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Some noise trouble shooting suggestions?

1K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  Shelby427 
#1 · (Edited)
Just this week developed a funny noise up front somewhere (or so it seems). Was very faint the other day and only every now and then. By today it is much more pronounced and more often. I need some pointers on how to systematically eliminate things and get this pinpointed. One of those situations where I need a friend to volunteer to hang underneath the rig while I'm driving. I very first thought was U-joints but doesn't really sound like the angry sparrow description I've heard. It seems to definitely be in the front suspension/axle/steering area. ALWAYS occurs/starts with a left turn at low speeds or at take off, and will then continue several yards after the wheels straighten back up. Has not yet done it on a right turn. Difficult sound to describe. Best description I could give - it sounds exactly like dry metal on metal rotation (Duh). No clunking, banging or chirping. The sound is best described as similar to dragging a heavy chair across wood or tile floors. A medium pitched "scrooch". Very short sound that repeats. The repeating does not seem to noticeably increase with speed. My wife put it well, "sounds like something needs some grease". However, all my front suspension parts are fully greased. Sorry for the idiotic laymen description but best I could do. Again, I need some pointers on how to systematically eliminate things and get this pinpointed. TIA!


One more thing. I can't "feel" anything in the ride or steering to go along with the sound.
 
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#3 ·
Probably already have but if not, check your brakes.

Sorry, I'm not going to hang under your Jeep while you drive. I'm never doing that again...
 
#5 ·
Again...:rofl: Come on, one more time just to get it on video!

Thanks. That seems to be the most common answer so far so I'll be checking the brakes tonight.

However, in the mean time, I thought of two recent issues and wonder if they may have contributed or led to this.

1- just had new wheels/tires installed - maybe they screwed something up?
2- after installing my lift I had to drive to alignment shop and got into 2 episodes of some bad DW. Also had about 6 or 7 prior DW episodes with stock tires a few months back - could this violent shaking have caused a problem that is just now beginning to surface? If so, what would have been affected?
 
#4 ·
I agree with skeeter. you're brake piston might be dragging a little just enough to rub when you make turns.
 
#6 ·
Okay. Made some significant headway. I've narrowed it down to the front swaybar/grill/lower radiator area. I poked around and with the slightest touch on the front frame or bumper the sound will reproduce with just the right movement. I could feel a very high frequency vibration in the sway bar with the slightest motion. I looked, felt, looked and can't isolate what it is. I can push on the front boddy support and trigger the sound every time. Thought it was the bolt in the body mount rubbing the radiator...but pulled it out and no worky...sound still there. Sprayed the sway bar frame mounts and just about everything else with WD40 but no worky....sound still there. This seems much less vital (I'm guessing) than I initially feared, but sure is annoying as hell!
 
#8 ·
Well, it's not the bolt that runs through it. I guess I may have to take the damn bushing out and see. Talk about a PITA. I may shoot some grease or something around and in b/w it and see if it does anything to stop the noise. I put the BL on over a month ago but the noise just started last week. :confused:
 
#10 ·
I had the same problem. If you have not found the problem yet do this. Take out the front drive line and drive a day or so without it just using the rear drive line. If the problem stops the problem is near the yoke and transfer case. My issue was a bent drive line and and bearing. Note: keep it greased at least ounce a year.
 
#11 ·
Well if you can duplicate it sitting still, that pretty much eliminates drive line.
And since you seem to have zeroed in on an area that's bushing related give this a go.

Toss the WD-40, get a can of PB Blaster, it will creep into places WD won't.
Loosen up your mounts, one at a time, including the sway bar. Doing so allows a little bit more room for the Blaster to get in there. See which one shuts up the scrooch noise.

Being your are feeling it in the sway bar, I'd start there.

Once you find the offending one, see if you can get it out and take a look at it and whatever it's attached to. Clean em up good, little lube, and reassemble.

Being left turn originating, the left side bushings would be in an unloaded state, right side loaded. Like a bad wheel bearing, makes more noise when the bearing is loaded then unloaded.
 
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