New front wheel/FS clicking after TM/JBA econo lift install

Tx_roadie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:57 pm **Posts:** 17

Hi all. So I finally had the TomMudd/JBA Econo lift installed a few weeks ago by a local (but nationwide chain) off-road store. Had the full package, lift kit with new UCA, bump stops, clevis, etc. Went with BFG AT/KO 245/75/16 (on stock rims).

Since the lift, there is a sporadic front wheel clicking when I turn the Jeep under load (hard U-turns, or 45-60 degree turns up-hill). It's a rapid clicking noise, and today I could feel some vibration transmittance to the steering wheel. Kinda worried about CV-related issues. However, before this lift - I never experienced the clicking noises or the vibration transmittance, even when using the Jeep up twisty mountain passes to get to ski trails/trailheads (which had alot of aggressive U-turn type switchbacks at angles/banks).

Maybe this is just install related and the CV or ball-joints are not necessarily blown? I'm not the most mechanically inclined, so any opinions are most welcome.

Thanks!
-TxR

Gageraid · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:52 pm

The first and easiest thing to check is the rubber boot on the steering rack connected at the firewall. Mine was missing a clip and was pulled off slightly and caused some noise. Snapped it back on and fixed it.
Might not be your problem, but give it a check.
Just open your hood and look at your firewall/rack area for this.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:37 pm

Are you certain its not the traction control kicking in every now and again. Some folks have had an issue with that.
As far as install, even if they are a national brand still doesn't mean the tech knew what he was doing completely.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:43 pm

tommudd wrote:

Are you certain its not the traction control kicking in every now and again. Some folks have had an issue with that.
As far as install, even if they are a national brand still doesn't mean the tech knew what he was doing completely.

I agree with this.
You could always go back or call them and ask if everything was torqued when it was on the ground and not in the air. The shop that installed mine was more than happy to look over my lift when I told them it didn't look right. (Thanks to this forum we found out the problem)

Tx_roadie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:57 pm **Posts:** 17

Thanks all for the replies.

Running through the scenarios in my head, I'm favoring/hoping something more simple and benign, such as installment issues/lack of ground-torquing, vs an obligatory blown cv assembly/cv related issues. It really is more of a rapid, high-pitched clicking noise, and not really a grinding noise (which I've heard as traction control noise, variously described). I tried to take it in today for a check, but they were abit backlogged, so I'll return in a few days and post an update.

Thanks again!

Gageraid · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:23 pm

It will also be very useful if you can recreate the noise every time.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:37 pm

Tx_roadie wrote:

Thanks all for the replies.

Running through the scenarios in my head, I'm favoring/hoping something more simple and benign, such as installment issues/lack of ground-torquing, vs an obligatory blown cv assembly/cv related issues. It really is more of a rapid, high-pitched clicking noise, and not really a grinding noise (which I've heard as traction control noise, variously described). I tried to take it in today for a check, but they were abit backlogged, so I'll return in a few days and post an update.

Thanks again!

Make sure the UCAs , sway bar links etc were all tightened after it was on the ground as well.
Wouldn't think it was a CV unless they did something during install if you just got it installed

lfhoward · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:27 pm

Could be one of your CVs was on its way out before the lift, and the change in CV angle now has exaggerated the noise? I had one go about a year after lifting, at about 75K miles, with no external damage to the CV boot.
If the CV boot is leaking grease, it could be it was damaged during the lift install and you got some road grit in there.

Tx_roadie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:57 pm **Posts:** 17

So I had it looked at today and they retorqued the lift. They said the clicking and vibrations were coming from the too-short rear sway bar link. Does that sound reasonable to y'all? Still with the stock length rear sway bar.

Thanks

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sat Jan 25, 2014 3:00 pm

I thought you said the noise/vibration was coming from the front since you originally suspected a CV?

My stock rear sway links made some noise too, but it was clearly the rear making the noise. If you are worried about it, JBA sells 4 inch extended sway bar links for the KK. I think the ride is batter now that they are installed on mine. http://jeepinbyal.com/jeep-liberty-2008-2012-kk/jba-4-rear-kk-sway-bar-links.html

Tx_roadie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:57 pm **Posts:** 17

Yeah, I still think the issue is from the front. They said the front end looked good, though, and suggested it was an issue with the rear sway bar. The cv assembly apparently checked out, ad I didn't feel or see any grease up there. The noise is definitely front end sounding, so I'm going to wait and get a second opinion (the store that t did the lift was also the one that rechecked it today, saying the front end components looked appropriate. Again, the clicking isn't all the time, but occasionally on left handed turns under load or really acute/ hard u-turns. Don't think it is the esp going off. The vibration transmittance through the steering wheel has only happened once (so far) but again was associated with a hard left hand turn up a hill, with the rapid, high pitched clicking. As soon as I straightened out, both the clicking and vibration stopped.

Also occasionally sounds like the electronic wiring is thwapping against the plastic in the wheel wells, so maybe they're getting caught up and some binding is going on (and this occurs regardless if I'm turning or going straight).

