so ive been having this random clunkinging noise in the rear of my jeep for a while now. I have a 2000 with a 8.25. whenever i would turn right or left it would clunk kinda like something was sliding over and then hitting. I jacked the rear up today and grabbed the wheels and when i pull towards me it moves a small amount but enough to where i think this is the clunk. Kinda like if the lug nuts were loose and the wheel was sliding on the studs. but everything is buttoned up tightly. any insight?

 

I can't remember how the shafts are held into the 8.25 axles... But typically a little sideways play is completely normal. I'd try to find a way to lift the body itself up, and let the axle hang, and move the entire axle side-to-side and see if it does it then. Could be a loose bolt, destroyed bushing, or even a broken mount of some sort.

Or, worse case, your diff is making the noise.

 

the sound is definitly outside the housing because you can hear it with the windows down perfectly and not muffled. Ill try and jack the body up tomorrow and see.

 

look at the leaf spring bushings.
and look at the u bolts and see if they are tight.

 

Did you check the basics like the top and bottom of your shocks? Perhaps one of your shocks bar pins is loose and the shock is sliding and bumping under pressure. Is it a clank (metal) or is it a thump (bushing)?

And definitely x2 on myjeep suggestion above.

 

I got under and shook everything and didn't get the same noise. And it does sound like a bad bushing that has slop. Not metal on metal.

 

C-Clips on the axles.

 

Left and right turns at a constant speed, or when accelerating from a stop?

 

there is a play in the c clip which is normal, for a while I thought it was my issue only to find out it was a worn leaf spring bushing.

even when jacking up the rear and trying to move it didn't work, it takes the jeep's weight to be able to slide around. it's pretty noticeable when looking at it.