I am getting a really loud clunking sound in the front of my jeep. It sounds like a suspension issue. Happens when I turn and hit a bump at the same time, like pulling in and out of driveways.

I thought it might be a loose shock so I went and checked all 4. all good.

I recently tightened all of the suspension bolts. Being rather un-mechanical I am at a loss.

Thoughts?

BTW If I don't get it fixed, I may have to drive my wife's Patriot on our trip this weekend.

 

You didn't mention how many miles are on your jeep, but my guess would be that you are hearing the steering shaft clunking. Not dangerous, just annoying. Search "clunky steering" and check the stickies up top. Very well covered topic. Takes about 15 mins to fix. Be sure to use only 5th wheel grease. I bought mine in a small pack from a local truck stop.

 

Try here

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...lunky+steering

 

Thanks for the link. I am not sure that is what it is though. This is a pretty loud clunk that happens more on bumps than while turning.

I will check it out the steering shaft though.

 

Could be a ball joint. Put the front up on jack stands and see if there is any up and down play in either of the front tires.

 

I have the EXACT same issue you are describing.
I've been trying to troubleshoot it for the past few weeks with no success yet.

I noticed today that the front sway bar was missing a nut and really loose.
So I removed it altogether, took it for a quick test drive and unfortunately it still made the noise.
So that wasn't the problem.
All shocks and conrtrol arms are definitely tight.
I jacked up the front of the truck and tried wiggling the tires from top and bottom to check the ball joints.
Absolutely no play in them that I can tell of.

I'm at a loss.. No ideas at all.

The noise is on the driver side only when turning while heavy braking or hitting a bump.

I'll take a look at the steering tomorrow after work.
I hope it's a quick fix, it's pretty annoying.

 

Take a look at the joint where the drag link ties into the pitman arm. That will make noise before it goes usually on turns with bumps.

 

did this just start recently or have you had it ever since installing your new tires? also, is it just a single clunk or more like a clunk clunk clunk kind of thing? have you checked your sway bar links to make sure they are tight and have you checked your control arm bushings to make sure one isn't blown?

 

the clunk that I'm experiencing is a single loud clunk. Nothing continuous.
The shocks and swaybars are solidly mounted.

Is it possible that I over-tightened one of the lower control arms on the driver side?

We have almost 30k miles on our unlimited and it only recently started this.
Nothing changed in our set up when this started happening.

 

what kind of lift do you have and are you running aftermarket control arms?