Rear end clunk...2001 XJ - Page 2

chicagoshooter · 12-29-2007, 04:59 PM

I will definitely look at doing this before dealing with the brakes. I just assumed when the Jeep is lubed during an oil change everything is taken care of. Like I said, Jeeps are new to me...I'll give this a look when the weather warms up.

Thanks

**tjwalker** · 12-29-2007, 05:33 PM

Itasor has this one exactly right. It's the rear drive shaft almost undoubtedly.

As other XJ owners have posted, this is a VERY common problem on post 96 Cherokees. Mine started "clunking" intermittently upon initial acceleration around 60k. If you eased in the throttle, sometimes it wouldn't occur. If you hammered on it, it "clunked" pretty good!

It never got bad enough for me to really chase the problem down nor did I really know what was causing it at the time.

Then my rear driveshaft started making some other noises so I ended up installing a new (rebuilt) one. I made sure that the new one has grease zerks and I give it a gentle shot of grease every other oil change. With the new driveshaft and liberal lubrication, clunking was gone.

davevolk · 12-29-2007, 10:40 PM

Thanks Itasor, now that I think about it, It was the front drive shaft slip joint that I lubed. I'm going to give pull the rear shaft and grease the slip joint.

davevolk · 12-30-2007, 02:37 PM

Just to update. I pulled the rear shaft this morning. Lubed the slip shaft with Mobil1 All purpose grease. Put a wide zip tie on the boot where it connects to the rear shaft. Took it on a test drive and the problem is completely gone! Totally smooth at all stops from any speed. Took about an hour. I sure wouldn't have thought that was causing the clunking because it sounded to be coming from the rear differential from what it sounded like. Anyways thanks for the valuable information.

Dave

chicagoshooter · 12-30-2007, 05:16 PM

I have never been so excited to crawl under my Jeep and do some work...unfortunately I have my daughter the next few days and time is precious with her. Hearing you all fix that clunk is like teasing me

It can wait a few more days...

Mike

itasor · 12-30-2007, 06:33 PM

Glad that fixed your problem. Mine is still clunking away because I can't get the freaking U joint strap bolts off because a shop used an impact wrench to put them on when they did my rear pinion seal.

Now it's too cold out for me to be out there underneath it.

JMC-14 · 12-30-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagoshooter

It sounds like this is common. I just do not want it to be a major issue and need even more repair at a later time. I will probably learn more when I replace the leaf springs and the drum brake hardware.

Thanks

I think it's normal. But definitely get it checked out. Initially I thought it was my motor mounts, but it was most definitely coming from the rear. Feels amost like gear slop, so when you stop at a certain speed I would feel a backlash.

Muddeprived · 01-09-2008, 06:16 PM

I should share my experience.

I bought a 2001 xj a couple months ago and it has 83k on the ticker. It's been a street-only vehicle for a college chick. I had the exact same clunk when stopping and i think i posted a thread in here somewhere. I was advised to check the leaf bushings, brake hardware, sway bar bushings, shocks, and bearings. I spent a couple hours going over all the bushigns and they were all fine. Someone posted a simple suggestions: "lube your driveshaft". I didn't understand at first but i went ahead and pulled the shaft off. The u-joint at the pinion was going but that wasn't the cause of my clunk. The splined portion of teh shaft where it connects to the t-case was DRY. I lubed that up and the clunking was gone.

Pull your shaft and lube that up before you try anything else (shove a load of grease in there). It's 4 little bolts and 20 minutes of your time.

Let us know.

TMCXJ · 01-09-2008, 06:55 PM

yeah, that rolling bowling ball effect IS THE SLIP YOKE!!

creature · 01-09-2008, 07:04 PM

last 2 times I had a clunk coming from the back it was a broken leaf spring, and a busted wheel cylinder.

nujeepguy · 01-10-2008, 05:50 AM

Itasor, .....mechanics must have been in a rush to have impact wrenched little 8mm bolts on those straps.

CodeNameROFL · 01-10-2008, 11:36 PM

This "clunking" Seems like the problem mine is doing, but mine is a '94.

If I'm light on the brakes, it (usually) doesn't do this, but if i hammer them, it does this.

Only makes the "Clunk" when i release the brake pedal.

Rowingfish87 · 01-11-2008, 09:42 AM

Is it the same basic process to lube the slip-yoke in a 2wd...ie the shaft going into the transmission instead of the t-case? (99 cherokee classic)

01-09-2008, 06:16 PM	#23
Muddeprived Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Beaver Falls, PA Posts: 4,652 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I should share my experience. I bought a 2001 xj a couple months ago and it has 83k on the ticker. It's been a street-only vehicle for a college chick. I had the exact same clunk when stopping and i think i posted a thread in here somewhere. I was advised to check the leaf bushings, brake hardware, sway bar bushings, shocks, and bearings. I spent a couple hours going over all the bushigns and they were all fine. Someone posted a simple suggestions: "lube your driveshaft". I didn't understand at first but i went ahead and pulled the shaft off. The u-joint at the pinion was going but that wasn't the cause of my clunk. The splined portion of teh shaft where it connects to the t-case was DRY. I lubed that up and the clunking was gone. Pull your shaft and lube that up before you try anything else (shove a load of grease in there). It's 4 little bolts and 20 minutes of your time. Let us know. __________________ 2001 XJ Sport 4.5" RC LA Custom snorkel Detours/winch Flux Capacitor Heat Machine

01-10-2008, 11:36 PM	#27
CodeNameROFL Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 9 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	This "clunking" Seems like the problem mine is doing, but mine is a '94. If I'm light on the brakes, it (usually) doesn't do this, but if i hammer them, it does this. Only makes the "Clunk" when i release the brake pedal.