Thud sound when going over potholes

[Shoebabe3]

I know it's almost impossible to diagnose an issue without hearing or seeing it but hopefully someone has some suggestions. When I go over a pothole or rr track I hear and get a thud/dead sound somewhere around my front driver's side wheel/under the steering wheel-ish. I did 12-6 wheel test up on jack stands and the tire did move so I replaced the upper and lower ball joints on both tires. I've also replace the front upper control arms. I'll double check the lower control arms but I think they are tight. The thud-dead sound is still there. It's a 2004 TJ with approx 165k. Hopefully someone has experienced this and might point me in the right direction.
Thx

 

[Chris]

These ones are the hardest to diagnose as all we can do is guess. My first guess would be either your shock is bottoming out, or perhaps your control arm bolts aren't torqued to the correct specs.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

If it's seems OK to drive I'd say it's probably a bad shock absorber or maybe a sway bar connention

 

[billiebob]

Id change shock absorbers. Doing that on mine Monday.

 

[bobthetj03]

Sway bar end link maybe?

 

[jjvw]

Worn bushings. A loose connection.

Rock the Jeep side to side as hard as you can. Listen for the clunk. Having a helper do the rocking while you feel each connection can help.

Look at each shock and sway bar bushing.

Rolling the Jeep back and forth with the parking brake on might show you if a rear control arm is loose. Otherwise, you need your helper to hold the brake pedal down.

 

[ac_]

My wifes 2K Tj had a thump in the rear and the front when she first got it. It had a 3 inch lift with absolutely no bumpstops. The rear shocks had the wrong mounting bolts on the upper mounts. they had bolts with shoulders on them that were longer than the shock mount so the shock was not securely mounted on the top and one of them was bent. I got lucky because it didn't mess with the mounting nuts. I was able to put different springs and shocks on and bump stops with no issues.

The front shock on the passenger side lost the top nut. It was just clanging around in the hole but did have the bottom rubber grommet so it looked right to the normal eye.

I ended up putting in bump stops lowering it an inch and putting new shocks in and it drives like a dream now.

I think that is basically what @Chris was suggesting earlier in this thread. This is my long winded way of agreeing with him. -Don't just check the shocks check the shocks mounting also.