Mystery Front-end Clunk Noise

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 5:07 pm

When I turn right (not locked) onto my driveway I get a clunk noise when my left front wheel hits the 6-8” tall curb. This doesn’t happen when I hit the bump when turning left into my driveway or when I hit it straight on (when I say “hit” I don’t mean to imply that I am going fast – in fact I am going quite slow @ 3 mph or less). I have noticed no other looseness or steering problems.

Anyone have any ideas what might be causing this noise? Is this something I need to be worried about?

jnaut · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 6:40 pm

My limited experience tells me you might start looking at a CV joint.

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 7:12 pm

Perhaps a little more background would help. That CV joint was replaced a couple of years ago (under warrantee) when the knuckle sheared off. So it is relatively new, especially compared to the right joint that is original. The Jeep has about 61K miles on it. That CV joint has about 31K.

KJ in CO · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:06 pm **Posts:** 346

Black_Dog wrote:

When I turn right (not locked) onto my driveway I get a clunk noise when my left front wheel hits the 6-8” tall curb. This doesn’t happen when I hit the bump when turning left into my driveway or when I hit it straight on (when I say “hit” I don’t mean to imply that I am going fast – in fact I am going quite slow @ 3 mph or less). I have noticed no other looseness or steering problems.

Anyone have any ideas what might be causing this noise? Is this something I need to be worried about?

Before you do anything, check to see if your anti-sway bar is loose. I have had that happen a few times on me. Hope it fixes the problem, pretty sure that will. :wink:

Guest · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 8:50 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie also advises he check the bushings of the hole where the clevis bolt passes through on the LCA

501 · **Posted:** Sat May 23, 2009 2:07 am

I vote sway bar links. Mine are bad and they clunk going over speed bumps, pot holes, etc.

tonycrd · **Posted:** Sat May 23, 2009 5:15 am

LBJ???? ( lower ball joint)

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Sun May 24, 2009 1:29 pm

LBJ's are newish (replaced under recall last year).

Yesterday I got under the front end and checked for looseness in the anti-sway bar and links. Everything there is tightened down and looks good.

I guess my next plan of attack is to check the clevis bolt bushing in the LCA.

KJ in CO · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:06 pm **Posts:** 346

I had my LBJ's replaced a few months ago, under the recall. I am not sure, but I noticed the dealership actually replaced both the lower and upper ball joints. I am positive both are new and I didnt pay a dime!!!

I would check the upper strut plate bolts too. Don't want those gettin loose.. Reminds me, I shoulda checked mine I while back. :oops:

cmohr · **Posted:** Mon May 25, 2009 2:32 am

Upper Control arm Ball joints..?

To check, Jack up the side you think is the problem from under the lower control arm, remove your wheel.. see if you can then lift or rattle the uppercontrol arm/ ball joint. If it is buggered, you'll see the movement quiet easily. If there is no movement there, it could be the outer tie-rod ends (on the steering where the rack joins the wheel hub/knuckle)) whilst you still have the car with wheel off and on the jack, see if you can rattle the tie-rod balljoint by trying to turn the wheel hub left and right, again, if the ball joint for the tie-rod is loose, you'll hear it, and see it.

I have had both these cause mystery clunks in the front of my KJ.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon May 25, 2009 12:31 pm

My clunking problems:

artards who installed me front diff forgot to tighten down the bracket

my t-case skid was bent enough that it came into contact with the t-case as it shifted under load.

Neatus · **Posted:** Tue May 26, 2009 5:32 pm

JL Rockies wrote:

My clunking problems:

artards who installed me front diff forgot to tighten down the bracket

my t-case skid was bent enough that it came into contact with the t-case as it shifted under load.

I have a clunk that I believe is my diff moving as well. Hmmm, which braket is it that need to be tightened?

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Tue May 26, 2009 6:45 pm

Check your Right Side Axle Bracket...... Just found mine making similar sounds and its the Bushing on the front of the passenger side axle bracket. I'm starting to Hate the KJ again..... Another 170$ and to top that off it's got another front D-Shaft on the way out. Worst part is I only wheel it lightly maybe once a month nowadays. Seems that she liked it more when I had time to wheel her every weekend.

Neatus · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 12:36 am

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

Check your Right Side Axle Bracket...... Just found mine making similar sounds and its the Bushing on the front of the passenger side axle bracket. I'm starting to Hate the KJ again..... Another 170$ and to top that off it's got another front D-Shaft on the way out. Worst part is I only wheel it lightly maybe once a month nowadays. Seems that she liked it more when I had time to wheel her every weekend.

Hmmm, thanks, I will check that. Oh and mine only costs me an arm and a leg every time I fix it.

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:05 pm

Fixed! Don't know exactly what it was, but I took the Liberty in for five new tires (Firestone Destination A/T P245/70R16) and an alignment. Somehow in the alignment process whatever was loose got tightened. I'm enjoying the silence!

BTW, those Destination A/T's are fantastic. I expected improved traction but these things ride much better! I suppose the sidewall is more compliant because the KJ no longer rattles my fillings every time I hit an expansion joint. It further underscores how bad the Wrangler SR-As were that I suffered with for nearly 61K miles (at least they wore well -- that's about the only think I can say about these awful Goodyear's).

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 9:04 am

Neatus wrote:

JL Rockies wrote:

My clunking problems:

artards who installed me front diff forgot to tighten down the bracket

my t-case skid was bent enough that it came into contact with the t-case as it shifted under load.

I have a clunk that I believe is my diff moving as well. Hmmm, which braket is it that need to be tightened?

Mine was the front bracket. The diff was banging on the engine skid.

Mystery Front-end Clunk Noise

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