Wobble and Clunk

04BlueColumbiaKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:50 pm

Hey guys, I have had a wobble and clunk on the passenger side, front suspension when i go over (good size) bumps.

I have a Rusty's 2.5" spacer lift and RRO insane arms, with 265/75 R16 Goodyear Wrnalger Silentarmors.

But, it made the clunk and wiggle before I put the new UCA's in on Monday and got an alignment Tuesday. Took the wheels off and made sure everything was tight and loosened the sway bar, drove it to settle it, and retightened everything on the ground on Thursday.

Still clunks and wobbles. Could the clunk be from the swar bar hitting the control arm? Would urethane bushings help? Could a bad lower ball joint cause the wobble? Or is it a tie rod end?

BTW...I ordered the Moog ball joints for the top, but just needed a little spacer to keep the boot in contact with the top of the spindle arm...

This has been going on for a year since I've had my lift. Wore out a set of new stock UCA's in 8 months.

HELP PLEASE!

Thanks,
Mario

Murphyman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:21 pm

I think it may be the product of a spacer lift... But that's just a guess, I wouldn't know how to fix it. If possible, upgrade to a full suspension lift!

vjwag · **Posted:** Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:50 am

I am having a similar issue. I lifted with new coils all the way around about 4k ago, and the clunk started after about 2k (and a few significant off road excursions). I checked my ball joints, tightened up everything I could get a socket on, and it's still there. I thought maybe it was the exhaust as the mounts are really loose, but the 'clunk' sounds too 'heavy'.... I also have my lower molding hanging on with a few machine screws (> $180 for the two pieces!!), but I can't believe it has enough mass to make the sound I hear. So, I am giving up and taking it to a local good mechanic next week to have him give it a look over. I will post any results. :roll:

04BlueColumbiaKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:58 am

Its confusing me, too. I had the alignment shop check the tie rod ends, and he said they were fine. I replaced the left one at the last alignment before I got the new tires last year. I have 2 new ones on hand, just in case. But, there are little divots in the LCA's where it looks like the sway bar is making contact.

Looks like i'm just going to keep digging until i find out what it is. i'
ll start with the tie rod end and then the sway bar bushings.

04BlueColumbiaKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:24 pm

ok...so I drove up on a curb ti see what would be hitting, and it seems that the first thing that sticks out is the LCA is hitting the sway bar on fast bumps. Do I need to tighten the sway bars (they are per factory specs now 110ft-lbs for the bar, 100ft-lbs at the top of the link and 85ft-lbs at the LCA) or do I go with new bushings or new swar bar?

Also, this doesn't explain why the right side flaps after bumps?

Any thoughts?

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

If your sway bar is connected it shouldn't be hitting anything. Mine is loose and smacks the LCA all the time :lol:

vjwag · **Posted:** Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:37 pm

to djui5 Randy's point, I am reaching the same conclusion. Jeep's make noise. The trick is finding out if/when they are related to a safety issue or a 'about to strand me' problem! Let us know what you find out and vice versa.

WickedKJ · **Posted:** Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:22 pm

I have the same problem. Noticed it slightly prior to being lifted, once lifted its alot louder and harder. I have a suspension lift on mine. Theres no wobble just a loud cluncking noise. Its generally only when I turn that I hear it or when driving offroad. I didnt know whether I should change out the upper control arms or the ball joints? Let me know what you all find out.

vjwag · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:49 pm

Closure for me, I had two clunk 'sources', one I should have found, the other not so easy. Easy one was my front skid was actually pushed up (it has been off road a few times...) and when I accelerated it was making contact. I have hammered it out a few times before, and it didn't look like it was close enough to touch nor could I move it, but sure enough... we pulled it off, banged it out again where it looked like the closest approach, tightened everything down and one clunk is gone.

The other one was one of the rear trailing arms was just loose enough to move under acceleration load. The guy found it by pulling the e-brake to isolate the rear only. No wonder I didn't catch it when I had it up, he couldn't move it either on the rack. So, you guys should try this just in case. Just tighten it all down. Next for me is cutting down the wheel wells to get rid of the grind from my oversize tires.... Good luck!

WickedKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:12 pm

I guess I can try that.. I will have my husband help me with that. I noticed today when I was driving its not only when I turn its just regular driving as well. And now there is a squeeking noise that is there and of course that awful clunk. I was thinking ball joints I dont know. I hate to start replacing alot of things that are unneccesary at this time.

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:37 pm

i had just replaced:
front wheel bearings with Timken units
passenger cv shaft
passenger half shaft for the cv shaft
rear tri-link bushings
upper control arms withAL's 4.5 arms

got it aligned yesterday, creak/clunk then BANG!!

does it when i go forward and hit the brakes hard, or reverse and hit the brakes hard. or when i turn to the left full lock, seems like something binds up/creaks, then BANG!! it pops and lets loose. i checked everything, inspected everything, i/my friends/my dad are totally clueless. i thought it might be the cv, but i spin the wheel and its smooth, turn the steering wheel and spin the wheel and its smooth. checked the inner-tie rods, steering rack bushings, ALL suspension bolts, clevis, lower clevis, balljoints, swaybar and end links, everything seems ok.

drove it around for a few days after i finished putting all this stuff on and it was smooth/quiet as can be, until the alignment. they aligned it great, camber looks good, tracks straight, feels nice when turning.

unlike firestone who couldnt even get the camber right after 2 visits and felt funny when turning, it scrubbed, probably from the bad positive camber. so i got my money back.

was under it for about 4-5 hours tonight fiddling with EVERYTHING imaginable, had 3 friends over for a little bit, looking underneath as i drove forward and back trying to pinpoint the noise. its definitely coming from the front right suspension. just cant pinpoint what it is exactly, driving me NUTS!

so im taking it back tomorrow to where i got it aligned on thursday to see if they can figure it out :evil:

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:10 am

Did you determine what it was Ray?
Funny though, mine has over 95,000 on the lift and not one noise, never had one from day one, all nice and quiet, like riding in a Caddy!

WickedKJ · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:15 pm

Checked the ball joints they seem to be fine, no play. UCA has some cracking on rubber would that cause a clunking noise?
Again,

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:38 pm

took it to the alignment shop on saturday morning, it was a loose cam bolt, they re-aligned the jeep and tightened it back down. i cant believe how much noise a loose cam bolt will make!!

smooth and quiet as can be now!! other than that annoying right swaybar end link bushing

loganbrumm · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:08 pm

I have a Daystar 2.5 and when I was in BrakeMasters last week, the tech pointed out that the bearings on my rack and pinion are completely worn down and that it was causing the clunk wobble wobble I was experiencing. Of course JEEP couldn't point this out the 4 times I had been in and they did a "Full Inspection"... Now I just have to get it fixed.....

04BlueColumbiaKJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:50 am

NO MORE CLUNK!

Ok, after some armstrong investigation, it was the LCA hitting the sway bar. tried to turn it upside down to go over the tie rods, but to no avail. so I reinstalled them as original, this time instead of centering it on the frame, I tweaked it a 1/4" towards the passenger side. Since this was the side that was hitting, i figured giving it a little extra room would be a good thing. IT WORKED! I also made sure that the bolts were free spinning before i torqued them down. The bottom link bolt was seized (rusted) to the LCA, so that took some freeing. Thank you upstate new york winters. i love road salt.

Now, i just need to look at the wobble when i go over bumps...

Wobble and Clunk

Who is online