance's nagging will stop, well at least about this problem LOL

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:33 pm

Is this the problem you had Hood297?

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v612/ ... I_0105.flv

Seems its the cv joint moving on the splines, not the half shaft moving around. Ive yet to hear any noise out of it. I found it after an oil change while I was checking things out.

Does the cv joint or the half shaft need to be replaced? Does the cv just pop right off that shaft after the knuckle is removed or???

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:34 pm

That video shows the exact location I hear the noise from although mine doesn't seem to be loose like that one.

Hood297 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:35 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Is this the problem you had Hood297?

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v612/ ... I_0105.flv

Seems its the cv joint moving on the splines, not the half shaft moving around. Ive yet to hear any noise out of it. I found it after an oil change while I was checking things out.

Does the cv joint or the half shaft need to be replaced? Does the cv just pop right off that shaft after the knuckle is removed or???

This is what mine looks like. http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k294/ ... I_2188.flv

jeepster, I'd bet that yours is the same issue as mine, only on the CV end not the Diff end. both sides are splined with a snap ring like I was talking about earlier. I would replace both CV and half shaft, or just take it apart and make your own decision once you see the condition of both parts.

sidewayskj · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:31 pm

love this forum just figured out my clunking noise this is great to figure it out and do something about it. Any one have a write up on replacing a cv shaft.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:09 pm

sidewayskj wrote:

love this forum just figured out my clunking noise this is great to figure it out and do something about it. Any one have a write up on replacing a cv shaft.

The CV and Half shaft is a fun job.
I can do one side in about half hour now. I don e it so many times now.....I would LOL to it but man that sux having to do it a few times like my self.
it is however an easy job if you take your time and watch what you are doing.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:58 pm

I had my Jeep at the dealer today for some maintenance issues and I asked them to take a look at what the clunking could be. Of course it stopped making noise all day sunday as well as when they took it for a ride.
They did tell me that when they had it up in the air, they noticed excessive play in the left and right CV axles and recommended replacement soon. They could find no other source for noise at the time but that is their best guess for noise.
They want $600 per side P&L. I wish I had skillz.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:46 pm

So I replace the CVs this AM....... and I still have this clunking. The dealer did say there was a lot of play. My last trip to MOAB Durangotang was able to hear the banging over his Rick James CD two car lengths behind me. In fact the banging progressed to the driver's side which lead me to decide to park it for the last day and ride shotgun with Durangotang and his Rick James CD.

At least I know the CV's are good and I wont have to replace them for a while. I have another MOAB trip this weekend and I am hoping that the CVs were the cause of all the banging. If thats the case, I'll deal with a little clunk on acceleration.

Riding shotgun sux.

Drassis · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:31 pm **Posts:** 182

JL Rockies wrote:

So I replace the CVs this AM....... and I still have this clunking. The dealer did say there was a lot of play. My last trip to MOAB Durangotang was able to hear the banging over his Rick James CD two car lengths behind me. In fact the banging progressed to the driver's side which lead me to decide to park it for the last day and ride shotgun with Durangotang and his Rick James CD.

At least I know the CV's are good and I wont have to replace them for a while. I have another MOAB trip this weekend and I am hoping that the CVs were the cause of all the banging. If thats the case, I'll deal with a little clunk on acceleration.

Riding shotgun sux.

I just went through this, check all your U joints front and rear axle

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 2:29 pm

My u joints were replaced about 5k miles ago and the rear shaft seems nice and tight. The noise comes from the PS front mostly. When I got under there and started pounding on stuff, the noisest thing under there was the CV axle where it connects to the diff. When the dealer said there was a lot of play, I figured that must be it. As long as the metal on metal clanging goes away on the trails, I'll live with it I guess.

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:44 pm

HOOD, i just ran into that issue 2 weeks ago! i noticed a vibration around 50mph or above, i get under my jeep and shake everything around, and that inner cv hub thing moves around just like yours. so i replaced the passenger cv with a NAPA one, and it STILL moves around! but it doesnt vibrate anymore when i drive. now im assuming i need to replace the stub/intermediate shaft correct? the dealer wants 187 for it, and its a dealer only part!

Drassis · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:31 pm **Posts:** 182

Also check your transfer case mounts, engine mounts and tranny mounts.

When i ddi my CVs and U joint i had to replace my transfer case mounts too they where beat to hell

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:39 am

The conclusion that many out here in Ouray have come to is it's the tranny mounts. The same morons that forgot to tighten my front diff after the swap also dropped my tranny to extend the breather. I have the tools to tackle the job, but I am not sure what I'm looking for under there. I am going to see how she does on the trails tomorrow and if it still makes a racket like in MOAB, I'll drop the skid and have a looksy.

In the meantime, if anyone has a pic or diagram of what I should check, I'd appreciate the share.

tkjk2002 checked my motor mounts and declared them healthy.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:43 am

A new twist on the situation; the source of the noise is the rear not the front. In our own version of LOST Safari Stupid Human Tricks, we had a guy looking/listening under the rig as I drove it (don't ask). From that point of view, all the noise seems to be coming from the rear diff. It might be the rear pinion bearing.

Anyone know any test to confirm this?

Hood297 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:27 pm

RAYMAN975 wrote:

HOOD, i just ran into that issue 2 weeks ago! i noticed a vibration around 50mph or above, i get under my jeep and shake everything around, and that inner cv hub thing moves around just like yours. so i replaced the passenger cv with a NAPA one, and it STILL moves around! but it doesnt vibrate anymore when i drive. now im assuming i need to replace the stub/intermediate shaft correct? the dealer wants 187 for it, and its a dealer only part!

you may not have to replace the shaft if the splines aren't worn down, just replace the clip. But you should determine that when it is pulled out.

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

That infernal clunking!!!!!

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