Notices
Modified JK Tech Tech related bulletin board forum regarding subjects such as suspension, tires & wheels, steering, bumpers, skid plates, drive train, cages, on-board air and other useful modifications that will help improve the performance and protection of your Jeep JK Wrangler (Rubicon, Sahara, Unlimited and X) on the trail.

PLEASE DO NOT START SHOW & TELL TYPE THREADS IN THIS FORUM

Front Suspension Makes a "Clunk" when turning wheel sharply

Thread Tools
 
Old Aug 3, 2015 | 03:59 PM
  #1  
azphoto's Avatar
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 57
Likes: 5
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Default Front Suspension Makes a "Clunk" when turning wheel sharply

Have had this in to 2 different shops with no success.
It started when I backed out of the garage, brushed the brakes and heard a slight "clunk" sound coming from the front wheel areas.
It has progressed to now "clunking" when I turn the wheel to full lock from left to right while even stationary.
Mechanic can feel the "clunk" but cannot tell from where it comes.
Tightened a few bolts on the drag link, etc. which barely made a difference.
Suspension is a 3-1/2" Rubicon Express with 33" tires.
Any ideas what is going on before I throw more $$$ toward this.
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2015 | 04:36 PM
  #2  
JayswranglerX's Avatar
JK Super Freak
 
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 2
Default

Check all connections...track bar could be loose or moving in an egged out hole. Have someone crank the steering wheel back and forth while the key is on but engine not running while you look at both ends.
Clunking can also very well be ball joints or tie rid ends.

I forgot to tighten one of my lower control arm bolts after a long ass day of installing the lift and it make an audible clunk.

Likely one of these areas...

Sent from my LG-LS980 using JK-Forum
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2015 | 05:00 PM
  #3  
sea bass's Avatar
JK Freak
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 998
Likes: 1
From: Enumclaw,WA
Default

Could be your swaybar hitting the round pipe thingies welded into your frame. Mine always rubbed until I cut them down
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2015 | 05:48 PM
  #4  
JayswranglerX's Avatar
JK Super Freak
 
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by sea bass
Could be your swaybar hitting the round pipe thingies welded into your frame. Mine always rubbed until I cut them down
Good point...I got a drop sway bar mount to cure that.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using JK-Forum
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2015 | 07:08 PM
  #5  
SoK66's Avatar
JK Freak
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 775
Likes: 32
From: Colorado
Default

Could be as simple as the old dry slip joint in the steering intermediate shaft. Don't hear about this much these days, was a common concern on first gen JKs. Fix is to loosen the upper clamp on the intermediate shaft and squirt some grease in there, tighten up the clamp, done.
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2015 | 11:09 PM
  #6  
Havok287's Avatar
JK Newbie
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Default

I had some popping in my suspension after doing my lift, it turned out to be bound up joints in the control arms, I would run around the jeep and loosen all the joints and re torque them with the jeep on the ground, also check the bushings in the shocks, I had a few that were noticeably bound up, when I loosened them they looked much better.
Reply




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:21 PM.