Popping sensation when turning

[Noreaster1967]

The '01 Sahara I purchased back in November came with 33" BFG's and a 4" RC lift. After reading some posts here, I've decided that my long term goal is to replace the 4" lift with a 2" OME setup and more economical 31" tires. But that's for another day.....

Presently, I'm experiencing a 'popping' sensation when turning either direction from a stop. It feels like the rear tire is dragging sideways. Could it be the control arm bushings? I know my shocks are toast and need replacing, but this almost feels like the whole rear end is twisting.

I hope that makes sense. I hate describing things like that.

 

[Jim King]

Similar thing happened to me, the spider gears in the rear differential were bad.

 

[Noreaster1967]

Similar thing happened to me, the spider gears in the rear differential were bad.

Did your Jeep drive ok other than while turning? I find that I’d get rolling forward a little first, I don’t have any problem.

To clarify my original post, my mechanic replaced one of my shocks when I first brought it to him. The other is on order (why anyone would have only 1 is beyond me).

 

[Chris]

Sure sounds differential related to me too. If it's coming from the rear and only happening when it's turning, that would be the most obvious culprit.

 

[Noreaster1967]

I was afraid of that.

 

[Jim King]

Yeah, $$$

 

[Goatman]

Go and check the front axle Ujoints. On a vehicle this short it often is confusing to locate the issue. It will be a lot cheaper to fix them if bad than doing rear axle work. Tho I agree it sounds like the rear diff.

 

[Noreaster1967]

Go and check the front axle Ujoints. On a vehicle this short it often is confusing to locate the issue. It will be a lot cheaper to fix them if bad than doing rear axle work. Tho I agree it sounds like the rear diff.

That was my first thought, but they are tight and spinning smoothly. I guess I’ll find out today if the PO was bullshitting me about re-gearing it when he went to the larger tires.

 

[Noreaster1967]

Just got off the phone with my mechanic. He says the transfer case is bad and that's what is causing it. He's never given me a reason to doubt him, but this seems odd.

 

[tworley]

Can he elaborate on what exactly is wrong?

 

[jjvw]

There may be a bad transfer case, but that doesn't match up with the symptoms being described.

 

[Noreaster1967]

Can he elaborate on what exactly is wrong?

first off, let me apologize. I suck at describing vehicle sounds.
I've been getting a "popping" sensation when making sharp turns to the left of right. It almost feels like rubber skipping over a rough surface, getting hung up and "popping" back. I attributed it to the BFG's I'm running.
A few weeks ago, I started to feel a vibration that would come and go at various speeds, but mostly in the 35-45 mph range. I decided to have it looked at, but the only thing they could find was my crappy RC shocks needed replacing. They replaced the worst of the two and ordered the other and told me to drive it for a few days and see if there is improvement. There was not.
The "popping" got worse, to the point that when turning I could real resistance and a clunk when it released. Even a gradual bend was enough to feel something binding. That's when I parked it.

 

[jjvw]

That still doesn't point to the transfer case

 

[SkylinesSuck]

Silly question, but this is happening in 2wd, right?

 

[Noreaster1967]

That still doesn't point to the transfer case

That's what I was thinking. I can see the t-case causing my vibration issue, but not the turning problems.

 

[Noreaster1967]

Silly question, but this is happening in 2wd, right?

Yes, I haven't used 4wd for a while.

 

[jjvw]

Put the transmission into neutral. Lift a rear wheel up with a jack. Spin the wheel. What do you feel or hear?

Spin the rear drive shaft by hand, what do you feel or hear?

 

[tworley]

I'd pop the rear cover off the diff and take a look inside. I had an axle bearing that would catch and pop like you are describing. I think your tcase is fine.

 

[Noreaster1967]

I called the shop and explained my concerns. They told me that they opened up the differential and there's nothing wrong with any of the components. Everything looks fine and functions flawlessly. When they removed the drain for the t-case, chunks of metal came out. His explanation for why I feel it on turns is that the front and rear drive shafts are rotating at different speeds when turning, and that's what I was feeling.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Is that popping sensation when turning happening when you're in 4x4 on the pavement?