Front End Noises

jordans05tj

jordans05tj

TJ Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2019
Messages
232
Location
Arkansas
So I have a rattling noise coming from the front end when I hit bumps. I have a video here of me slamming into a speed bump so you can hear it, but it does it on any decent sized bump. I took the sway bar ends out this morning and it's still doing the same thing, the video is with them off. There's a small almost ticking noise I can hear if I'm in a parking lot or by a fence where I can hear an echo of it. I can't find any play or anything in the control arms, but a couple end links in the steering aren't looking so hot so I'm wondering about that. I can see where the bump stops have hit the pads on the axle, so it may have something to do with that also. Any ideas? I could hear the "ticking" noise while filming the first part of that video before the bump but the video didn't catch it.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5260.MOV
    10.1 MB
Video didn’t work for me. I’d do a dry steering test. Check all the steering linkage. You said a couple of steering ends are not so hot. So I would replace them. I’d also check your ball joints. I was going to say it could be a ratting front drive shaft but you said it happens when going over bumps.
 
06TJ35's said:
Video didn’t work for me. I’d do a dry steering test. Check all the steering linkage. You said a couple of steering ends are not so hot. So I would replace them. I’d also check your ball joints. I was going to say it could be a ratting front drive shaft but you said it happens when going over bumps.
Click to expand...
I'll see if I can make it work, I'll also get pictures of the ends real quick. I believe all the boots are in tact. I had the front shaft rebuilt <6 months ago and recently did the front pinion seal, but the noise was around before I did the seal.

Oldguy said:
apply slight pressure to your brakes. could be your pads
Click to expand...
I'll check that also, I did the front brakes about a year ago
 
Held the brakes over the bump and still did it, pretty sure this entire apartment complex thinks I have a mental deficiency lol. Converted the video to mp4 so maybe you can see it, have pictures of the driver and passenger sides then the end of the drag link at the steering box, it'll have to be replaced obviously but the rest are alright looking.

passenger Dana 30.jpg


driver Dana 30.jpg


drag link at box.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5260 (1).mp4
    21.5 MB
06TJ35's said:
I still wasn’t able to. Check your ball joints. There’s a couple of videos on YouTube. It’s very easy.
Click to expand...
I jacked it up and pried on the wheel underneath and it looks like there might be a tiny bit of play in the driver side upper, I'll probably get that replaced in the next week or two and see what happens then. Thanks for the help I'll try to keep this updated afterwards
 
  • Like
Reactions: 06TJ35's
I would buy spicer ball joints. They might be in short demand. Someone posted a thread earlier in the week saying their weren’t able to find any and I’ll change all 4 ball joints.
 
06TJ35's said:
I would buy spicer ball joints. They might be in short demand. Someone posted a thread earlier in the week saying their weren’t able to find any and I’ll change all 4 ball joints.
Click to expand...
Well that's not very fun I'll have to see if they're locally anywhere, I have my hook ups lol. Yeah I'll do all 4 for sure if I can find them
 
Well on a whim I did the ZJ steering upgrade to rule that out, it didn't but it was an upgrade anyway. I checked the ball joints in a friend's shop and couldn't find any play, my first check was in a parking lot with a breaker bar so I wasn't very confident in it lol. We crawled all under and it looks like the transmission mount on top of the skid plate is worn out and the transmission may be bouncing on top of the skid. It looks to be an easy fix, anybody know part numbers/brands to go with for this mount?
 
jordans05tj said:
Well on a whim I did the ZJ steering upgrade to rule that out, it didn't but it was an upgrade anyway. I checked the ball joints in a friend's shop and couldn't find any play, my first check was in a parking lot with a breaker bar so I wasn't very confident in it lol. We crawled all under and it looks like the transmission mount on top of the skid plate is worn out and the transmission may be bouncing on top of the skid. It looks to be an easy fix, anybody know part numbers/brands to go with for this mount?
Click to expand...
I can't watch your video's right now but I'm also getting the ticking noise at low speeds. I replaced all my u-joints and still scratching my head. Next may be the unit bearings.
 
gaabbee said:
I can't watch your video's right now but I'm also getting the ticking noise at low speeds. I replaced all my u-joints and still scratching my head. Next may be the unit bearings.
Click to expand...
I'll probably do that mount this weekend and see what it gets me, rear sway bar links also have a lot of play and rattle to them so I'll do those soon too. While I'm at it, I'm also wondering about my hubs and whatnot. I'll probably save up little and just do ball joints, hubs, and the u-joints on the stub shaft at the same time. Looks like my outer axle seal may have a leak too so it'll pretty much be a new axle at that point lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: gaabbee
@jordans05tj , Were you able to figure it out yet?

