So I was wheeling in the dunes this weekend and hit a hard bump at about 30 mph. I stopped and looked the jeep over and visually everything looked fine so I got back in and started driving. Immediately a rhythmic bang started which, with every bang, jerked the steering to the right. I have a front Lokka locker in my d30 but this is way louder than anything I've ever heard from it. In addition to the noise it also violently shakes the front axle. I opened up my differential and everything looks fine. Shafts are fine. Ball joints need replaced but I don't know if that could cause this issue. Everything was working fine; I hit a hard bump and it somehow caused this. Any ideas would be appreciated!

 

Oh and in 2wd it sounds different than normal when turning but pretty quite. Also if you let off the wheel it wants to take you to the left.

 

And I'm leaking diff fluid pretty good out my passengers side tube.

 

I don't have a locker in my d30. But I had a similar thing happen to mine. Hit a rock out camping when I came around a blind corner. It hit right on the passenger side lower control arm bracket. Stopped and looked the bracket was bent. It drove with similar symptoms as yours. Once I got home and was able to do a full inspection, it was definitely leaking out the tube. It ended up the seal was broken and the tube was slightly bent. Ended up swapping the d30 out.

 

If my axle was bent though, I would think it would bang regardless of whether its in 2wd or 4wd.

 

Broken axle shaft? When I limped mine home with a broken shaft it would clunk alot lol

 

Naw I just ripped everything out and nothing is visibly wrong. Very confusing!

 

Maybe pull the front driveshaft and see if the noise continues

 

Axle seal and u joint possibly?

 

Well the axle is smiled... Crap