“Clunk” on my JL only in cold weather

[Stretch]

Please watch these videos and let me know what you think. I have a video of inside the jeep and one under it. Different days but both cold (below freezing). I say in the video where I’m under the jeep I think it’s the steering box but I’m honestly not sure. Possibly drag link? I don’t want to replace everything so I’m trying to nail it down. You can see in the inside the jeep video right before the “clunk” the steering wheel almost skips when I’m trying it right. Please let me know what you think?

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[Nacho]

Thats odd. Sounds like you have a person locked in the trunk trying to get out, but that wont work in a Jeep.
Will be anxious to hear what others say.

 

[Stretch]

Thats odd. Sounds like you have a person locked in the trunk trying to get out, but that wont work in a Jeep.
Will be anxious to hear what others say.

lol secrets out!


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[CookieMonster]

Since you can reproduce it, try putting your hands on various bits to see if you feel the movement causing the noise. (Being sure to avoid moving bits like the fan belt). I would start with both ends of the drag link. Putting a finger or two on the ball joint end may help you figure out which one is popping. Next I would try both ends of the tie rod. And finally I'd try to put a hand on the ball joins in the knuckle if you can do so without risking a finger. You can even try grabbing them and yanking on them when the jeep is off.

Here is also an old trick to isolate noises on pulleys, which may or may not work here. You can buy an engine stethoscope, or make your own. I was able to isolate which pulley was making noise using a screw driver with a cut open water bottle taped to the end. It might work to figure out which bit is making noise if you can't feel it. Here was my homemade one, you simply touch the end of the screwdriver to the part you are trying to listen to.

 

[Stretch]

Okay I’ll give that a shot…I’ll see if I can get it done after work today but probably be tomorrow morning. Couple other videos I took in my work parking lot. Wasn’t sure if the passenger side drag link looked loose or worn out…everything else seems tight. I was able to replicate the sound without the vehicle on. In the video it sounds like I’m turning it on but that’s someone else’s vehicle….

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[CookieMonster]

A couple other places to check:

The adjusters on the tie rod and drag link. My tie rod was loose after the dealer replaced my steering box under the TSB.

The castle nuts on the bottom of the ball joints. Some have reported this nut getting loose, even from the factory. My theory is the ball joint works its way into the aluminum knuckle. You will need new pins (home depot/lowes) if you end up needing to tighten them, but you can check for looseness with the pins still in.

 

[Stretch]

Awesome thanks!!! I’m going to force my son to climb around in the cold with me tomorrow morning…he’ll love it! Haha. He owes me…I did his brakes and rotors in the gravel driveway last weekend when it was a whopping 26 as the high haha


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[Galactica]

Since you can reproduce it, try putting your hands on various bits to see if you feel the movement causing the noise. (Being sure to avoid moving bits like the fan belt). I would start with both ends of the drag link. Putting a finger or two on the ball joint end may help you figure out which one is popping. Next I would try both ends of the tie rod. And finally I'd try to put a hand on the ball joins in the knuckle if you can do so without risking a finger. You can even try grabbing them and yanking on them when the jeep is off.

Here is also an old trick to isolate noises on pulleys, which may or may not work here. You can buy an engine stethoscope, or make your own. I was able to isolate which pulley was making noise using a screw driver with a cut open water bottle taped to the end. It might work to figure out which bit is making noise if you can't feel it. Here was my homemade one, you simply touch the end of the screwdriver to the part you are trying to listen to.

View attachment 10083

I have also used a long breaker bar or pipe as well to put my ear against specific components. I would start with that steering box, hard to tell in the video but it seems so perfectly timed to the small rotations of the steering wheel.

 

[Stretch]

Well I wasn’t able to get much done but with 55k on the stock parts I decided to go ahead and order a drag link that was on sale and had some zerk fittings so I can maintenance it as opposed to the stock ones. I also have a spare tie rod that came off a jeep with about 30k on it so when I do the axle swap I’ll put those on. If that doesn’t fix it….well poop lol


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[R3]

Please watch these videos and let me know what you think. I have a video of inside the jeep and one under it. Different days but both cold (below freezing). I say in the video where I’m under the jeep I think it’s the steering box but I’m honestly not sure. Possibly drag link? I don’t want to replace everything so I’m trying to nail it down. You can see in the inside the jeep video right before the “clunk” the steering wheel almost skips when I’m trying it right. Please let me know what you think?

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Some thoughts.
Factory steering box? Look for play from input to output. there is an adjuster (Nut and set screw) atop the box. you can remove most of the play there. Factory joints have a plastic wear material in them. looks like the knuckle end is wearing and that might be another source of the noise. I have a 21 JTRD and the stock box at 30K+ miles is pretty loose.