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Clicking/Clunking noise in the front driver's side area??

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PatriotBlue02WJ

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Latest issue...

I've got a clicking/clunking noise coming from what sounds like the front driver's side wheel area. I'd say it started about 20 miles ago (only drive 8 miles round trip to work). It was real faint at first, but has become much louder and consistent. It happens with a constant frequency, and picks up with the speed (although I don't think its one click/clunk per tire rotation, seems to be less). Initially it went away under acceleration and braking. but now it only gets quieter under acceleration and braking. Under a coast condition, it really gets loud and amplified. I can just about feel it in the steering too.

This morning I jacked it up and inspected the 1/2 shaft, looked ok, no broken boot or grease. Caliper was tight, rotor had a little wiggle to it, but the wheel wasn't on, so I wasn't that concerned. I put the wheel back on and gave it the back/forth and up/down pull. No play in either direction. What do you think? Bearing/hub? 1/2 shaft? anyone had this issue before? will a half shaft go w/o breaking the boot?
 
#2 ·
axle can go without boot being busted, hard to say without hearing it firsthand. I would try to lift the wheels and turn them by hand looking for the noise. If this doesn't work you could always try to set the whole vehicle on a lift/jackstands and have someone "drive" it in 4wd and listen to narrow down the area better. sounds like cv shaft to me, could be cv front driveshaft also although i would expect some vibrations also. hub bearings are usually a roaring noise that typically will change when turning (getting worse in one direction and better when turning in the other).
 
#4 ·
PatriotBlue02WJ said:
Latest issue...

I've got a clicking/clunking noise coming from what sounds like the front driver's side wheel area. I'd say it started about 20 miles ago (only drive 8 miles round trip to work). It was real faint at first, but has become much louder and consistent. It happens with a constant frequency, and picks up with the speed (although I don't think its one click/clunk per tire rotation, seems to be less). Initially it went away under acceleration and braking. but now it only gets quieter under acceleration and braking. Under a coast condition, it really gets loud and amplified. I can just about feel it in the steering too.

This morning I jacked it up and inspected the 1/2 shaft, looked ok, no broken boot or grease. Caliper was tight, rotor had a little wiggle to it, but the wheel wasn't on, so I wasn't that concerned. I put the wheel back on and gave it the back/forth and up/down pull. No play in either direction. What do you think? Bearing/hub? 1/2 shaft? anyone had this issue before? will a half shaft go w/o breaking the boot?
Click to expand...
CV joint. been there done that twice on each side. my 99 jeep goes through CV joints something fierce. and my suggestion to you, while you have it all apart replacing that cv joint, buy a new baering hub too. they are spendy but if you already have it apart...
 
#5 ·
NUTBOLT said:
axle can go without boot being busted, hard to say without hearing it firsthand. I would try to lift the wheels and turn them by hand looking for the noise. If this doesn't work you could always try to set the whole vehicle on a lift/jackstands and have someone "drive" it in 4wd and listen to narrow down the area better. sounds like cv shaft to me, could be cv front driveshaft also although i would expect some vibrations also. hub bearings are usually a roaring noise that typically will change when turning (getting worse in one direction and better when turning in the other).
Click to expand...
when I rebuilt my front end for the first time, I did just what you suggested by putting my car on four jack stands. my jeep is the all wheel drive. being in the air like that, I could not duplicate the noise. I agree with you, the CV joint is toast.

on mine, you pull apart the front end and pull out the CV joint and axle. the CV joint is only held onto the axle shaft by a c clip. all you have to do is tap it off with a rubber mallet. same thing putting it back on the axle. make sure you use some antiseize too. my car came from Utah and everything was rusted like no tomorrow. it wasn't fun getting it apart the first time, but when I went back through the front end, it came apart quite nicely.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
It is deffinitly something mechanical in the front end. I was afraid I wouldn't make it back around the block. Its pretty bad. I'm beginning to think its not the cv shaft, maybe something in the steering link? Are CV shafts known to freeze in position? If so, that could very well be it.
 
#13 ·
why does your rotor have a "little wiggle" to it? tighten your lug nuts asap. this could correct the noise.

edit: didn't read all the way down and I see you found the issue. Lug nuts were my first guess since you said you have some movement of the rotor (not good).
 
#14 ·
PatriotBlue02WJ said:
Figured it out, cheap fix. Tighten the damn lug nuts on the front passenger side. 4 of the 5 were very loose. Never had that happen before, but there is a 1st for everything. All is fixed, and driving great again.
Click to expand...
Did that before, but had all loose so it was going crazy. No idea how I forgot to tighten mine. :cheers2:
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
ZJPunk, rotor had a little wiggle to it because the wheel was not on it. Just had the caliper holding the rotor over the studs.

I know how it happened now. Had to think back and figure it out. I had both fronts loosened when I was fitting the JK wheels/tires two weeks ago. My plan was to start in the front. So I loosened all the front lugs. Plan was to do the passenger side first, but I moved to the driver's side. I never made it to the passenger side, and put the driver's side back together and torqued the lugs over there. Forgot that I had loosened the other side. Doh! Won't happen again I can assure that! :) Really interesting how it felt like it was the driver's side that had the issue. Oh well. Thanks for all the input/help!
 
#16 ·
PatriotBlue02WJ said:
ZJPunk, rotor had a little wiggle to it because the wheel was not on it. Just had the caliper holding the rotor over the studs.
Doh! Won't happen again I can assure that! :) Really interesting how it felt like it was the driver's side that had the issue. Oh well. Thanks for all the input/help!
Click to expand...
once you stated "wiggle" to the rotor, i knew right away it was loose lug nuts. glad you figured it out without going crazy with other components.
 
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