well I finally figured out what the noise was coming from, I went to tighten the bolts on the steering box and noticed there was a ring where the paint was being rubbed off the frame from the washers and sure enough when I had my buddy turn the wheel the entire box would move just enough to cause the pop. I threw on the c-rock steering brace kit (factory one was still intact when i removed it) and its rock solid with no noises and it even handles better on the road. Thanks for all the input guys!

 

I am also getting a popping noise in turns. I have 96 XJ with 3 inch lift. The pop can be felt in the body and on the steering shaft, not so much in the steering box but the bump and sound seem to be coming from where my steering goes through the firewall. Any thoughts?

 

Check trac bar mounts (both axle and frame), steering box bolts/spacer and beyond that maybe steering shaft u joints. From the research I've done for most people it was somewhere in the track bar. For me, I got mud in the hemi joint of my re adj. trac bar and all I had to do was wash it off and spray some wd40 on it haha. After I replaced my steering box and spacer with no avail. Oh well.

 

If it is the trac bar would noise be near the track bar?

 

It depends. My popping felt like it was on the steering shaft too (I felt it in the steering wheel). I think the noise can travel through the frame which makes it hard to find. The way I found it was just having someone turn the wheel while I looked at everything and put my hand on the moving parts to see if I could feel anything

 

Yeah we did that and it felt like it was on the firewall. But trying the track bar won't hurt. Thanks.

 

Yeah and I mean it could be something else but tightening a track bar bolt will probably be a lot easier than other stuff.

 

coming from the gears in the diff ..... pull the cover get someone to turn the wheel whach it pop

 

It was the trackbar for me - thanks guys!!

 

Ya thats a dead thread revival if I have ever seen one.... how do you even find these threads!?