'98 Sport, 4.0L, 5 speed manual.


Whenever I shift into a different gear, I can hear a clunk coming from the rear end of the Jeep. It's much more noticeable if I do quick shifts, and if I'm in lower gears (eg switching from 2nd to 3rd while I'm accelerating on the highway, or doing quick downshifts in traffic). I've had this Jeep for 6 years now, and there's always been a bit of a clunk, but it's getting worse and worse. Bad enough that even my girlfriend notices it.
If I'm slowly letting off the clutch, like say starting from a stop in my driveway, it's not there, which is making me think something with the diff.


Here's a list of **** I've changed in the past 6 months:


-new rear leaf springs
-new rear driveshaft u-joints
-new front driveshaft u-joints
-new track bar
-new sway bar bushings
-new steering stabilizer
-new front shocks
-new front upper and lower control arm bushings (new upper control arms)


Can't you tell I was chasing a death wobble?


Anyways, the only thing I can think of is that there's play in the diff now, but when I grab the rear driveshaft and try and turn it, it feels solid. Unless I'm doing that test incorrectly.


Any pointers?

 

Need more info type differential 8.28 or D35, mileage, lift and what happens when you try to turn rear wheels back and forth as far as noise.

 

How sure are you that it's coming from the rear? Have you looked at the trans mount?

 

It's an 8.25 I'm pretty sure, I'll post a pic here quick. Mileage is around 302,000 klicks. No lift. When you say turn rear wheels, do you mean jacking it up and grabbing the wheel and checking play?



Haven't looked at the trans mount. When it happens, the sound comes from the back.

 

Here's a picture of the diff. It's been awhile since I've actually checked what it is, so could be wrong.

 

Make sure when you are checking the play you have the jeep in neutral and the ebrake on. Your best bet would be to pull the diff cover and check for play or metal in the fluid. Aslo I would drop the driveshaft and check the joint through their full range of motion. Being that you changed the rear leaf springs I would also double check all the bolts and nuts to make sure they are all tight as well.

Max

 

How often has the rear diff fluid been changed?

 

Checked the bolts last night on the rear leafs, they're still torqued to spec. U-joints are brand new. I had the Jeep in gear when I was checking play, mainly because my e-brake only works in one direction. I'll find a block for the tires and check again.



I haven't changed it, and I've put 100,000 klicks on it. Don't know if the previous owner ever did. That's been on my to-do list.

 

Just took a look at the transmission mount; the crossmember is bent up near the exhaust mount, probably from hitting a rock or something. There's about an inch between the exhaust mount and the crossmember.

 

So here's what the transmission mount looks like.

 

I would guess trans mount, or exhaust pipe hitting the frame near the trans. I was having that clunking sound, and had to weld a new hanger to keep exhaust from banging the frame

 

Check the Exhaust pipe on the other side of that trans mount, it looks like its hanging low

 

Yes that is what I meant it will tell you it its in the rear end and at 300,000 + it may well be.


The trans mount can fool you also.