1999 XJ Sport

In the past year I have put on a 1.5" spacer lift up front. New lower control arms from Ironman, new sway bar links and bushings, and now new sway bar bushings. I STILL HAVE THE DANG CLANK/RATTLE/BANGING sound. The only thing I can still figure is the upper control arm bushings and the play in the front driveline. I took off the front drive shaft and still hear the CLANK/RATTLE/BANGING. There is play in the axle housing and I can turn the 3rd 1/4-3/4" by hand with the tires not moving. When I had it up on stands last weekend I had ZERO play at the wheels. All the play is in the 3rd.

What do you guys think?

 

what's the 3rd?

 

he means the pinion gear

 

The part where the drive shaft attaches to the gears in the axle. Where the gears are.

 

Hows the upper control arm bushings?

 

there is a little play which is normal,I think its about a 1/4 of an inch back and forth,anymore and there is a problem

 

The UCA bushings are 11yr old rubber. They are due to be replaced. But this sounds like something semi-loose. Hence my things to the play in the front end.

 

Last night it sounded like it had to do with braking (while parking I heard clanking when on and off brakes). I can't get the front calipers move, but starting down another rabbit trail.

 

have someone drive it back and forth slowly while you stand next to it out of the way and try to pinpoint it that way...anytime somethings making noise I cant figure out this method works alot of the times

 

Cheap brake pads can cause a clanking noise if they dont fit on the stops snug. How are the sway bar frame mount bushings?

 

Ok the brakes and clank sound are two different issues. I solved the clank sound in the front driver's side. The adjustable lower control arm from Ironman was the issue. I had the nut tighted the wrong way and the extra threads (for higher lifts) that were still inside the upper section were bumping the inside of the control arm. I repositioned the adjustment nut, secured it with lock-tite and now it rides quiet again (well, as quiet as a Jeep, that is).

The pop when I first come out of the garage still happens when I apply the brakes. I think this has to do with the rear brakes. Next weekend I will tear into them.

Thanks for your advice guys.

 

Little late but your story reminds me of my own. I put a Rough Country 4.5" lift kit on my jeep drove great but I was getting a nasty clunk up front & out back up front was a bad sway bar bushing bar was smashing against frame member out back new u bolts were hitting on rear sway bar they needed to be trimmed.