xjguy383

I drive a '98 Xj with 82,000 miles. 3'' Skyjacker lift, blocks in rear.
When accelerating loud popping noise and jolts bad.
U-joints seem to be fine, no play in them at all.
Replaced transfer case, and rear axle out of my old jeep this week. It is still doing it. It causes the transfer case to hop and shake pretty bad.
It seems like something is causing it to bind. PLEASE HELP!!

DirtyKK

axle wrap? get rid of those lift blocks

xjguy383

sounds like it's coming from the front though. and the blocks are only 2''. the angles aren't bad at all.

DirtyKK

i was assuming it was coming from the rear since you said you swapped out that axle. pull the front driveshaft and go for a drive. still does, it get all 4 tires off the ground so it wont go anywhere, put it in drive, and watch the drivetrain as its idling.

xjguy383

We've done that, it does it idleing on jack stand. when we turn it left and right.
We took off front drive shaft and it still did it. put front shaft back on then took off rear driveshaft, and it stopped, assumed it was that, so we swapped out the rear axle. but it still does it.

xjguy383

so far we're swapped, transfer case, rear DS, and rear axle. and i was told it's not the transmission because when they "go" it grenades and totally destroys itself.

DirtyKK

you said it sounds like its coming from the front. then you say when you took the rear driveshaft out it stopped...

sounds contradicting

xjguy383

Yeah that's whats got us confused. We think something in the front axle is binding it up and causing it to jolt. Makes a cracking/ popping noise when accelerating. What could cause that in the front end.
I've read a bunch of other posts about the steering parts and sway bar and stuff. Could that be causing it? Thanks for the help btw!

DirtyKK

maybe you have multiple issues. did you recently install this lift? if it does it while turning the wheel either way then there is something in the front end. if something stopped when you took the rear driveshaft out then you would have another problem in the rear. jack the front and have someone rotating the wheel back and forth while watching the suspension, steering and trackbar for play. try taking the rear driveshaft out again and making sure it absolutely doesnt do it.

xjguy383

Alright it also caused the rear outputshaft seal to leak. wasn't leaking when we swapped t case, now it is. My dad is having me replace front u joints today. He thinks that they froze up.
The lift has been on for awhile. I bought this Jeep off a buddy and the lfit was on it. They're mechanics so i know it was done right. And lift has been on for awhile. don't see how or why it'd eb causeing it to start having problems all of the sudden.
And looked at steering components all seemed alright and tight, will go over them again.
Thanks again for taking the time!

94JeepCherokeeMan

Look into a transfer case drop. You have to realize that a driveshaft angle can only be out of factory spec two to three degrees before bad things start happening.

Rob

XJ-92

put some gear oil in the dif it might be low and thats wht it normally does when its low happened to me once

xjguy383

Alright, will do both, thanks.
But the lift isn't new, could it just happen all of the sudden? thought it would have happened awhile ago if it was caused by lift.

94JeepCherokeeMan

If it is the u-joints that went out, those are kind of a gradual thing. One of my u-joints took a few months to go from a light vibration to the point where I had to replace it. Vibrations would cycle in and out over that time period.

Rob

xjguy383

Alright, well it isn't the u-joints. And the loud clunking is still there when i accelerate.