Front end rattle/clunk noise

[sdswingr]

So, I have this weird front end rattle/clunk when going over man hole covers, small bumps, and what not.
It seems to be more obvious when it is only one tire hitting the bump, and when both are even it is less obvious.
Any ideas?

[newracer]

track bar or control arm bushing

[dieseldoc]

track bar gets my vote

[sdswingr]

Already? It has less than 20k miles...

[The StRanger]

Front sway bar links. Lay under the front and have sombody rock it back and forth. Whatever is loose will show itself !!

[sdswingr]

Already checked the sway bar links, they are fine.

[Max]

The StRanger previously posted:

[Java]

Nice Jeep! Odd since it's so new, no other symptoms from steering or brakes? Maybe your battery is loose? You can try bouncing each corner and seeing if the shocks are working, a blown or loose shock could make noise but not affect anything else. I'd do what Sam said, or if noone is around to help just jack it up and take off the tires and see what you can see.

[jayson44]

x2 on the track bar. I hear the JKs have issues with poor grade bolts and hardware on the trackbars & control arms. might just be loose.

J.

[sdswingr]

Track bar is fine. Sway bar links are fine...only thing I found with any movement under there was the tie rod. It wasn't loose, just was able to move.
Shock mounts seemed solid as well...this is getting annoying.

[jayson44]

does it only happen at speed? or could you find a bump and slowly go over it (5mph or so) and have someone on the ground outside listening to pinpoint the specific place of the sound?

J.

[Robert B]

I cant help much over the net but I will say every time I had a noise there it required a large screwdriver or pry bar to find the loose part ... even doing pull ups on some of the parts wont make noise or move sometimes ... side not have you jacked it up and checked balljoints / wheel bearings ? mine were very bad and silent until unloaded. ex. bumps/ potholes.

[Jim]

Squat down by a front tire. Place two hands on the top of the tire - push inward and pull outward - do you hear any clunk? This checks for movement in the 12-oclock / 6-oclock plane (often ball joints).

Next,,,

Squad down by a front tire. Place one hand at 3-o`clock and one at 9-o`clock. Rock one hand in while the other pulls out and oscillate back and forth - do you hear a clunk (often steering related components).

Repeat at the other front tire...




On my Honda, I'd get a clunk over potholes / manhole covers but could not find the issue with the suspension unloaded (one front tire at a time). I was able to find it, car on the ground, push-in/out at the top of the tire and I could see the tire move in/out as the upper joint was sloppy. So, as for loaded / unloaded - you might have to test things in both conditions.

[newracer]

Any modifications?

[FINOCJ]

Tim - did you add sway bar disconnects? I can't remember if you did and how they worked, but maybe they have a bit of slope where the connect. I had a pair that used a large pin through the vertical sleeve portion and it had just a bit of play that would make noise when bouncing over rough spots. If you think that might be the issue, just disconnect them and drive over some potholes. If the noise goes away, then you have found the issue. If not....well good luck...

[glacierpaul]

After I Installed My Front Bumper And Winch, The Front End Sagged A Bit, Finally Causing Shock And Or Spring To Squat. Every Time I Hit Anything I Heard A Clunk. Put In A 2" Rancho Sport Lift, Which Had New Springs, Shocks And Bump Stops. Solved My Issues. My Bump Stop (Factory) On The Side Making The Noise Was Gone.

[sdswingr]

OK..yeah, swaybar links were a a little loose. Took them off, added more loc tight. Currently just driving around with them disconnected still...it's amusing.

[dieseldoc]

We have been with out our from sway bar since Feb. when we ripped an end link apart.
That thing want in the recycle bin.
I may do a currie anti-rock, but it's been fine with out it.
There's learned to drive the TJ with out it, not sure if she would care if it had a front sway bar at all.
The new lift is starting to break in a bit so it sways just a slight bit in the turns.

[Mr6dwg]

Maybe check your shock bushings.

[Tom]

Mr6dwg previously posted: