Vehicle: 2001 Cheroke Sport

Problem: When im at a stop and turn the wheel the steering system makes a loud popping noise that is somewhere in the engine bay. I have tightened the steering box, and also the bolt that connects the steering shaft to the steering box but i still get the noise. Is there another bolt or joint that can be tightened? I did notice that the steering box had a small amount of play in the output shaft, could this be the cause?

 

The steering box spacer could be cracked , Your trackbar bracket or trackbar could be loose , Bad ball joints am tierod ends will pop also.

 

Had the same problem. It was the trac bar but the spacer isn't bad to replace too.

 

Track bar is a new unit from Rough Country, i guess ill be checking out the steering box spacer and track bar bracket this weekend.

 

And axle side bolt on the track bar

 

Not sure that the axle side joint would pop.

Even if the trac bar and bracket are new it still could be popping. My bracket keeps working loose, the bolts either stretched or just got real worn. I used a heavy duty impact last time, still working loose.

Whatever it is it should be real easy to figure out. Have someone move the wheel while you inspect everything.

 

Bet it's the trackbar. Get down there and tighten the bracket to frame bolts and bar to bracket castle nut. Rough Country sucks, period. People say they're fine because they've never had another lift kit (and dont realize how crappy it really is) and like how much money they've saved. I forget who recently, but their Rough Country track bar was popping and bad right out of the box.

So tighten those 5 nuts/bolts I've mentioned and report back. I'd bet $20 your problem is with your track bar

 

Thanks for all the input guys, forgot to mention it was doing this prior to the lift being installed but I will still keep an eye on the track bar

 

mine was popping when i turned to the left ....my pop was coming from my front diff i took the cover off and got a buddy to turn the wheel when it popped my pinion was popping really loud off my locker i think i got the wrong hubs and my axles are a little to far in and not giving my locker enough room to move .....i had my vacuume disconnect locked in permenant .now i put it back the way it was and dont have the problem but when i lock the 4 wheel drive in problem is there untill i unlock it ..it was also affecting my steering it would lock and steer to the left when i pull the wheel aliitle to the right it would pop and go back to normal

 

My 94 was doing the same thing, replaced the track bar, steering box spacer, torqued all the track bar bolts/nuts no help. Finally found this crappy upper track bar to frame mount bracket boltstrip thing, the part that was supposed to be flat was concave and allow the whole thing to rock and move no matter how tight (see pic). Replaced it with 2 Grade 8 flange bolts and nuts and all better.

 

Mine did that too, and it also turned out to be the track bar

 

Just tighten the track bar bracket no matter what. No matter what the bolts look like or whatever. Give a good pull on all of them.

 

well I tightened everything up that was mentioned but Im still getting the noise, steering box has some play in the output shaft and it really seams like its coming from inside the frame rail.

 

Jack up the front wheels have someone turn the steering wheel while you listen. I'm wondering about the ball joints.

 

take the cover off your front diff get someone to turn the wheel my sound was doing the same thing it was popping in my diff the pinion against the ring ....loud pop when turning the wheel i could even see my front tire move when it pops i took the diff cover off my buddy turned the wheel and i seen it instantly the pinion popping on the ring gear ..it sounded like it was right in the engine and i felt it in my steering wheel