Do I have a front axle u-joint or ball joint issue here?

adventureboss

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Aug 1, 2023
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144
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Hi y'all, I am bone stock and about to hit 180k miles. Recently on a road trip I noticed that if I am at full lock I will get a single pop from the right front side. I am having a hard time to get it to do it continuously which is why it's hard to diagnose. A lot of front end stuff has been replaced about 10k miles ago, like the tie rod ends, drag link, track bar, sway bar bushings, sway bar end links and last I checked control arm bushings look okay. Ball joints, wheel bearings, and front axle u joints are still original, which is why I'm suspecting them. Everything I installed seems tight still but I'm going to go give everything a retorque today maybe just to rule it out.

Also, it doesn't seem to matter if I'm moving or not. If I turn hard in either direction till I hit full lock I get the pop from the passenger front side regardless of whether the Jeep is in motion. So what do you guys think? I wish I could consistently replicate it so I could get a video... Am I right to suspect wheel axle U joints because they are still original?
 
You can soak the u joint with wd 40- if it goes away short term you found it-

You can lift the tire and pry up to test for a loose us joint.
 
Hi y'all, I am bone stock and about to hit 180k miles. Recently on a road trip I noticed that if I am at full lock I will get a single pop from the right front side. I am having a hard time to get it to do it continuously which is why it's hard to diagnose. A lot of front end stuff has been replaced about 10k miles ago, like the tie rod ends, drag link, track bar, sway bar bushings, sway bar end links and last I checked control arm bushings look okay. Ball joints, wheel bearings, and front axle u joints are still original, which is why I'm suspecting them. Everything I installed seems tight still but I'm going to go give everything a retorque today maybe just to rule it out.

Also, it doesn't seem to matter if I'm moving or not. If I turn hard in either direction till I hit full lock I get the pop from the passenger front side regardless of whether the Jeep is in motion. So what do you guys think? I wish I could consistently replicate it so I could get a video... Am I right to suspect wheel axle U joints because they are still original?

You need to watch it while someone else turns the wheel.
Could be the tierod hitting the swaybar bracket, or similar.
 
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