I just started to notice a metallic clunk noise coming from (what sounds like) the front right wheel. It's only happened when I'm parked and start into reverse or if I'm at an intersection and start forward in drive. My initial thoughts are either CV or lower ball joint. The CVs are original and the Ball Joints were replaced about 20k miles ago under the factory recall. Total mileage is about 45k miles.

Any thoughts on which to check first and some definitive tests for each?

Dan

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2005 Silver CRD Limited
245/75R16 GoodYear Duratracs
Fumoto drain | ProVent CCV Filter
Stanadyne FM100 filter | Cummins fuel pump
GDE Eco | SEGR | BoulderBars | FrankenLift | Frankenskids

Are you in full time when it does it or 2wd?

I'd be checking the rear driveshaft for driveline slack.

For checking the LBJ's............
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=4348

As for checking the unit bearings it can be more involved,I always use a stethoscope while spinning the wheel and listening to the unit bearing for rough,screeching noise after testing for play(attempting to shack back and forth from the up/down and side to side).

Could be the trans also,my 45RFE sometimes does not shift into 1st when stopping but slams into 1st when I take off from a stop(very rare occasions,may have done it 5-10 times in the last 8 years).

It happens in 2wd or full-time 4w (of course, I'm not in part time often enough to have checked for it). It is definitely a single clunk noise when I start and then all is well from that point, so something is slacking somewhere, I just wasn't sure how to tell if it's ball with slop from shifting weight or a rotating assembly with a bad joint. I was thinking possibly ball joint since it appears to not clunk if I start from a standstill very gently, but that could be coincidence.

Are the unit bearings the ones that the front hub assemblies spin on (inside the steering knuckle)? I've been having a strange body wobble for thousands of miles now that I can only reproduce at 25-30 mph, originally suspected to be an out-of round wheel/tire (checked and disproven) but possibly something like a rotor or bearing dragging just enough to start a side-to-side harmonic sway in the suspension at that speed.

<sigh> big cities are a horrible place to find honest mechanics to help you diagnose weird stuff like this. I'd love to know if other people's KJs wobble a little (you can feel it in the seat and steering wheel) at stop and go traffic speed.

Dan

_________________

2005 Silver CRD Limited
245/75R16 GoodYear Duratracs
Fumoto drain | ProVent CCV Filter
Stanadyne FM100 filter | Cummins fuel pump
GDE Eco | SEGR | BoulderBars | FrankenLift | Frankenskids

Yes the unit bearings are the ones that the hubs spin on,they are held in with 3 "E" torx bit bolts.A bad unit bearing can cause a wobble.You can also check the front swaybar endlinks,they can cause noise if not torque really tight.The pain in the but check is checking the upper strut nut which requires the strut assembly removal.Make sure you check the front driveshaft also,the CV joint at the t-case likes to go,check for a torn boot(it's inverted and hard to see).A shop with a "electronic ear" can be very useful with finding very hard to find noises,takes some time though and needs to be dry outside(no rain or snow).