Clunky front end - 02 Liberty

[Bluefish]

I just put brand new quick struts made by Moog on the front of my Liberty and the thing still clunks like crazy! It clunked before and it still clunks! I also added the 3/8" spacers from rocky road. Had my local shop check everything and they say it's all tight and that the cause is likely the cheap Moog struts, but I always thought Moog was good? I can return them if needed, just wondering if maybe it's something else like worn bushings even though the shop says it's tight up there the thing has 180k on it.

Any help is appreciated, I don't want to throw money at this thing, but I do want to be able to blast down some dirt roads without feeling like the wheels are falling off.

 

[4x4kayak2112]

Did they do the upper A arms on the front? Like those, all the bushings need to be tightened with the Jeep on the ground

 

[Bluefish]

No they did not replace the upper control arms on front.

 

[M38 Bob]

Struts must be worn all to hell, fluid leaking, shaft wallowing in the bore before they actually make noise. Strut MOUNTS can make all manner of noise.(though the way Libs mount in clevis, there's not much chance of that making noise) Bad spring insulators, ball joints, control arm bushings, sway bar bushings/links, loose steering rack mounts, and on and on, all make noise/clunks.

While your struts were probably worn out, I'd bet my **** against 9 green walnuts that ain't what is/was making noise.

Bob

 

[tombo_ontario]

Struts must be worn all to hell, fluid leaking, shaft wallowing in the bore before they actually make noise. Strut MOUNTS can make all manner of noise.(though the way Libs mount in clevis, there's not much chance of that making noise) Bad spring insulators, ball joints, control arm bushings, sway bar bushings/links, loose steering rack mounts, and on and on, all make noise/clunks.

While your struts were probably worn out, I'd bet my **** against 9 green walnuts that ain't what is/was making noise.

Bob

I think I remember reading a post a while back about someone who had worn out clevis bushings in the LCAs. They had those replaced and that stopped the clunking sound. But yes, could be any range of things in the front end...things like that drive me crazy lol

 

[M38 Bob]

I think I remember reading a post a while back about someone who had worn out clevis bushings in the LCAs. They had those replaced and that stopped the clunking sound. But yes, could be any range of things in the front end...things like that drive me crazy lol

Add that one to the list too.

Bob

 

[Bluefish]

Struts must be worn all to hell, fluid leaking, shaft wallowing in the bore before they actually make noise. Strut MOUNTS can make all manner of noise.(though the way Libs mount in clevis, there's not much chance of that making noise) Bad spring insulators, ball joints, control arm bushings, sway bar bushings/links, loose steering rack mounts, and on and on, all make noise/clunks.

While your struts were probably worn out, I'd bet my **** against 9 green walnuts that ain't what is/was making noise.

Bob

That is what I'm thinking! There's gotta be something more sinister involved than just clunky outta the box struts. I mean where's the fun in that..

I hate to do it, as I used to be a service writer at the shop but I might go for a second opinion from another shop

 

[Bluefish]

The lower clevis, and all the other rubber bushings on the upper and lower control arms all look cracked and old. The ball joints look to have been replaced. Should I bite the bullet and get new parts? What's the best option brand-wise?

 

[M38 Bob]

Unless you're flush,,, FIND THE CORE PROBLEM!!

Then do preventative repair/maintenance on any other potential problems at the same time.

Bob

 

[Bluefish]

Unless you're flush,,, FIND THE CORE PROBLEM!!

Then do preventative repair/maintenance on any other potential problems at the same time.

Bob

That sounds good to me, thanks for the advise!

 

[Leeann]

Don't forget the sway bar bushings and end links. My BIL had a massive clunk in the front end of his '03 Liberty that turned out to be a bad bushing.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

x2 on the sway bar bushings and links. I'm on my 3rd set, costs like $50 to redo all of them. Haven't really heard much about people replacing the other stuff...all of which is more involved than the sway bar stuff.

 

[belvedere]

I've seen sway bar links that caused noise on a vehicle, yet still felt tight when handling them. If they have a lot of miles, I'd just replace them.

 

[fishyx]

Blue, is it clunking when you hit bumps going slowly? If so, please post it up if ya find the culprit. Just had our 2002 checked out and they said everything is fine but it's still a clunkin. Might have to strap myself underneath this thing while someone else drives to pinpoint this clunk!!!!

 

[Bluefish]

Blue, is it clunking when you hit bumps going slowly? If so, please post it up if ya find the culprit. Just had our 2002 checked out and they said everything is fine but it's still a clunkin. Might have to strap myself underneath this thing while someone else drives to pinpoint this clunk!!!!

Yes, clunks when going slowly! Then when I speed up.. It gets worse.. And worse... Lol

I will definitely post up as soon as I find it!

To the others recommending the sway end links, I did those also when I did the quick struts, also with Moog parts.

In the land I come from, the land of the e30, or 1984-1991 BMW 3 series, about the best thing you do for one of those was new control arms and bushings and bam, car like new again. Not entirely illogical that the same treatment would have similar effect on this application... Where is the best source for new front lower control arms? Amazon/rockauto for the moog "r" line, rocky road, or ?

Thanks for all the replies, will really be satisfying to sort this thing out lol

 

[Billwill]

The 2002 KJ did have a recall for front lower ball joints to be replaced...was this done?

 

[megatone]

I think I remember reading a post a while back about someone who had worn out clevis bushings in the LCAs. They had those replaced and that stopped the clunking sound. But yes, could be any range of things in the front end...things like that drive me crazy lol

This could have been me......I purchased a Libby for my daughter a while back and had a real bad clunk coming from the front end. I did replace the clevis bushings in the LCA's which eliminated most of the clunk. I also found a clunk coming from the intermediate shaft......where the inner c/v shaft mates with end of the intermediate shaft, the c/v rides on a bearing and was worn down a bit causing a little too much slop and the c/v would wiggle a bit......over bumps, it would clunk.

If you get under the Jeep, use the palm of your hand and hit (upwards) on the inner c/v joint.....that is where the clunk may be coming from.

 

[megatone]

The lower clevis, and all the other rubber bushings on the upper and lower control arms all look cracked and old. The ball joints look to have been replaced. Should I bite the bullet and get new parts? What's the best option brand-wise?

FYI.....those lower control arms.....they're expensive. The Jeep dealership wanted $800. There are three bushings in each LCA. Dealership price for each bushing was $35.......so $35x6=$210 The dealership wouldn't press the bushings into the LCA's. I ended up having a small machine shop press them in for (I think) $20 each.


If I were to replace the lower control arms I would surely go with aftermarket pieces due to the extreme high price of the dealership components.

Upper control arms were $150 each at a local auto parts store......I don't think the Lowers were available at auto parts stores...maybe that's why I inquired with the dealership. I don't think that the LCA bushings were available either.

 

[M38 Bob]

I had to replace the LCA bushings on my left side because the bolts were rusted solid into the center steel sleeve. No amount of hammering/PB Blaster would turn them loose. Should have replaced the center clevis bushing at the same time, but didn't order it, and wanted to get it back together and out of the shop.

Bob

 

[Stacemranger]

Just replaced all the bushings on both LCA. Had to cut one of the bolts in half as it was rusted solid. Replaced the ball joints, tie rod ends, front struts, sway bar end links, sway bar bushings and upper control arms. Chunks gone, but suspension is also all new now. Did the work myself to save on shop labor costs.