I live in the road salt capital of the world, upstate NY. The salt is so bad I have to repaint the underside of my jeep 5-6 times a year. When I turn my wheels I get this sound that is hard to describe so I took two videos of it. One is at a stop and the other when going slow and turning, more so to the left than right. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. The stopped picture sounds like a boat rocking in the ocean, but without the enjoyment.

http://youtu.be/DcCKseSZr8g

Jk turning - YouTube

 

Axle shaft u joints,ball joints

 

Bad news, bad news, bad news. You are thinking all 3? Or possibly one of those...

 

I just dealt with a bent shaft didn't have a consistent sound like that. Easy way to tell for bent shaft is put it on a lift or something you can run the wheels and see if it shimmys.
U joints or ball joints seems like a real good probability though

 

I had planned on changing the ball joints next winter 2015, because we leave upstate NY for Oklahoma and I would be done with the salt world. I worry if I replace them now that I am putting them through another winter here, but if they won't make it then I guess another winter is what they have in store. Nothing looks broken when I inspect it, I already planned on changing out the ball joints as I said, but I guess I can add u-joints to the list as well. It is so embarrassing turning anywhere and people look. It is almost as bad as a worn belt.

 

the bad part of all that salt: corrosion. this being the last winter you play with it you could break down and get under there and wash your suspension a few times a week to try and stem the flow.....

 

I try to under spray the body as often as possible. I am not sure if this is caused from the salt or trails--or both. It is a bad sound and I worry it'll break before I can fix it

 

Does anyone know if this is a safety hazard? Could I get 500 miles out of it? 1000? Only 100? Or get it to the shop now?

 

Anyone at all?

 

I'm thinking axle shaft U- Joint , maybe Unit bearing ? Have you tried jacking front up a little and grab the tire see if you can move it back and forth.
Push / pull for any play