Front end clunk

[matkal]

I've had a difficult to repeat frond end clunk for quite a couple years, it's been very minor and seldom until this spring. I installed a 2.5" lift this winter which , logically, has gradually made the clunk more frequent and more "clunky". When I installed the springs I did not loosen the control arm bolts and I'm leaning towards control arm bushings.

I will be concentrating on causing the clunk and narrowing down what makes it happen, for now it seems to happen mostly while turning (not CA?) and seldom when hitting bumps on the passenger side. Also it feels like it's coming mostly from the drivers side, under my feet. How do I check the CAB and what else should I look at?

 

[Vtx531]

First use the doors as a lever or grab the rollbar with the top off and give the Jeep a shake back and forth. If you can't find it from that, then jack the front wheels up off the ground and wiggle the tires top-bottom and left-right. Sounds like steering related so I bet the wheel wiggle check should find it.

 

[matkal]

First use the doors as a lever or grab the rollbar with the top off and give the Jeep a shake back and forth. If you can't find it from that, then jack the front wheels up off the ground and wiggle the tires top-bottom and left-right. Sounds like steering related so I bet the wheel wiggle check should find it.

Shaking produces another noise higher pitched, more of a clank that sounds like it has to do with the rear axle. Wiggling the tires produces no sounds and everything seems tight.

I’ll have to wait until I can get some help to track down the rear axle clank and do the “ have someone turn the wheel back and forth while I look for whatever regarding the steering “ lol

I drove in figure eights on fairly smooth ground and it only happens when turning to the right (pass) and seems to come from the left.

Edit: it does clunk turning to the left or going straight over bumps and sometimes when turning left. It always clunks from the moment I start to turn right.

 

[matkal]

Whale, I got my neighbor to come help me with the shaking and turning; shaking revealed a loose sway bar link on the passenger side and the steering test revealed movement at the axle end of the trackbar, I didn't notice anything else. The trackbar is a new Rough Country($50 marketplace score).

My gut tells me there is something else wrong but for now I'll concentrate on the trackbar. I'm thinking the problem is one or more of the following; Bolt not tight enough, the bolt is too small, the hole is too big or the bushing is worn out(not likely as the TB is new). To me, if it was the first two it should still be solid moving left to right but be able to move along the axis of the bolt. Am I on the right track?

 

[Vtx531]

Likely the bolt not tight enough. It shouldn't matter the size of the hole compared to the bolt (within reason). The joint is held together by clamping force, not the fit of the hole. Crank it down tight! Maybe put on some thread locker so it doesn't loosen up again.

 

[matkal]

Tightened up the track bar bolt, still got the clunk. Going to do another dry steering test

 

[tr21triton]

axle joints

 

[matkal]

axle joints

They're pretty new, I think i did them a year ago but I'll check that too.