My jeep has recently started making these popping sounds when stopping or accelerating.

In this video is what the noise sounds like. Sometimes it is one pop or two pops. In the video it was three. When I am stopping it does makes this sound about 70% of the time.

The same sound in this video also occurs when I am accelerating at 2100 rpms and at about 20 mph.

My exhaust manifold has a crack in it that has been there for 50k miles or so. The puffing noise it makes has gotten louder but I don't know if they are related or not.

 

I would pull your rear drums and make sure you don't have any broken springs or anything, it could just be possibly the pads hanging up and not returning properly.

Does it sound like it's coming from front or back? I couldnt really make it out in the video

 

It's definitely coming from the front.

 

Could be your control arm bushings.

 

check your axle u joints

 

need to narrow the area down more havesome one stand next to xj and listen ...

 

2wd

 

I would check to make sure all the bolts in your steering and balljoints are tight, and check/tighten your control arm bolts.

 

Also check your tie rod ends and the track bar mounting holes on both sides of it

 

The sound was a balance weight inside of the tire courtesy of where I got my new tires last week.