Clunking/looseness in the rear axle?

[CaptainMorgan]

Well, this problem has been a PIA since I installed my dana44 myself on a piece of 3/4" plywood in my friends yard all alone. The sound is not exactly IN the axle...more the control arms, trac bar and other outside parts.

Things I have checked and have been fixed...

-Loose bolts on control arms.
-Loose trac bar.
-exhaust bent

Now what I really wonder is WTF is up with this incessant racket. It sounds like loose control arms...but they are TIGHT.

I was thinking the bolt might clunk around in there but not sure.


What should I do? Get the Jeep into Absolute Offroad to fix it right? Re-install the axle with new hardware? Bushings?

Any suggestions are welcome as I am at the end of my rope with this noise.

Oh, its NOT my Detroit BTW

[TRLR8TDTJ]

Dont forget to check body mounts, and shocks.

Kyle

[CaptainMorgan]

it could be a body mount...ill check it out. thanks

[mingoglia]

Also check to make sure the diff cover isn't hitting the gas tank skid.... although unlikely it's causing this sound, depending on how large of a aftermarket cover you run and how long you have your control arms set to (assuming here you're running adjustable arms) it can come in contact.

Mike

[Sedona Jeep School]

My first thought was trac bar, but control arm bushings are highly suspect if you have used hardware. And by tight, I assume you mean you put a wrench on it and tightened it to German specs ("gutentight")? You don't have any mounts wallowed out?

If you can not only hear the noise, but also feel it, it almost has to be something on the control arms or tracbar.

[mingoglia]

My first thought was trac bar, but control arm bushings are highly suspect if you have used hardware. And by tight, I assume you mean you put a wrench on it and tightened it to German specs ("gutentight")? You don't have any mounts wallowed out?

If you can not only hear the noise, but also feel it, it almost has to be something on the control arms or tracbar.

You know Nena... you quite possibly could have spent more time under Jeeps than most of the shop owners around here. :)

[Sedona Jeep School]

You know Nena... you quite possibly could have spent more time under Jeeps than most of the shop owners around here. :)
If that comment came from anyone else, I wouldn't think it was anything but G-rated. :D

[AZG23]

Id agree to check the control arm bushings, or possibly shock mounts. At what point do you hear it..?? Is it slow enough to have someone else listen and look while driving..? Like at starting stopping..?? Rocking back and forth, etc...?

[Stoodty]

ok if it's when you accelerate and rock back and fourth, check to see if your rear sway bar bushing are worn (slop) this has helped on 2 other jeeps that i know of! i know doesnt make since! let us know what you find.......

[Antman]

Check your tranny mount also. Crawl under and grab your control arms and
see if you have any side play. This will make a hell of a noise going over the
bumps. :sifone:

[over's tj]

two people help when trying to find noise

try pushing jeep back an forth when in gear, look at c arms, drive shaft etc. for shifting movement

put your hands on things like bushings and mounts to feel movement

also I have found that getting suspension of the ground (no weight on springs) will sometimes show problems- take it to someone to at least test drive and get another opinion on source

[TRLR8TDTJ]

Maybe to could hop on sled behind jeep and listen for noise.:)

Kyle

[CaptainMorgan]

it is when accelerating and rocking back and forth, I gotta find somewhere without tons of snow to get under there and check it out.

[probable cause]

i had the same problem i thought it was my driveshaft cause every time i engaged the clutch or hit the gas it would clunk..check where your rear track bar mounts too. that mount broke on mine the other day and after they rewelded the mount and reinforced the clunk went away.

[DirtyYJ]

I would double check the exhaust are all the rubber hangers still in good shape? When I put my 1" body lift on the rubber hangers on my exhaust broke and it turned out the exhaust was rubbing on the t-case skid plate. It didn't happen right away after I put the BL on so I hadn't bothered to extend the hangers but I think after a while the exaust started to sag. It would also mainly rattle when it was idleing and when i accelerated.

[CaptainMorgan]

thanks guys...I got a good bunch of suggestions to get started.