[FritzTJ]

A clunking/ popping noise has developed in my jeep. I am currently trying to chase down a bump induced wobble. I have aligned and balanced (though I think i could benifit from a better balance job.) I have added a jks adj front track bar and lastly I have loosen and retorqued all the control arm bolts. The bump wobble is still present but I am thinking more along the lines of a caster issue or the tires need to be perfectly balanced.
However this clunking popping noise has developed after I retorqued all the the control arm bolts so yesterday I went out and re-re-torqued all the control arms, and the front trac bar at both ends. (No change!) Am I doing something wrong? Have I over torqued something? Or is it just coincidence and is something wearing out. I hear this sound only when making sharp turns at low speeds especially when parking. But it does not happen if I saw the steering wheel back and forth when I am sitting still. I must be moving. The popping can only be one pop or 3 pops or more and it happens more when I am turning left than right. From inside the jeep it sounds like its coming from the front pass side of the vehicle.
Could this be a bad ball Joint or u-joint? The vehicle has only 33k (but i do wheel it 5-6 times per year)
Please help before I have to pay the 4wd shop to figure it out
Thanks Jake

[Chester405]

check your sway bar bolts and bushings. i have a popping that happens everytime i go over a bump or something of the nature and im almost positive that is what it is on my jeep. also check to make sure you did not over torque your bolts. some might be binding up and thus, popping.

[Pillswoj]

Sharp turns at low speeds Check the front axle u-joints as the primary cause.

I would not expect an 05 to have balljoint or unit bearing issues yet

[RnEmOvr]

Originally Posted by Pillswoj

Sharp turns at low speeds Check the front axle u-joints as the primary cause.

I would not expect an 05 to have balljoint or unit bearing issues yet

depends what he does with his jeep, i get about 2 years out of my hub assys dues to lots of mud

[Pillswoj]

Originally Posted by RnEmOvr

depends what he does with his jeep, i get about 2 years out of my hub assys dues to lots of mud

True enough

Since you have gone through this, is his description of a popping sound when turning a symptom of a bad hub?

[Dogman]

Grab hold of the axle shaft and see if there is any play in the u-joints.

[FritzTJ]

thanks for the input. How do I check for play in the u joints? Do I jack up the jeep or just leave it on ground. Should I grab it w/ my hand and twist or try a pry bar? Where am I looking for play?
I hope it is u Joints cuz then I will let the stealership fix it under warranty.
BTw I have been in deep mud a few times but mostly rock crawling/ trailriding.

[RnEmOvr]

if its under warranty just take it in,

[RnEmOvr]

Originally Posted by Pillswoj

True enough

Since you have gone through this, is his description of a popping sound when turning a symptom of a bad hub?

very much so

[Dogman]

Originally Posted by FritzTJ

thanks for the input. How do I check for play in the u joints? Do I jack up the jeep or just leave it on ground. Should I grab it w/ my hand and twist or try a pry bar? Where am I looking for play?
I hope it is u Joints cuz then I will let the stealership fix it under warranty.
BTw I have been in deep mud a few times but mostly rock crawling/ trailriding.

No need to jack it up. Just grab it with your hand right where the u-joint is and try to wiggle back and forth really hard. There shouldn't be any play. When mine were bad, you could here a little click like metal-on-metal when you did this.

[armartel]

Can anyone provide a picture of where to grab (axle shaft)? I'm not familiar with it, but I would like to learn.

[CCJ]

I have this exact problem. OP, did you ever figure it out?