Popping From Front End
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 6
From: Northern MN
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: Renix 4.0
This started yesterday. There's a loud popping noise from the driver's side that randomly happens. Sometimes it is once, sometimes it pops a few times. It happens in 2wd and 4wd, turning, going straight. My front tires seem to be straight. Any ideas?
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 106
From: Aldie, VA
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I had this happen when a front U-Joint went bad. One cap was completely seized. Sounded worse when the wheels were turned, but didn't take much deflection.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 6
From: Northern MN
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: Renix 4.0
I hope it's just a u joint, though they were both still tight when I checked them before thanksgiving. Would the front driveshaft pop and bang?
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Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 6
From: Northern MN
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: Renix 4.0
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: East TN
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
did you check the lug nuts and make sure your sway bar links were tight? one of the mount brackets on my sway bar that holds it up broke the nut out of the back side that u cant really get too. I can here it making noise sometimes.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 6
From: Northern MN
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: Renix 4.0
Lug nuts were the first thing I checked and they were tight.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 799
Likes: 4
From: usa
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 6 cylinder
I'd jack the front end up and push-pull-wiggle hard the entire front suspension including the wheels like hell. Including pushing the wheels up and down.
Best bet its ball joints or if lucky a worn rubber bushing somewhere.
Best bet its ball joints or if lucky a worn rubber bushing somewhere.
i had a pooping front end sound when I would turn corners or go over bumps (even small ones) and it ended up being the track bar drop bracket bolts. They had come loose even with lock tight on them. I think this was mentioned before, so give that a try if you haven't already
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 6
From: Northern MN
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: Renix 4.0
I will give the track bar bracket bolts a try tomorrow. It will finally be warm enough to do stuff outside, so I will take a peek. Otherwise, for two or three days now I haven't heard anything.


