Diagnosis, please?

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:18 pm

I have been experiencing troubling thunk noise in my front-end. It is not rhythmic or speed/revolution related like the sound of a failing CV joint. I hear it at low speeds while going over moderate sized bumps (not small ones or really big ones). I notice it most regularly when I am going over the curb onto my driveway (the curb it tall, as far as driveway curbs go) which means I am hitting a bump during mid-turn, so I’m not certain that the problem is not steering related. But I suspect it’s not because it sometimes clunks when I hit the brakes sharply at slow speeds. I also cannot definitively attribute the noise as coming from either the right or left side.

I’ve inspected up under the front-end suspension and could not find anything obviously loose or bent. Interestingly, after engaging Part-Time 4WD during some severe weather a couple of weeks ago, the noise ceased for a couple of days. However, I’ve tried to engage and then disengaging 4WD fails to repeat this effect without success.

History: I had my front axle replaced in June due to a failure (it sheared-off at the base of the knuckle). At that same time I had the recalled ball joints replaced. Shortly thereafter I drove the Jeep to southern Utah and spent a week tearing around the desert. I noticed the noise after I returned and initially though it was a rock bouncing around on one of my skids.

Any ideas?

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:34 pm

sway bar end-link bushings.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:01 pm

If you can figure out how to get rid of it let me know. When mine made the noise I tightened up the sway bar links and the noise went away. 3 hours later, the noise came back. The next day, I retorqued the bolts and used threadlocker. 3 hours later, same thing... AHHDF;lkajsdf

Edit: I also ordered some liquid wrench silicone spray to spray onto the bushings in attempt to quiet them down.. I'll let you know how that goes.

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:40 pm

Dje Ryu wrote:

sway bar end-link bushings.

Okay, this afternoon I removed the sway bar, cleaned everything, sprayed the elastomer bushings with silicone, and tightened everything back together. No improvement. Any other ideas?

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:02 pm

if its a noticeable noise and quite loud, i would try and get a video of it for it, maybe help us better figure out what it might be

ISpy · **Posted:** Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:51 pm

I had the same noise. Clunking on passenger front side while braking at low speeds. I tightened the upper and lower bolts of the sway bar linkage and it went away. Really crank the upper bolts down and it will stop. Upper bolts 100 ft/lbs, lower 85 ft/lbs. Good luck.

JHCRASH · **Posted:** Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:37 pm

I have seen this happen when the brake calliper is loose or missing a bolt most of the time it causes them to grab but occasionally it does not just makes noise.

jeepgirl0385 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:08 pm

Does it happen during the colder weather? Mine always makes a clunking noise when I go over moderately sized bumps (like a speed plateau or the potholes in my driveway when the weather changes. But yet when it is hot out, it is quiet.

I asked on here and it was concluded to be the sway bar bushings like was said before. I haven;t done anything about it yet though.

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:48 pm

Okay. Today I retightened the sway bar end link bushing bolts to 100 ft/lbs (top) and 85 lb/fts (bottom) and got no improvement -- not even temporarily. I inspected the brakes and the popping noise occurs independent of temperature.

Any other suggestions??

wildrussian · **Posted:** Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:20 pm

its a long shot but could be that your strut plate nut got a little lose and that would cause it to do that. when I put my lift I didn't tighten it tight enough and I got clunking noise but since you don't have a lift and never messed with it its a long shot.

ISpy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:43 pm

Black_Dog, I've got the 2005 sway bar linkage bolt clunk noise crap also. I tightened the upper bolts more than 100 ft/lbs and the clunk went away. I'd try to crank those suckers to 150 ft/lbs or there-a-bouts and your cluck will go away...for awhile at least. Mine returned after 3 months and am looking at cranking those bolts down again. Good luck. Let me know if and what fixed it. Jeep thing.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:13 am

ISpy wrote:

Black_Dog, I've got the 2005 sway bar linkage bolt clunk noise crap also. I tightened the upper bolts more than 100 ft/lbs and the clunk went away. I'd try to crank those suckers to 150 ft/lbs or there-a-bouts and your cluck will go away...for awhile at least. Mine returned after 3 months and am looking at cranking those bolts down again. Good luck. Let me know if and what fixed it. Jeep thing.

Pleh. I used a breaker bar to tighten my links and the noise came back in a week. I'm fed up.

Diagnosis, please?

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