Hello all,

I resently put a rustys off road (who cares if its the wrong company) 3 inch lift on my XJ with upgraded control arms that are not adjustable and track bar that is adjustable. I also have 31' Goodyear duratracks (probably irrelevant) but everytime I come up to a bump in the road at a rate of speed (fast for a dip like 40 to 50 depending on how the dip in the road), small curb lip thing going into a parking lot (prob at 15 30mph) or when i have a full load of ppl in my jeep it makes this sharp grinding sound in the front of the jeep. I looked for any grind marks anywhere or wear marks but cant find anything..... its never done that before i installed the lift. I looked and the lower control arms are going the right way if anyone is wondering.
any ideas or thoughts?

 

Tires hitting plastic fender flares ?

 

x2 from me

 

Look around under the front end for bare spots where the tires rubbed.

 

No I have no rubbing marks in my wheel well. Its the weirdest thing..... could it be my sway bar binding up?? i havent added new sway bar arms yet. Planning on geting some jks possibly.

 

check your tcase and rear driveshaft

 

Spray some WD-40 on the sway bar frame bushings and see if there is a change.

 

I dont think its the sway bar either... would the shock from the bump being transfered through the lower control arms instead of the front suspension?? Making something bind up?
Only thing is they are new LCA for a three inch lift.... plus i dont have new bumpstops idk if that would be the problem?

 

Just try what I said. You have nothing to lose.

 

I tried spraying the track bar with lithium grease the other day and i was out wheeling yesterday and it did it again.... then the check engine light came on. Got that checked and said it was my O2 sensor front bank what i recently replaced.... I have some auto machanics that cant even figure out the noise!!! haha

Its like a rotational grinding/ high pitch skretch

Any ideas let me know.

 

When you put the lift on did you lube all the joints that need it?My only other thought maybe loose brake dust shield.

 

Check the exhaust right above where the front driveshaft connects to the diff. Mine used to hit because the bump stops fell out.

 

I have the very same lift on my 99 you do not need the longer arms on the sway bar with a 3' lift. On some 3" lifts a transfer case drop kit is needed and could make the sound your hearing but you might try that its cheap. I might ask does it sound like its coming from the rear or driveshaft, I had to put one on mine after a shackle change 1 1/2" greaseable and a 2" coil spacer.

Fred

 

Andrewmp6, thats a good point... I dont think i lubed anything.. only the track bar what had a fitting for grease... you think it could be the rubber bushings on the lower control arms? Only thing is, its like a rotational, light metal to metal grinding sound... not a clunking heavy grinding sound but, a kind of higher pitch sound... sorry if thats a bad explanation! haha

Phletch, ya i checked that but i dont see any grind marks on anything.... it happened too at very low speeds the other day probably at 10 mph when i went through some loss dirt with a couple smaller tire ruts in it.. thought it would be ok because i could just make my own grooves in the dirt and push it down but it made the sound when I hit the small rut... then my check engine light came on and after getting it checked, its my O2 sensor front bank what i JUST replaced... gotta love car problems! haha

Fred, ya I thought it would help articulation a little more thats why i did it. The sound is coming from front. Like around the axle area.

 

it could be that the control arms they gave you rotated your front axle (basically cave you a different CASTER angle) and now when you hit a bump at speed the front drive shaft is binding at the double U-joint. or even at the yolk. that would explain the rotational grinding.

If you can, but it up on jack stands so that the tires are free spinning and spin your front and rear drive shafts. look closely for clearance at all the joints.