Front end clunking / popping / metal on metal

M

matttj

New Member
Original poster
Joined
Jul 11, 2023
Messages
7
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Hello,

I’ve had this 06 Rubicon for almost a year, and it has always had a little squeaking coming from underneath, but today the squeaking was replaced with a loud clunking / popping sound. Last fall I replaced the front diff fluid expecting it to fix the squeaking, which it did not.
I can make the clunking dissipate by speeding up faster, which just feels counterintuitive, or by turning hard left, so I am currently not driving it.
If anyone has some ideas or suggestions on how to determine what the cause of the sound is, (or even better, the solution to the problem) please let me know!
 
matttj said:
Hello,

I’ve had this 06 Rubicon for almost a year, and it has always had a little squeaking coming from underneath, but today the squeaking was replaced with a loud clunking / popping sound. Last fall I replaced the front diff fluid expecting it to fix the squeaking, which it did not.
I can make the clunking dissipate by speeding up faster, which just feels counterintuitive, or by turning hard left, so I am currently not driving it.
If anyone has some ideas or suggestions on how to determine what the cause of the sound is, (or even better, the solution to the problem) please let me know!
Click to expand...

Fortunately this is not my only vehicle, but I would like to drive it obviously. It was going to be for sale soon, but it’s looking like I’ll have to do some work on it before then. Any suggestions or general comments are more than welcome!
 
TJuser said:
How do the ujoints look on both the axle and driveshaft?
Click to expand...

Honestly I’m not sure what they’re supposed to look like, in the past I tried to spray a little white lithium on the drivers side axle U Joint to see if that made a difference with the squeaking, but it did nothing except make a mess.

I can take a video / pictures if it helps,, there’s a little play in the driveshaft U joint and the axle U joints.

Can I replace just the bushings in the U Joints?
 
matttj said:
Honestly I’m not sure what they’re supposed to look like, in the past I tried to spray a little white lithium on the drivers side axle U Joint to see if that made a difference with the squeaking, but it did nothing except make a mess.

I can take a video / pictures if it helps,, there’s a little play in the driveshaft U joint and the axle U joints.

Can I replace just the bushings in the U Joints?
Click to expand...

There shouldn't be any play at all with ujoints. Depending how long it's been driving around with the ujoints like that, it could've stretched the ears on the yoke and you'd need to get a new axle shaft. Ujoints are about 25 bucks apiece
 
matttj said:
Honestly I’m not sure what they’re supposed to look like, in the past I tried to spray a little white lithium on the drivers side axle U Joint to see if that made a difference with the squeaking, but it did nothing except make a mess.

I can take a video / pictures if it helps,, there’s a little play in the driveshaft U joint and the axle U joints.

Can I replace just the bushings in the U Joints?
Click to expand...

Pictures would definitely help. Ujoints are kind of a wear item. They either are sealed and are greased from factory, or have a grease nipple and need to be greased occasionally. The bearings in mine literally crumbled

This is my axle when it went bang



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TJuser said:
Pictures would definitely help. Ujoints are kind of a wear item. They either are sealed and are greased from factory, or have a grease nipple and need to be greased occasionally. The bearings in mine literally crumbled

This is my axle when it went bang



View attachment 535557
Click to expand...

So I got to mess around with it some more in my driveway, rolling it back in forth in neutral from the exterior. Once per revolution of the wheel, the passenger side rotor rubs onto the actual caliper and causes the entire thing to come to a halt. It looks like the entire geometry of the suspension is somehow off, with that passenger side tire having more camber than the other side.

I included a few pictures of what I’m seeing, as I’m not very good with suspension everything looks the way I bought it to me, but obviously I can’t be sure. When “bound up” the U joints are still able to move slightly, so I’m not sure if the loose joints caused a different issue or if this is just a coincidence. (Drivers side still has a mess of white lithium grease from a few months ago as I mentioned before)

Thank your for your advice thus far, much appreciated.

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Your rotor hitting the brake pad is likely because the rotor is warped or isn't seated right. More likely warped.

Camber as to my knowledge cant really be adjusted being as it's a solid axle.

Do the bearing caps on the ujoints move or turn at all in the yoke? There should be absolutely 0 play with it
 
matttj said:
in the past I tried to spray a little white lithium on the drivers side axle Ujoint.

, there’s a little play in the driveshaft U joint and the axle U joints.

Can I replace just the bushings in the U Joints?
Click to expand...

No bushings in a U-joint, and anything that needs grease probably needs it on the inside not the outside.
There shouldn't be any play in any of the U-joints.
Put it in 4WD, jack up the front tires one at a time, and rotate the tires back and forth while watching for play in the front driveshaft and front axle U-joints.
Wouldn't hurt to check your ball joints and hub assemblies.
 
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