pdowty68

96 XJ Creaking/cracking from rear, especially when turning sharply or going into a "dip" in the road when turning. Any ideas what it might be? When sitting in the back seat on the passenger side, you "feel" the noise under you and it sounds like the truck is going to crack in half. "Slightly over-dramatized"
Any ideas what it might be?
96 XJ sport 2dr "flame red"187k miles

Thanks!

Miceanic

Ever open up the rear diff? Lockers sometimes sound like they are breaking the jeep in half. Only other thing I can think of is a flexing uniframe, mine creeks and cracks when I flex to the max but never around corners.

salad

Have you looked underneath yet? Check out the rust situation. It could just be creaky leaf springs, could be anti-sway bar, really don't want it to be related to the leaf spring mounts.

pdowty68

Ok first of all, this was my first time ever posting on a forum instead of just googling for answers, so thank you for replying so quickly, I can see how much everyone here loves there xj's and I'm glad to be a part of it. Upon research yesterday I discovered something called the slip yoke, from what I read it has to do with allowing the differential to flex with the truck. I know that it's a part unique to the xj (I think) hit I hear the yj has it too. It happens mostly when going around a turn slowly or forget about speed bumps.... It sounds like a creaking/sloshing sound. I really appreciate the help. It even happens when going very slow 2-3mph.

1976Mustang

Slip Yolks only cause issues if you have a large lift, so don't worry about those yet. Adding onto what Salad said. also make sure your shocks are in good condition and the bushings still exist. Oh and check your exhaust mounts.

Bossokee

Check your all your bushings and look for cracks in the unibody

pdowty68

It turned out to be leaf spring mounts, where they were mounted was rotted really bad so the leaf springs were barely connected to the truck, I bet they would've snapped one day! It's all fixed now! I've put a lot of time that I don't have into this jeep recently so I hope I keep it for a while! I'm still jealous of people with nice tj wranglers....

salad

Those "nice TJs" have rot issues on the frame near the control arms and fenders that blow away in the wind after a few years. lol

Jeep = Rust

pdowty68

How are yj's? There a lot cheaper too, there's many similarities to the xj with them too I think. The only yj's i see for sale are the 2.5 4cyl and and automatic... I don't want a 2.5!