claygrassmann

so on the way to and from work i noticed a clunk on the front end the faster i went the faster it clunked. im 99 percent sure that its something in the drive train specifically the u joints on the front drive shaft and on the axles, any one have any ideas how i can find out other than replacing all the u joints and other than something that involves trying to look under while its moving?

XJ?2010

U joints sounds like a winner.

I had this happen to me and it turned out i almost lost a wheel cause my lugs were loose so i'd make sure those are tight.

claygrassmann

oh good idea i just had them off for my lift i just put on. i was also thinkin i might need a tcase drop kit too cause of the lift but it was only 2 inches

XJ?2010

well if the sound was coming from the front I dont think the T case would be a problem I would look at your lugs that sounds exactly like what mine was like

MasterShakeXJ

take your front ds out and drive it to see if the noise is still there. ujoints vibrate more than they clunk in my experience.

claygrassmann

any more input?

MasterShakeXJ

did you take your front ds out to see if its still there? if its still there with it out it might be hubs, balljoints, or axle shaft ujoints.

caged

to check axle shaft u-joints, with jeep in 2wd, put trans in neutral, with ebrake on and wheels chocked. then crawl under the front, grab the axleshaft at the u-joint and turn it back and forth to check for any play. if there's any at all, bad joint.

same for driveshaft u-joints.

and/or get someone inside the jeep to wiggle the steering wheel back and forth an inch past play each way while you look under the front at all the steering links.
check everything, trackbar, tre's, pitman arm, draglink, etc. for any play. nothing should be loose.

could also be balljoints or wheel bearing hub units. to check those, jack up each wheel and grab the wheel at 9 and 3. wiggle it, should be no play.
for balljoints, stick a prybar under the wheel and lift up. again, should be no play.

MasterShakeXJ

for balljionts you can also grab a tire and 12 and 6 to check for play.

claygrassmann

k thanks guys ill ahve to check all this tomorrow hopefully it wont be snowing as much ill keep you updated

claygrassmann

checked the lugs today they are nice and tight gonna try the other stuff tonight after work

claygrassmann

okay put the wheels in the air and wiggled them they way yall told me and they didnt wiggle at all, but when i did the 9 and 3 positions the tires actually turned with minimal muscle so im bettin a new stearing gear box is due also, im gonna get under there in a min and grab hold of the ujoints.

claygrassmann

for all of you that have been following i was test driving the jeep to figure out what was wrong so i took it into town and sure as **** the friggin wheel fell off!!! so when people say check your lug nuts check all of them not just where you think the problem is coming from cause it was the complete opposite so thanks all for your help i just wish i woulda used a lil more common sense but the good thing is that the studs didnt bend or strip to i got really lucky. BE ADVISED CHECK ALL YOUR LUG NUTS!!!!!!!!!

jeeper25

first off grabbing the wheel at 9 and 3 and wiggling is checking tie rod end play 12 and 6 is wheel bearing and that wont make a clunk it it groan or whine. there are alot of possiblities u joints on front drive shaft especially the double cardain joints which is the part of the drive shaft attached to the tcase and if you ahve the front jacked up turn the wheel all the way and spin it and look at each cap for the ujoint the ujoint should spin it it wont spin alot just enough to notice if it doesnt on any of the caps its seized but ujoint on the axle shaft wont clunk. if you grab each tie rod one at time and pull up and down on it if there is a clunk or you feel in move replace it to check the track bar have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth about 5-10degrees each way while you look at the track bar and if there is any movent replace it. one important think to remember is if tis drive line the clunk sound can travel and you maybe mistakin where its at it could be rear drive sahft or even in the differentials

MasterShakeXJ

sometimes what happens is you can actually over tighten your lugs which in turn will loosen them.