My Jeep goes Clunk

So my jeep goes clunk... Just started... Never did it b4... Note that yes i have a lift, had it for many-a-mile and not clunk. The clunk almost sounds like the wheel well plastic slaping against the vehicle, but with a slighly more metal on metal sound.

Times ive heard it clunk:
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1. When rolling in reverse out of my driveway (garrage is higher than street) and i hit the breaks (noise seems to come from passenger front wheel)
2. When rolling over rocks off road and the IFS goes into extension(noise seems to come from passenger front wheel)
3. When i jacked the front PASSENGER wheel up (noise seemed to come from the area of the transmission)
4. When i jacked up the front Drive wheel up (noise seemed to come from the area of the transmision)


other notes:
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5. This does not appear to be the front CV's as the noise is consistant w/ the variables above in both 2wd and 4wd.

6. While Jacking the vehicle up, and watching the springs go to full extension on both sides, there was no rubing of the Upper ball joint on the spring, nor anthing else unusual happening.

Current theory(s):
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T1. Ball joint on passenger front wheel is going bad
T2. the ALL J superskid isnt quite tight and is shifting about (havent checked it yet)
T3. Somthing evil is happening in my drivetrain somewhere
T4. All jeeps make noise, watch to see it it gets worse or doesnt just go away on its own.
T5. items 1&2 not related to 3&4, And thus T1&T2 are both true w/ said items having their respective coorilations to their theories.

I would check the ball joints first. I'm not saying it's that just that they are a known problem.

I have had a bad universal joint clunk. (not on the KJ though) Check those just for the heck of it.

Dave

Alot of people get clunks from the sway bar end links.

hrm... leaves much to ponder... thanks for the feeback yalls.... now where was that "how to check your ball joints" thread...

When my upper ball joint went out it made a clunk that you could feel in your feet.

When you find the "how to check your balljoints thread" follow the procedure, and while your lifting up on your tire, look at your UBJ as well as your LBJ.

At last the mystery is solved!!!!

Was checking my diff fluids for H20 from a water run a few weeks back, my engine skid comes off, noise is gone! I think its time for a new engine skid!

view of the side that faces the ground


view of the side that faces the engine. I believe the circled area is where it was rubbing now and then when i used the brakes and the engine shifted slightly. This spot is right against the front diff....

i was beginning to wonder if i needed skids.. after seing this.. i think i have my answer!!!

GeekyJeep said:

i was beginning to wonder if i needed skids.. after seing this.. i think i have my answer!!!

Click to expand...

When you consider you could buy many skids for the price of an engine or transmission replacement, they turn out to be very affordable insurance.

unfortunately this tinfoil excuse for a skid is all the world offers these days, i think all j had a uber beefy one like my ****** skid but it seems to be no more.... I have a new one on order. In the mean time, ive run over this one against a curb a few times and beat many of the dents out w/ a hammer, and she's back in temp business while the new one ships....

The fact that i can beat dents out of it w/ a simple hammer, tells what kind of level of protection it offers on a 4000lb vehicle traveling 5-15mph.

ok, this topic leads to... waht would it take to make your own?

a cheap and dirty solution, buy a mopar one and weld some thick metal over the top of it (taking care not to cover the screw holes ) and then just put it on.... hrm... wonder where i can get sheets of 1/4" steel....

o8k said:

The fact that i can beat dents out of it w/ a simple hammer, tells what kind of level of protection it offers on a 4000lb vehicle traveling 5-15mph.

Click to expand...

But would you rather have a dent in the skid plate or a hole in your oil pan? I know the Mopar units aren't the best, but they're better than nothing.

Corwyyn said:

But would you rather have a dent in the skid plate or a hole in your oil pan? I know the Mopar units aren't the best, but they're better than nothing.

Click to expand...

Agreed, but now my mopar skids are slightly better still...