Thanks

Gageraid · **Posted:** Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:34 pm

What about something stupid... I believe they are the abs wires or something in the wheel well. You can't miss 'em. See if you can move them around and recreate the sound.

JeepMonkey190 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:40 am

I just installed my lift (the same one) on saturday and I am getting a noise / vibration from the front driver side as well but mine only happens when I hit bumps in the road like the reflectors in the road, I will run one over on purpose and then it makes a vibrating feel and like a 2 - 3 rattle kind of sound. And its only the driver side that does it too.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:11 am

JeepMonkey190 wrote:

I just installed my lift (the same one) on saturday and I am getting a noise / vibration from the front driver side as well but mine only happens when I hit bumps in the road like the reflectors in the road, I will run one over on purpose and then it makes a vibrating feel and like a 2 - 3 rattle kind of sound. And its only the driver side that does it too.

Everything torqued to spec? Sway bars and a-arms torqued when the truck is sitting on the ground? Only other thing I could think of is the a-arms hitting the springs, but that would be a "big" bump and make the boing sound that springs make.

huntb · **Posted:** Mon Jan 27, 2014 10:27 am

That's why I don't let shops do work like this on my vehicles....

JeepMonkey190 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 27, 2014 10:51 am

Bmxer524 wrote:

JeepMonkey190 wrote:

I just installed my lift (the same one) on saturday and I am getting a noise / vibration from the front driver side as well but mine only happens when I hit bumps in the road like the reflectors in the road, I will run one over on purpose and then it makes a vibrating feel and like a 2 - 3 rattle kind of sound. And its only the driver side that does it too.

Everything torqued to spec? Sway bars and a-arms torqued when the truck is sitting on the ground? Only other thing I could think of is the a-arms hitting the springs, but that would be a "big" bump and make the boing sound that springs make.

First, does anyone know the torque specs for the sway bars? And second we have the new arms so the dont hit the springs.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:20 am

JeepMonkey190 wrote:

Bmxer524 wrote:

JeepMonkey190 wrote:

I just installed my lift (the same one) on saturday and I am getting a noise / vibration from the front driver side as well but mine only happens when I hit bumps in the road like the reflectors in the road, I will run one over on purpose and then it makes a vibrating feel and like a 2 - 3 rattle kind of sound. And its only the driver side that does it too.

Everything torqued to spec? Sway bars and a-arms torqued when the truck is sitting on the ground? Only other thing I could think of is the a-arms hitting the springs, but that would be a "big" bump and make the boing sound that springs make.

First, does anyone know the torque specs for the sway bars? And second we have the new arms so the dont hit the springs.

My jeepin by al a-arms hit my 927s. I might be able to clock the springs a little to avoid it, but that's too much work lol. But like I'm saying, if it's small bumps like the reflectors you shouldn't be having contact unless you're hard on the gas and squatting the truck when you hit them. Even then, the reflectors might be too small to do it...

JeepMonkey190 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 1:46 am

Im still having this clicking / metal to metal sound in the front driver side, has anything came up on what it could possibly be?

Its not the springs hitting the a-arms, because even at full extension they still don't hit, also I have re-torqued everything except the driver side rear bolt on the uca's

Scar0 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 8:03 am

Check the flag bolt on the clevis fork. When I did my lift one of the flags was hitting the lower A-arm. Mine was a squeaking sound, but it could be your click. I just bent it out a little, no more noise.

Tx_roadie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:57 pm **Posts:** 17

Hi all. Thanks for the continued input into this thread.

@Scar0 - I'll check out your suggestion.
@Jeepmonkey - we may have the same issue, but I can't really say it sounds like a metal-metal noise nor do I get it on the road reflectors. Mine is a really high-pitched, rapid clicking that spontaneously occurs when turning left under load, and really only at full driver's wheel lock. Took it to the ski trail this weekend and sure enough, on two (out of several) left-sided hairpin ascending turns, the click occured (but not so on any right-sided turns, and never on the descents). The best way to describe my clicking is a combination of rapidly tapping your fingernail on the plastic portion of a computer desktop tower (I'm at work now) with a minor background component of flicking one of those old spring door-stoppers (faint background oscillating noise).

@lfhoward (and everyone else) - I did go ahead and install the extended sway bar links (and a new track bar) - I agree, the handling seems better...abit more nimble, I guess.

For what it's worth, both the primary installer and second-look garage said everything looks set and torqued correctly (and torqued on the ground) - so basically, they're not sure either (but nothing looks like it'll shoot out, explode, or disentegrate while driving...i.e., it 'seems' safe). As was suggested earlier in this thread - maybe it really is just all the electronic gadgetry in the Liberty (my first Jeep with EPS, TC, etc), though I've heard that variously described more as a low-pitched grinding noise; I never noticed any blinking lights when the noise occurs, though I'm abit more preoccupied with the driving then staring at my control panel. When I find the resolution, I'll update. Thanks again all.

New front wheel/FS clicking after TM/JBA econo lift install

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