I noticed some gaps (about the width of a dime) while trying to troubleshoot the groaning sounds I hear up front. I tried lubing the sway bar bushings and end links with silicone spray. It hasn't helped, and I'm wondering if the gaps I found are allowing travel along the bolt. Any ideas?

DRIVER SIDE



PASSENGER SIDE



I was going to remove and clean the bushings behind the bumper this morning, but I didn't have the muscle to loosen the 18mm nuts.

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16

i wouldn't say that would make anything groan, but i would definitely tighten those up, and I'd use something thicker, like grease gun grease to lube them rather than silicone spray.

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2008 Unlimited Rubicon - 3.5" AEV/Nth lift - 35" MT/R with Kevlar - AEV Wheels - York OBA
2008 Patriot - Fuel Saver

Those gaps are normal. The sleeve that runs through the bushing is a little longer than the bushing so it sticks about a little bit on both side. Just make sure the bolts are tight and don't worry about the gap.

Thanks, guys. Is there anything else I can do to troubleshoot these popping/groaning noises before I visit a dealership? It seems to have grown worse because every little bump in the road makes noise now. I thought that once we had a few warm days (55+ degrees) the noise would stop, but it hasn't, so I'm less inclined to think it's the sway bar. Now I'm worried about ball joints. I had the F23 recall performed before putting my lift on. If the new Jeep LJBs are bad, do you think the dealership will reject my warranty claim because my lift altered the suspension? (I have Daystar KJ09123 1.5"/2".)

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16

Make sure the sway bar bolts(all off them) are tight first,seams to be a source of noise for most of us.

That area usually doesnt make any noise. The sway bar bushings is where the noise comes from. You need to get those 18mm bolts off and clean all that up.

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

Videoguy:

Mine is doing the same thing....has been getting progressively worse for about two weeks now. Mine is so bad that it squeeks/groans when you do anything....turn the wheel, go over a bump, bounce up and down in your seat. I've sprayed silicone spray on every joint I can find underneath to no avail. It's so bad that people look at me when I drive through parking lots. You'd think I was driving an old rusty model T.

I bet you will be fine with the dealer. They didn't give you any trouble when you had the drive shaft put in did they? Maybe this is from the work that they did?

I'm making an appointment for mine. Have a few other things to have checked out too while it's in.

Good luck.

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2005 liberty Sport CRD

Good luck to you, too. I'm heading to Tennesse in 2 weeks with my wife and two kids. Not a good time for ball joint separation! Because of the funky noises, I'm a little nervous about taking the KJ. The only reason I want to take the KJ down is to go wheeling with my brother in his new Wrangler. We'd get much better gas mileage in our car!

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16

Only takes a couple of minutes to check the ball joints, check them before you leave and then youll have some piece of mind. The Liberty will be a lot more fun for sure

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

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Great diagram. Thanks!

How do you get your hand up in there with a wrench to loosen the nuts at the top of the bushing bracket (point 5 in the diagram)?

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16