mr mcfly

hey everyone i just got my first jeep over the winter....its a 2001xj and i love it! i dont have much experience with solid axle vehicles and have a question reguarding this clunking noise thats been driving me crazy. i have searched and cant find anything that really answers my question. i have a 8.25 rear and there is a good amount of play in the axles. at first i thought it was wheel bearings but when i grab the tire (top and bottom) and feel for play there is none, but when i pull the wheel straight out i feel the play and im sure thats the clunk. it is on both sides so im thinking this may have something to do with the shimming of the gears in the axle more so than the wheel bearings because they seem tight and there is no growling of any kind indicating a worn bearing. again its only when i pull/push the wheel straight in and out. could someone point me in the right direction?

Cherryokee

Got rear drum brakes or discs?

mr mcfly

drums in the rear

wahoo

Mine has a clunk coming from the passenger side rear and I thought it was the brakes but it wasn't and the other day I was checking everything and happen to push up on the bumper and it made the clunking noise so I kept doing it and it looks like the shackle is catching as it moves. I've got a new set of shackles ordered and there suppose to be here Thursday and I'm going to put them on Friday and I'll post if it cured my problem.

Gorillaxj

It is normal for C-clip axles to have some play straight in and out. it is the the play between the clip/axle/pin. can't do anything about it.

describe your clunk a bit?

finiteguy

I have a 95 XJ and replaced my springs because they were broken. The clunking went away.

Jor2010dan

Hey like previously stated, the axle has some play in and out. If it is more than normal ie: 3/8 inch or more, STOP DRIVING! I had the same clunk. My rear axle had More than normal play. I was out on the trail then boom! No more axle. If the play on the axle is more than normal, then a thrust washer might have gone bad and now the spider gears wear funny and one day they'll give out. I have pictures if ya wanna see. It might be in your best interest to crack the diff case and check

mr mcfly

yea that makes a lot of sense.....its not 3/8ths of an inch but id say maybe a sixteenth to an eigth inch on either side.....its enough to make a light clunking sound whenever i go over anything on the road...guess ill open the diff up and check it out......thanks for the help everyone

Gorillaxj

I don't think I would condemn this as the thing making the noise yet, or els it would always do it even brand new and everyone's would do it. you should also check shock bushings, shackle location, and all moving parts around the noise area for looseness or damage. if you have the rear sway bar hooked up the bushings/links on it can also cause clunking when the wear out or deteriorate...

Jor2010dan

He lifted it up an took the wheels off and grabbed the axle and it moved in and out. That is not normal and cannot be caused from any of the above.

Gorillaxj

I understand.... it is normal all C-clip axles do it.... and just because it moves doesn't mean its the noise he is hearing.....

if you can't take my word for its hear are links.....
http://www.stangnet.com
http://www.carkb.com
http://www.sccaforums.com
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com

the only parts that can"help" with this are the C-clips and the center pin, and the shafts them selfs if the ends are worn down. unlikely... wont know unless you open up the diff, but play is normal, minimal play, buy play is normal....

sandaddik2

eh, drive it til it breaks... then youll know what the problem is lol

just kidding with you id have to say its the play in the c clip part of the rear end also but its hard to say without actually looking at it

Jor2010dan

K I'm just going to throw this out there but from experience I can say that on the three axles I've worked on, all the "play" in the c clip axles is gone once you put the center pin back in the spider gears. If everything is properly spaced, there should be no play while everything is put together. You can grab my axle and it moves 0 inches in or out. The axles are only meant to go inward when the centerpin is out to try and remove the c clips. Just saying. Not trying to **** anyone off. But to the op, crack that cover!

mr mcfly

thanks guys.....and yeah believe me theres nothing else clunking... i have been tryin to figure this out for a while and ive went through everything multiple times. its kinda disappointing because my xj is almost flawless except for this damn clunk. ill open the dif up one of these days any if theres anything weird in there ill certianly share my findings with yall

jrddawgyo

mine does the clunk too...I replaced everything:

-New polyurethane leaf spring bushings
-New polyurethane shackle bushings
-New shock bushings
-Deleted the rear sway bar

Still clunks good. My axles have always had about 1/8 inch play even upon inspection inside the case everything is tight. Simply C clip movement. A pain in the butt. It is lifted 4.5 inches with no SYE so I think some clunk comes from the output shaft and the lowering kit for the TC gives a lot of play too. not 100% sure even to this day