Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: JackstandJohnny on August 04, 2010, 09:29:12 PM

Title: YJ front end clunk
Post by: JackstandJohnny on August 04, 2010, 09:29:12 PM
just replaced unit bearings on jeep, the axle seal on the passenger side, and swapped in bigger ujoint axles.  the pass. side i stuck with the two piece shaft, and on the drivers i swapped in a bigger TJ axleshaft, with the ABS tonering on it.   now i went for a rip, and its clunking bad. but not while moving, under load, or anything, it only clunks when the suspension moves (like the bump at the end of the driveway) or i can replicate the sound by rocking the jeep back and forth.  

any ideas before i rip the front end apart again?


unit bearings are new, ball joints feel tight, u joint in the axle is tight; there is no play in it.  

the only thing i can think of is somehow maybe the tone ring his hitting something, or possibly the u joint is bad? it feels tight and there is no movement in it that i can feel. can it still be the culprit?

any ideas?
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: esi on August 05, 2010, 12:13:42 AM
What did you torque your wheel nuts to? I've had to torque mine to 105ft/lbs to keep them from loosening
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: JackstandJohnny on August 05, 2010, 08:31:49 AM
lugs on both the wheel spacer and the wheel are 'johnny' tight, which measures to about 100ft lbs.  theres no play at all in there.  looks tight, feels tight........ and makes horrible clunk/banging noise. 

i'm gonna be ripping it apart after work again tonight :(
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: frenchy on August 05, 2010, 08:57:20 AM
Have someone else listen closely while you're swaying it back and forth to find out exactly where noise is coming from before tearing it apart.
Could be just a finger tight bolt on something else up there.
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Bnine on August 05, 2010, 09:01:50 AM
have someone bounce on the bumper while you look around. It sounds suspension related from your description.
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: JackstandJohnny on August 05, 2010, 10:17:00 AM
have someone bounce on the bumper while you look around. It sounds suspension related from your description.


when i get home i'll do all of the above. 

just irks me sitting behind a desk all day when i'd obviously rather be tinkering.
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Sean778 on August 05, 2010, 02:55:21 PM
I know the feeling buddy. The internet really doesn't help either. :)
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Knox on August 05, 2010, 03:15:29 PM
my work gave us all hacky sacs today...  I really don't know what they were thinking, productivity went wayy down :P
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Immortal on August 05, 2010, 09:17:59 PM
YJ front end clunk ..... I ROCK!!!!
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: JackstandJohnny on August 05, 2010, 09:34:39 PM
Bills right;  it was suspension related......... lets just leave it at that............

;)
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Immortal on August 05, 2010, 09:42:02 PM
oh no you don't.... you NEED to elaborate, for all the inquiring minds that want to know.
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Sean778 on August 05, 2010, 09:45:11 PM
Yeah buddy, I wanna know why Trev won. ;)
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: JackstandJohnny on August 05, 2010, 09:52:12 PM
sean, put a better pic of your heep up  ;D ;D ;) ;)

turns out the sound (we think) is/was in the leafs. rubbing or something along those lines.  jacked jeep up, soaked leafs in WD40, and its gone................ sooo weird.....

this was after i swapped out the front axleshaft ::)

thanks trev.....................................
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Immortal on August 05, 2010, 09:54:09 PM
you're welcome good sir.

Trevor 2
Johnny 0
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: w squared on August 05, 2010, 10:06:31 PM
sean, put a better pic of your heep up  ;D ;D ;) ;)

turns out the sound (we think) is/was in the leafs. rubbing or something along those lines.  jacked jeep up, soaked leafs in WD40, and its gone................ sooo weird.....

this was after i swapped out the front axleshaft ::)

thanks trev.....................................

That WD 40 wil evaporate pretty quick. The way I see it, you've only got two choices if you want to keep that clunk under control long term:

#1. Convert your YJ to coilovers.

#2. Remove all the WD-40 and apply belt dressing instead.
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk/creek
Post by: JackstandJohnny on August 08, 2010, 08:28:55 PM
so to update,  sound is back, WD40 obviously isn't the solution.  

sound happens when going down the driveway/bump with the wheel turned.  jumping on the front bumper it makes no sound, but rocking it back and forth its real loud........  totally weird.  does it in 2x4 and 4x4............. oye

thinkin it might be steering related now or something.................... to repeat, oye
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk/creek
Post by: Shearcon79 on August 08, 2010, 10:03:27 PM
so to update,  sound is back, WD40 obviously isn't the solution.  

WD = Water Displacement....not a lubricant.  Works good for temporary lube but nothing else.  In the end it will dry up and TADA!! your squeak is back.
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Immortal on August 08, 2010, 10:04:52 PM
Joey, that is what I tried to tell him...
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: JackstandJohnny on August 09, 2010, 08:37:24 AM
if it were a squeek i wouldn't care ;)  it feels like somethings grinding itself down.

we'll see what the boys at modern think today.
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: Shearcon79 on August 09, 2010, 08:07:28 PM
Have you considered Broken Axle? 
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: JackstandJohnny on August 09, 2010, 10:29:07 PM
tightened the ubolts (they were mega loose)  that fixed it.  now its just regular YJ noises again ;) 

also, played around with the CAD, swapped the old axleshaft back in, and lubed my brake caliper sliders.  think its good.  just stickin with the regular shafts for now; will consider chromos in the future if i keep that axle......... 
Title: Re: YJ front end clunk
Post by: apeman on August 10, 2010, 12:40:46 PM
use a second layer of carpeting in the yj and problem solved...works for driveline vibes also.