Bumping your thread because I also have a noise from the passenger front when driving low speed over bumps (potholes and washboards) that I have been going crazy trying to locate. When my wife is in the passenger seat, she says it sounds like it's coming from behind the glove compartment around the firewall area.

I've inspected the engine compartment and front end, and everything that I have checked is tight. I did replace the heater core a few months ago but I feel like I put everything back correctly and the HVAC box seems tight. I also made sure the battery is tight.
 
Flivver250 said:
What about your sway bar?
Click to expand...
Good thought. I installed an Antirock that I bought used here a few months ago. I have a mild lift, so I cut the links to suit my setup. When I put force on them I can't get them to make any noise at rest. I have been thinking about disconnecting as a test.
 
RMETeeJay said:
@jordans05tj , Were you able to figure it out yet?

Bumping your thread because I also have a noise from the passenger front when driving low speed over bumps (potholes and washboards) that I have been going crazy trying to locate. When my wife is in the passenger seat, she says it sounds like it's coming from behind the glove compartment around the firewall area.

I've inspected the engine compartment and front end, and everything that I have checked is tight. I did replace the heater core a few months ago but I feel like I put everything back correctly and the HVAC box seems tight. I also made sure the battery is tight.
Click to expand...
Nope haven't found it. I did the transmission mount, axle u-joints were bad and replaced, steering is all new, and it wasn't either sway bar. The guy I had to my alignment noticed some play in the track bar so I may do that next, but it doesn't drive like a Jeep with a bad track bar. I had the front driveshaft rebuilt about a year ago and I'm thinking about pulling it off to see if I get any noise, I had to have them redo it once because they installed a joint wrong. Didn't see any play in the ball joints at all so that may be my next stop
 
  • Like
Reactions: RMETeeJay
Thanks, @jordans05tj , I'm still looking for the source.

I disconnected the sway bar links, and the sound is still there.

I've checked ball joints (prying upwards with a crow bar under lifted tire method) and there is only the slightest amount of play with a lot of force on the bar. Is any movement at all cause for replacement?

I also checked the upper and lower CAs, which look original. There is just a little bit of play, but I'm pretty sure it's not enough to cause what I'm hearing. Does this look like too much play? I'm using a long screwdriver with moderate force.

 
Last edited:
RMETeeJay said:
Thanks, @jordans05tj , I'm still looking for the source.

I disconnected the sway bar links, and the sound is still there.

I've checked ball joints (prying upwards with a crow bar under lifted tire method) and there is only the slightest amount of play with a lot of force on the bar. Is any movement at all cause for replacement?

I also checked the upper and lower CAs, which look original. There is just a little bit of play, but I'm pretty sure it's not enough to cause what I'm hearing. Does this look like too much play? I'm using a long screwdriver with moderate force.
View attachment 184094
View attachment 184095
Click to expand...
That seems like a lot of control arm play to me, you might want to look into control arms/bushings. Mine don't move like that however I'm still having a noise. As far as I know ball joints shouldn't have any play at all so that may be something to look at also. Ball joints don't look to be very difficult on these, especially after I tore everything apart for u joints a couple weeks ago. I'll have to look at my control arms a little closer and see if I can find anything but it still beats me. When I figure out what it was I'll try to remember to post it here, but until then I'm just turning the radio up and riding lol
 
I found a thread where @Sudo noticed that his Savvy motor mount lift block was contacting one of the bolts that goes into the engine block. Sure enough, mine is also contacting the bolt on the passenger side.
EAA77403-A800-44B3-B9E6-BBC247EAAC5B.jpeg

I’m going to take the lift block out and cut the corner off. Here’s hoping that’s my noise. Even if it’s not, it can’t be good having those parts rubbing.
 
do those of you with odd tick, noises on bumps have center caps in your wheels? Sometimes if I hit mine on a trail it will get loose and I can wiggle it back and forth. It makes noises when I hit bumps. I've had to pull them a few times and bend the inner lip so it sits tight.

Also in the original photos from the OP, your passenger side ball joints have a big gap that the driver side doesn't have. Is this the case in real life? Or am I just seeing things?
 
Top Bottom
Back