Elusive front end noise....

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:27 pm

OK, now i KNOW that just about eveyone has issues with noisy front swaybar bushings as it gets colder, and i seem to have aleviated that problem with an ample bombardment of white lithium grease...however, whenever i turn the wheels at low speed or no speed, i hear a similar sound coming from the front left suspension...my guess is a tie rod end or something...I already checked the LBJs (not quite sure how to check the uppers, but they didn't move when i checked the lowers) and although there's very minor play in the driver's side, i'm not too worried about it, seems to be in spec...any thoughts on what this phantom sound could be???

Thanks,
-Savage-

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:40 pm

I get the same thing I think. It doesnt always do it, its kinda like a clunk when i turn the wheel, then sometimes it does it when Im going real slow with the wheel cranked. Idk what it could be, didnt do it before the lift though i know that. I may be taking that lift off and taking it to the dealer if it gets worse.

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:45 pm

it's not just if the wheel is cranked, it's actually while i'm turning the wheel, it sounds like the steering ball joint (or whatver it is :-P

) is drying out...it doesn't happen if the wheel is pointing in a constant direction, but if i start making steering movements or go over bumps at low speed, that's when it starts to complain...

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:54 pm

any thoughts?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:23 pm

Lol, nice thread we have going here Savage.

Im not to sure how you check the tie-rod ends, I guess you could crawl under it while some one turns the wheel and see if there is any movement in them? Be careful doing that and be sure to set the parking brake really good.

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:21 pm

yeah, maybe i'll give that a shot

SRotblat · **Posted:** Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:59 pm

I've got the exact same issue. sound appears to be comming from the rack or tie rods on the pass side. very loud squeaking when turning the wheel at any speeds (do not notice it much at highway speeds). only times I dont really hear it is on flat roads going slow straight or in reverse, any dip or bump in the road makes it squeak.

getting really bad, just started on Monday too

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:06 am

Mine seems to have cleared up a bit now that it's getting warmer, but i'm still a little worried about it....

the1jferg · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:08 am

I have a noise something like that , I finally pinpointed (not fixed).

Ain't sure its the same as yall's noise.

It was a funny squeeking and I found it to be inside my steering column, I think its like a dry "O-ring" kinda thing going on?

SRotblat · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 5:26 pm

mine is definatly on the outside of the jeep, seems to be comming from something in the steering though.

hope it gets warmer here soon to test the temp theory.

SRotblat · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:41 am

wish and you shall recive I guess, it warmed up a LOT here today and the front end noise is essentially gone. I can faintly hear it if I really really try....some lithium grease should do the trick.

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:25 pm

same here....it's 71*!!!!!! IT'S AWESOME!!! but i do still hear the noise a little bit, i just wish i could pinpoint it so i could lube it....

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sat Mar 11, 2006 12:45 am

Is it a squeek or whistle as turning? If it is a whistle it could be a bad seal in the rack and pinion.

If a squeek when turning, it could be the rack bushings, have someone turn the wheels back and forth, then you watch the rack to see if there is play where it mounts to the cradle (if bad bushings you will see the entire rack move)

barnaggar · **Posted:** Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:50 pm

I have an 05 renegade thats a little over a year old and we started hearing the same noise starting last summer. We installed rustys lift around this time last year. The noise is intermitten and it doesnt really matter if its cold or warm outside. We took it to the dealer and of course it wasnt making the noise when they had it. I would really like figure this out fix it.

SRotblat · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:44 am

well a few warm and a few cold days later the squeek is back and is pretty loud. Its a squeek, not a whistle. Where would one get rack bushings?

Highground · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:53 pm

Hi all. First time posting.
We had the same noise on our 02 for a week. I thought it was the steering shaft boot at the firewall so put some grease on the shaft and the noise stopped. That was during a few days of rain so I think the wetness was hiding the real noise. The REAL PROBLEM WAS THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT. It broke with no warning at all while the wife was parking. We had the ball joints replaced during the recall and it looks like they put the same junk on it.
I'm gonna get some Moog's on there ASAP.
IF YOU HEAR FRONT END NOISE....CHECK THOSE BALL JOINTS.
I hate to think what could have happened after 30 more miles at 70 MPH

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:10 pm

Don't forget to report this to the NHTSA: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

GregB · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:16 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I get the same thing I think. It doesnt always do it, its kinda like a clunk when i turn the wheel, then sometimes it does it when Im going real slow with the wheel cranked. Idk what it could be, didnt do it before the lift though i know that. I may be taking that lift off and taking it to the dealer if it gets worse.

Is that "clunk" coming for the back? I get a clunk sometimes in my '02, especially when the steering wheel is turned all the way and I'm backing up. I've been told that's the Trac-Lock binding a bit and that I shouldn't worry to much about it. If it gets to be more frequent I should think about changing the diff fluid. If anyone knows something different on that correct me, but that's what I've been told about the "clunk I've heard.

I can't say I get any odd squeaks in the front end. I do sometimes get an odd pulsing vibration. It's very light and is like my engine is revving a little, but my tach doesn't move?

itsajeepthing · **Posted:** Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:37 am

I had similar noises when cranking the wheel while parking, etc. Turned out to be the steering coupler. Replaced under warr.

Elusive front end noise....

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