Clunks in the front that go away after driving 20-50 ft
#1
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Clunks in the front that go away after driving 20-50 ft
Have a 98 Xj. I have had this issue for a few months and the fact that it only happens when it isnt driven for a few days..
I get clunks from the front end when first descending from park after my jeep has sat for a few days. The noise goes away after driving several feet and does not return. I read on here something similar that turned out to be grooves being worn into the shims on the knuckles.
I have taken my jeep to 2 different places both twice. First place couldnt find anything after 2 visits. Second place thought they fixed it and didnt. Brought it back and now they say they have pinned it down to be the front diff and there might be metal or something broken and eventually it settles after driving a few yards.... Only to tell me that they dont do diff repairs.
Im just not sure what to do at this point
Do i take it for a third inspection of do i find a place that repairs diff and see what they say?
I only found one thread with exactly whats going on with my jeep, but it said it turned out the be the knuckles not the diff.
I get clunks from the front end when first descending from park after my jeep has sat for a few days. The noise goes away after driving several feet and does not return. I read on here something similar that turned out to be grooves being worn into the shims on the knuckles.
I have taken my jeep to 2 different places both twice. First place couldnt find anything after 2 visits. Second place thought they fixed it and didnt. Brought it back and now they say they have pinned it down to be the front diff and there might be metal or something broken and eventually it settles after driving a few yards.... Only to tell me that they dont do diff repairs.
Im just not sure what to do at this point
Do i take it for a third inspection of do i find a place that repairs diff and see what they say?
I only found one thread with exactly whats going on with my jeep, but it said it turned out the be the knuckles not the diff.
#3
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#4
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by brancis1
If it was a U joint, would the sound go away? The whole front end has been inspected quite a bit already and I'm sure one of the 4 times it was inspected that they would have caught a bad U joint.
#5
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#6
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by brancis1
I dont know enough about them to know what to look for other than metal flakes.
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#9
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#12
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I dont drive mine daily, but 2-3 days a week. Have had the problem for about 9 months. There is a thread on here that describes my issue exactly and he said his knuckle had a groove worn in it. So it makes me think twice about it being the differential. Only issue is its hard to get it to make the noise when i need it to.
#13
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I dont drive mine daily, but 2-3 days a week. Have had the problem for about 9 months. There is a thread on here that describes my issue exactly and he said his knuckle had a groove worn in it. So it makes me think twice about it being the differential. Only issue is its hard to get it to make the noise when i need it to.
#14
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Poor man's way about it...
Test your engine mounts by dry torque.
Brake while revving. Have a bud do it and look to see if the engine rocks excessively. If it does. Do the engine and Trans mounts. Cheap and easy.
If that ain't It,
Go after the axle.
Inspect all your sway bar linkages and tie rods.
Jack it up, wiggle, shake, check those ball joints.
Then it goes to the axle guts if not solved.
First step/elimination. ..
Front u joint to the axle.
Pull it out.
Drive it.
See if it stops.
No stop...?
Step 2.
Pull the passenger side of the axles haft.
It's longer.and more prone to problems.
If this stops it, verify by replacing the main front axle driveshaft to make sure.
Still clunking?
Step 3.
Pull the drivers side axle shaft.
Still clunking?
You probably need either replace upper or lower bushings on your control arms. Although with the axle free rolling, I'd be surprised.
Do the cheap inspection stuff first. Then get turning nuts. Or... take it to a shop and ask what they think. Tell them it's too expensive. Fix it yourself.
Good luck brother.
Test your engine mounts by dry torque.
Brake while revving. Have a bud do it and look to see if the engine rocks excessively. If it does. Do the engine and Trans mounts. Cheap and easy.
If that ain't It,
Go after the axle.
Inspect all your sway bar linkages and tie rods.
Jack it up, wiggle, shake, check those ball joints.
Then it goes to the axle guts if not solved.
First step/elimination. ..
Front u joint to the axle.
Pull it out.
Drive it.
See if it stops.
No stop...?
Step 2.
Pull the passenger side of the axles haft.
It's longer.and more prone to problems.
If this stops it, verify by replacing the main front axle driveshaft to make sure.
Still clunking?
Step 3.
Pull the drivers side axle shaft.
Still clunking?
You probably need either replace upper or lower bushings on your control arms. Although with the axle free rolling, I'd be surprised.
Do the cheap inspection stuff first. Then get turning nuts. Or... take it to a shop and ask what they think. Tell them it's too expensive. Fix it yourself.
Good luck brother.
#15
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Year: 1998
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Poor man's way about it... Test your engine mounts by dry torque. Brake while revving. Have a bud do it and look to see if the engine rocks excessively. If it does. Do the engine and Trans mounts. Cheap and easy. If that ain't It, Go after the axle. Inspect all your sway bar linkages and tie rods. Jack it up, wiggle, shake, check those ball joints. Then it goes to the axle guts if not solved. First step/elimination. .. Front u joint to the axle. Pull it out. Drive it. See if it stops. No stop...? Step 2. Pull the passenger side of the axles haft. It's longer.and more prone to problems. If this stops it, verify by replacing the main front axle driveshaft to make sure. Still clunking? Step 3. Pull the drivers side axle shaft. Still clunking? You probably need either replace upper or lower bushings on your control arms. Although with the axle free rolling, I'd be surprised. Do the cheap inspection stuff first. Then get turning nuts. Or... take it to a shop and ask what they think. Tell them it's too expensive. Fix it yourself. Good luck brother.