Popping noise while wheeling.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 190-hp, 4.0-liter I-6
Popping noise while wheeling.
I have a 1994 Cherokee country that's lifted 3 inches and on 235's. I believe it started popping after the lift. I swapped out the wheel joints and threw an IRO double shear trac bar on and also put a new tie rod end on the outer drivers side. Anyways I get a popping or a clunk whenever I'm offroad and in 4wd. It happens if I'm climbing a hill. It'll go pop..pop...pop. Etc.. Or if I just bounce around it'll make a pop and I can feel it when it does it too. It's coming from the front drivers side I know that much. Any ideas on what it could be? Ball joints? Idk I'm lost lol
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 190-hp, 4.0-liter I-6
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 190-hp, 4.0-liter I-6
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Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 190-hp, 4.0-liter I-6
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 365
Likes: 1
From: Northern Michigan
Year: 2000 XJ
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.8L Stroker
Spacer/brace. They are notorious for failing.
http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/mercha...uct_Code=STSPC
The problem is that the unibody and the bolts are steel and the spacer is aluminum. Over the years the two metals react with each other and corrode. They usually come out in pieces. I had to use a coal chisel toget mine all apart. I also broke 2 of the 3 bolts. If you can weld a new one is easy to make. But the price isn't all that bad. I'd recommend a brace as well. Rustys sells them. It adds additional side support for the steering box. I have a bunch of pix from when I did mine on my build thread.
http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/mercha...uct_Code=STSPC
The problem is that the unibody and the bolts are steel and the spacer is aluminum. Over the years the two metals react with each other and corrode. They usually come out in pieces. I had to use a coal chisel toget mine all apart. I also broke 2 of the 3 bolts. If you can weld a new one is easy to make. But the price isn't all that bad. I'd recommend a brace as well. Rustys sells them. It adds additional side support for the steering box. I have a bunch of pix from when I did mine on my build thread.
Last edited by SpruceJedi; Jan 15, 2013 at 07:06 PM.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 190-hp, 4.0-liter I-6
Spacer/brace. They are notorious for failing.
http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/mercha...uct_Code=STSPC
The problem is that the unibody and the bolts are steel and the spacer is aluminum. Over the years the two metals react with each other and corrode. They usually come out in pieces. I had to use a coal chisel toget mine all apart. I also broke 2 of the 3 bolts. If you can weld a new one is easy to make. But the price isn't all that bad. I'd recommend a brace as well. Rustys sells them. It adds additional side support for the steering box. I have a bunch of pix from when I did mine on my build thread.
http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/mercha...uct_Code=STSPC
The problem is that the unibody and the bolts are steel and the spacer is aluminum. Over the years the two metals react with each other and corrode. They usually come out in pieces. I had to use a coal chisel toget mine all apart. I also broke 2 of the 3 bolts. If you can weld a new one is easy to make. But the price isn't all that bad. I'd recommend a brace as well. Rustys sells them. It adds additional side support for the steering box. I have a bunch of pix from when I did mine on my build thread.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 365
Likes: 1
From: Northern Michigan
Year: 2000 XJ
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.8L Stroker
Depends on how bad it is. The spacer is still probably in there. The added stress of wheeling just makes it pop. I at least check it out. A flashlight and a crawl underneath will tell the tale. If its not busted up, which they all pretty much are by this time (12 yrs minimum) I would add it to the list of preventative maintenance. Especially if you do much wheeling.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 190-hp, 4.0-liter I-6
Originally Posted by SpruceJedi
Depends on how bad it is. The spacer is still probably in there. The added stress of wheeling just makes it pop. I at least check it out. A flashlight and a crawl underneath will tell the tale. If its not busted up, which they all pretty much are by this time (12 yrs minimum) I would add it to the list of preventative maintenance. Especially if you do much wheeling.
