so short run down, picked up 98 cherokee. looks like 2.5" coils 2" coilspacer. sitting level with whatever is in the leaf pack. adj track bar and lower arms. looks like rancho. anyways. im getting a very violent loud pop/clank/grind. coming from my steering. to me it sounds like its coming from steeringbox/pitman arm area. one peculiar thing is my plactic cover of steering column is tampered with, cut. as if it it were a body lift type of deal. it rubs and squeaks when the tilt steering is at its lowest. u joints are good. ball joints are good. no steering linkages are bent. two things that have caught my attention. when i first bought it i noticed where draglink meets knuckle ball joint was shifting while turning. i took cotter pin out and the nut was so loose it took one turn to take off. tightened that down.. looks in ok shape. i went to tighten track bar axle mount bolt and the metal rod welded to nut broke off. now the bolt spins. i cant tell if its loose or spinning in a sleeve. but i notice no bindind in tbat area when i turn. the kid i bought it off said something about steering spacers? thanks to whoever reads that was long had to describe!

 

i should also add the steering feels very tight and dry. full on steering fluid and greased all joints. no wines, no death wobble, no steering play/slop. just hard to turn and loud cringing noises.

 

Get a wrench on the track bar nut and tighten it down, also check the frame side mount for the track bar. The nut shouldn't spin when properly torqued to spec. The axle mount bolt torque is 100 N.m or 74ft/pounds on a 98.

 

i had some poping and creeking and it sounded like steering it ended up beeing the trackbar mount was not tight

 

Those issues can become major problems when poorly installed in the beginning by people who know nothing about working on steering and such.

 

yeah i gotta try to find someone to weld rod onto my track bar nut that doesnt want 100$ to do 5 minutes of work! i dont even know where id start on adjusting tie rod, drag link and track bar from scratch... the wheels are lined up straight and it drives straight. i couldnt get it any better myself.

 

Check everything closer. Check bolts on steering box. Look for cracks in unibody.

 

everythings tight! ive noticed the rubber boot around steering column is messed with. the gages arent where they should be. could go up 1/8, it also squeks against something when i drop tilt steering all the way down. intermediate shaft u joints seem fine. may have to bring this in!

 

You don't need a flag nut on the back of your track bar mount, it just makes it easier. Get a wrench on the back and torque it down. Also check the frame side of the track bar, and the bolts holding the track bar bracket to the frame.

When I first started reading this it screamed cracked frame behind the steering box. You may want to pull it off and take a look behind it.

 

I had a similar loud popping sound and it turned out to be the spacer on the steering box. It was broken just about everywhere and fell apart when I loosened the bolts. Got a beefed up one and the popping has gone away. I was really glad not to find any cracks in the frame!

 

ahh to the contrary myfriend. whoever welded this trackbar mount on made it impossible to get a wrench on the back of the nut. wich was the reason for a flag nut. ive seen this before! i dont want to hack at the mount either or it will loose integrity! i inspected closely for cracks didnt find one! and tightened everything. good idea with the spacer. ive had a friend mentionthe same thing. ill take those bolts out of the box tonight and see! thanks to everyone by the way!

 

so i took steering box out. spacer was mint! better shape than the wrecker one i pulled. hmmmmm