What's this sound / vibration?

[Eddie Greenlee]

Hey yall, I have felt and heard a weird poping and vibration and sound going on toward the front of the jeep while driving and at start up low RPMs. 1997 jeep wrangler tj sport 6cyl 5speed 4" suspension lift
you may remember I have installed a rear cv drive shaft, super short sye, 1.25 body lift kit, 1" motor mount lift. and a belly up skid. (I did adjust the shift rod to the transfer case) I have not done anything to my exhaust, I have dana 30 up front with an aussie locker and 4.10 gears .. when doing the motor mount lift i had to loosen the alternator and belt to get things installed, ( so its guess work to get the tension back on the belt to specs.)
im thinking the exhaust is touching something maybe while driving or aussie is acting up. or front ball joints or u-joints. Ive checked things to the best of my ability and everything seems to be tight. just wondering what your thoughts might be.

 

[Chris]

Probably the exhaust touching something, I'd almost bet on it.

I've never seen a belly-up conversion where you didn't have to modify the exhaust in some way or another. First off, the transmission mount has an exhaust hanger on the top of it, that hanger bracket needs to be cut, re-welded, and positioned lower. In addition, after doing that, I still had to modify the exhaust tailpipe, as it was rubbing on the fuel tank skid just barely, but enough to cause a strange noise from time-to-time.

I'll bet it's your exhaust.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Probably the exhaust touching something, I'd almost bet on it.

I've never seen a belly-up conversion where you didn't have to modify the exhaust in some way or another. First off, the transmission mount has an exhaust hanger on the top of it, that hanger bracket needs to be cut, re-welded, and positioned lower. In addition, after doing that, I still had to modify the exhaust tailpipe, as it was rubbing on the fuel tank skid just barely, but enough to cause a strange noise from time-to-time.

I'll bet it's your exhaust.

the exhaust is touching he skid barely but i did not think it would cause that kinda noise vibration. Ill get that looked into tomorrow. thanks. the exhaust is also touching the shock cover and the track bar during flex.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Chris, the popping going on up front i think its the aussie locker , but if its a ball joint or a U joint , that should be easy to find by jacking up one tire at a time and moving it back n forth , side to side and up and down. and if there is no movement the joints should be good right?

 

[Chris]

the exhaust is touching he skid barely but i did not think it would cause that kinda noise vibration. Ill get that looked into tomorrow. thanks. the exhaust is also touching the shock cover and the track bar during flex.

Yeah, I'll bet it's the exhaust then. It needs to be slightly tweaked after a belly-up skid plate install. Mine definitely did, that's for sure.

 

[Chris]

Also, lunchbox lockers (such as the Aussie locker) are loud. That popping sound you hear is likely the locker.

Here's a video of a Cherokee XJ with an Aussie locker. The sound you're hearing is normal:

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Hey I wanted to come back to this. I did have my exhaust rerouted, and found 2 holes in the exhaust pipe so we just replaced and routed a new pipe from the muffler out. I have a 2&1/4" from the exhaust manifold back to the muffler and now a smaller pipe from the muffler out. I dont think that will make a difference.( hope not ) .
but I am still getting a grinding noise as im giving gas in all gears . jsut wondering what I should check next. I wondering if its the front right wheel bearing? I dont think its the clutch, but not really sure whats going on. gears are shifting perfect. I am having a little vibration in the steering wheel. if not a wheel bearing maybe the front drive shaft ? but havent had a problem before.
remember I now have a 1.25 body lift, 1" motor mount lift, super short SYE and a CV drive shaft, and a belly up skid.
there is some extra popping up front but i dont think its the aussie locker the aussie is popping like its supposed to ( i know that sounds weird) . but who knows.