Front end pop driving me nuts

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Pretty sure I found the culprit. Decided to re torque EVERY bolt/nut that had to do with my suspension. Didn’t make it far without seeing things that were wrong. Rear upper control arm loose, and as you can see in this picture my axle side front lower control arm mount was centimeters away from unbolting. The washer beneath the nut doesn’t sit level with the mount so I can’t tighten it all the way because it just sits on I think the caster adjusting plate? Where should I go from here
 
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DropTopDon said:
View attachment 369413

Pretty sure I found the culprit. Decided to re torque EVERY bolt/nut that had to do with my suspension. Didn’t make it far without seeing things that were wrong. Rear upper control arm loose, and as you can see in this picture my axle side front lower control arm mount was centimeters away from unbolting. The washer beneath the nut doesn’t sit level with the mount so I can’t tighten it all the way because it just sits on I think the caster adjusting plate? Where should I go from here
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Woohoo! Victory. I know you’re glad that’s over with. It’s now my standard operating procedure to go over every bolt underneath when I hear something odd.
 
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While down there I also noticed on the opposite side of the same bolt it appears to be missing a washer? On the other LCA there’s a washer on both sides but in this one there isn’t. Anyone know where I can get the same washer or if I need to get one?
 
I’ll be surprised if you don’t notice a better driving rig now.

Good job.
 
Well. I took it for a test drive and the pop is STILL THERE. I’m extremely surprised tightening the control arm bolt didn’t fix it? Maybe a bad bushing? At this point I’m ready to start throwing random parts at it until it’s gone.
 
DropTopDon said:
Well. I took it for a test drive and the pop is STILL THERE. I’m extremely surprised tightening the control arm bolt didn’t fix it? Maybe a bad bushing? At this point I’m ready to start throwing random parts at it until it’s gone.
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Did you check the big a$$ nut on the Pitman arm? For some reason mine will work its way loose over time and I need to torque it back down. When its loose it gives a popping feeling.
 
DropTopDon said:
Well. I took it for a test drive and the pop is STILL THERE. I’m extremely surprised tightening the control arm bolt didn’t fix it? Maybe a bad bushing? At this point I’m ready to start throwing random parts at it until it’s gone.
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If it pops when it's turning, then you should be checking everything with the wheels turned.
 
Both axle U joints have been replaced. They seemed fine and none of the needle bearings were missing. The steering does feel a lot smoother after the replacement though. Anyways the pop is still there. I also hear this clicking type noise when turning the wheel hard left while doing u turns. No noise when turned hard right though. Control arm bolts are all tight but one side o is missing the thick washer as you can see in post 25. I don't think my 04 or later model TJ's came with cam bolts so not sure the cam bolt eliminator kit would be of any benefit either.

I am starting to think maybe u joints in steering rod?
 
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DropTopDon said:
Both axle U joints have been replaced. They seemed fine and none of the needle bearings were missing. The steering does feel a lot smoother after the replacement though. Anyways the pop is still there. I also hear this clicking type noise when turning the wheel hard left while doing u turns. No noise when turned hard right though. Control arm bolts are all tight but one side o is missing the thick washer as you can see in post 25. I don't think my 04 or later model TJ's came with cam bolts so not sure the cam bolt eliminator kit would be of any benefit either.
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I'd read the whole thread, but I'd rather just ask, "Have you torqued to spec all your body mounts? Skid plate bolts?" If not, give it a go. It solved my pop.
 
JMT said:
I'd read the whole thread, but I'd rather just ask, "Have you torqued to spec all your body mounts? Skid plate bolts?" If not, give it a go. It solved my pop.
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All body mounts and skid bolts are torqued. I am missing a body mount bolt though on the most front passenger side. It snapped off when installing a body lift in the worst possible way.
 
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The pop is still there. I noticed a pop noise/feeling when I have the wheel turned and reverse over a rut/bump. Could it possibly be ball joints? When checking my ball joints they had very little vertical play but it seemed like the normal amount of play that ball joints generally have. There is just nothing else I can think of that I haven't replaced yet besides the steering box itself.
 
I chased a front end pop years ago and it turned out to be the axle-end upper control arm bushing on the passenger side. The pressed in bushing on the stock arm was no longer a press fit and the steel outer portion of the rubber bushing was loose in the hole in the control arm. It took me a long time to find the culprit.
 
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