Epk5150

Hmmm, not sure I have looked at those closely. I will give that a try. If I grab the sway bar and jerk it around will I be able to tell if it is loose or not?

SteveMongr

^ Not likely, maybe bounce one corner of the jeep. Here is a pic of a bad sway bushing.

Epk5150

hahaha you just stole that pick from the guy with the cracked frame. At least I know what to look for!

SteveMongr

^ Yes I did, it was convenient and gave a good reference for you.
The clue for the issue being the swaybar, is your mention of the speed bump and being worse when going over it at an angle. The swaybar is the easiest thing to rule out first. Then onto the control arm bushings, motor mounts, ball joints, etc.

Epk5150

I looked at them yesterday and they are a little bit cracked/dry rotted but I dont think its enough to cause that much noise. I have a hard time believing its LCA bushings because they are new from Rubicon Express (less than 3 months old). I don't have my jack with me so I can't jack it up to check ball joints.

This is why I need help from someone around here.

SteelersXJ

I seriously never check this forum... and forgot about this.

Sorry I tried to bum you off on my brother at the Meet and Greet, I was overwhelmed to say the least. I knew there would be a large turnout but I had not expected the numbers we got. It didn't help that the bar staff kept my drink full all day lol.
Between dealing with the business owner, people showin up, drunken idiots in the parking lot, old friends, new friends, them damn yota boys, etc... It was just hard for me to focus on anything.

If you just need a floor jack to check ball joints, I have several....
I am doubting its balljoints though... Never ran a swaybar on my xj's so can't really say either way on that.

When you hit the speed bump, and it makes the clunk, is it on contact with the front end or the rear? Could have killed a shock bushing or something simple.

Epk5150

Its the front end and it sounds like it is coming from the left side. I really just need a second set of eyes/hands. I can't turn the steering wheel or change gears and look at everything up front by myself. This really sucks, I am not used to having to ask for help when it comes to working on vehicles.

SteveMongr

Are there additional symptoms with how the jeep handles and drives. Does it drive straight, no wandering? Does the steering return to center on it's own after a turn?
Do you feel the clunk/knock in the steering wheel or your feet?
If you do not feel it in the steering wheel than it may not be the steering linkage.
The swaybar can be ruled out easily by disconnecting the links that go to axle. They can make a lot of noise because the sway bar works against suspension articulation.
I have had bad sway bushings make awful noise when going over bumps.
Are you able to take any pictures of the front end? Any bit of info will help.

Epk5150

To answer your questions. It does drift slightly to the right when I let go of the steering wheel. It will return to center after a turn. I feel the clunk from my feet. I can take pictures of everything later and post them. What all do you want pictures of? A detailed list will help me out a lot.

SteveMongr

A drift to the right is normal. Due to the crown in road and alignment settings. Better than drifting into oncoming traffic!
So you feel it in the feet and not the steering wheel.
If control arm bushings or trackbar bushings were bad, how it drives would be affected.
The other things likely to happen that you would feel coming up from the chassis is the exhaust knocking on the crossmember. This is caused by bad motor mounts.
As for pictures. Just a low shot from the front looking at the front end. The pic will show the steering angles and will be nice to reference from.
Here is an example pic of my steering (Currie) and the swaybar links that I disconnected and leave that way.

Epk5150

Motor mounts are less than a month old as well as the transmission mount. I double checked the nuts and bolts on those already and everything is tight. I will try to get some pictures up soon.

SteveMongr

^ OK that rules out mounts.

SteelersXJ

I am free friday morning into early afternoon, just have to mow the grass and what not... We can take a look at it.

I am starting to think maybe Ball joints wasn't far off...
I like to be a positive person though, lets hope a shock bushing is missing and the shock is making noise...

Epk5150

I wont be home until around 3:40 on Friday, but anytime after that I am free.

SteelersXJ

What about Monday? I am free after 3 on mondays normally.