I have noticed at slow speeds that when I crank the wheel to the left, I hear something pop up front. Not small turns like changing lanes, but when turning into the driveway, or onto a 90-degree street. I can't figure out what the sound is...everything is snug. No play in anything.

I also get a similar sound but it seems more like from the rear, when I back out of the driveway when the XJ is cooled off and the first time I touch the brakes I hear a pop and the brake pedal actually jumps down about a 1/2 inch. I sometimes notice it if I have to stop fairly fast for a light, and then when I start off again, I hear the pop from the rear.

I have not been able to locate the sounds. If you all can't point me in the right direction, I will have to lay on a skateboard and have my buddy drive down the street with me hanging on underneath.

 

I'm going to say Loose track bar mount for the clunk/pop.

Are you loosing brake fluid? Is your E-brake adjusted tight enough? What is the condition of your pads and shoes?

Sounds like you also have a bad DS U-joint or shackle bushing, rear pop.

 

Sounds like the axle u-joint.Jack it up and grab the tire and try to wiggle it.If it moves then replace the u-joint.Also check the swaybar bushings and links.

 

Swaybar bushings and links are only 6months old and snug. The rear wheels have some slight (1/8") play straight out and in. Like if I was trying to pull the wheel and axle out of the housing. But no play up/down or left/right in the rear. Front tires are snug. No play at all in the front tires.

I suspected the rear driveshaft u-joint last fall when I started noticing this sound, but it too is snug.

 

watch the trac bar mount on the frame while someone turns the wheels back and forth.mine was real loose it made the loudest pop clank when I turned every corner.It moved so much you could see marks on the frame rail.

 

OH...and this is a 99 XJ Sport

I plan on replacing the entire front end steering assembly with:
Crown Heavy Duty Steering Upgrade (91-01 XJ, 97-06 TJ) for $178 http://shoplive.rompalicious.com/cro...=en#googlebase

I am not losing any brake fluid, and the pads up front are in good shape. I have not looked at the rear shoes.

 

2x.

I know that sound. I just did $500 worth of these on my F350 SuperDuty.

 

id guess track bar mine is makeing the make noise your talking about. have replaced 2 in a year.

 

im going with front universals, mine clunked when i turned to the right and it was driver side replaced it and gone, then when i turned to the left a month later the passenger side was bad

 

There is a new item I have never heard of before. Universal Joints? Where are they located?

 

front axle behind your brake rotor

 

DUH!!! A U-joint. Man. It has been a Looonnnnnggg day at work. Thanks, Mike.

 

lol at first i read it and took it as a joke, then re read it and realized you were serious, most ppl just call them u joints, I guess i just have a bad habit of calling them universal joints, but at least you can type after a long day at work, i barley make the drive home awake sometimes

 

Well, I climbed under the truck late last night and with it sitting on the ground, I checked for play in the u-joints. The passenger side has a very very slight play in it. The driver side didn't budge. This would explain some minor clicking when I get on the gas and are turning left onto a street. Looks like I might be replacing the u-joint in the future. But, I don't see this as the sound when I am turning back and forth. It is more of clank and I will be hitting the trac-bar mounting bolts with a socket to make sure they are snug.

 

Mine clunks/pops in the rear when i go over a bump or turn left. I have a bad shackle bushing that will be getting replaced soon. You might want to check the bushings on yours as well.