My wife has been complaining about an occasional front end noise on our low (60k) mileage ljr while turning right. I climbed under it today, and found nothing loose. I was able to reproduce it once while stationary, at almost full lock right. It was loud, but not very solid sounding (maybe higher pitched?) if that makes any sense. It could not be felt in the steering. I drove it around and could not duplicate it. Any ideas?
Loud pop / clunk from front
- Thread starter Wire4money
- Start date
X2, it does sound like a bad u-joint on the axle shaft. If it proves to be bad it'd be very tough to beat the Spicer 5-760x. I definitely would avoid store brands.
He’s so right. Not only do they perform better longer, they aren’t a song and dance to replace. Use the best. Check your hub unit bearings while at it, and other u joint s as well. Things tend to wear or age evenly to some extent , or all get pressure washed together ...not a hard fact , but show me one u joint, and I’m checking every one of them.
One more possibility if not the u-joint I had a loud pop/clunk in my front end from a loose cam bolt to the lower control arm You could hear it under different circumstance. it was real obvious when standing next to the front end while my wife drove forward a tiny bit and then stepped on the brakes .
Rubicon88
TJ Addict
U joint.
If it's popping like you say....putting some torque to it in 4wd and doing some maneuvers should make it give some feedback as well.
You can also have your better half steer while stationary and watch it. (By all means make sure it's in park or the brake is on and in neutral)
if it won't do it...have her move forward one 1/4 tire rotation and repeat. Keep doing the 1/4 rotation and you keep watching until you hit that ignorant spot.
When this gets worse it will start impacting your steering (ultra tight from grease deterioration) or will get so loose (needle bearing deterioration offering no more resistance) and you'll hear a rattle over every little bump
Please replace with genuine spicer u joints!!! Non greasable.
5-760x is the part #
Good day
If it's popping like you say....putting some torque to it in 4wd and doing some maneuvers should make it give some feedback as well.
You can also have your better half steer while stationary and watch it. (By all means make sure it's in park or the brake is on and in neutral)
if it won't do it...have her move forward one 1/4 tire rotation and repeat. Keep doing the 1/4 rotation and you keep watching until you hit that ignorant spot.
When this gets worse it will start impacting your steering (ultra tight from grease deterioration) or will get so loose (needle bearing deterioration offering no more resistance) and you'll hear a rattle over every little bump
Please replace with genuine spicer u joints!!! Non greasable.
5-760x is the part #
Good day
U joint even if it pops while stationary? It was loud. Any way to verify, as I cannot reliably replicate it?
Last edited:
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