I have a steering problem...

[Purple People Eater]

The past few days, I've noticed while I turn, left or right, I get a "clunk" sound out of the front end of my late model XJ. Not only is it an annoying and dangerous-feeling sound, but I can feel it in the steering wheel. I know it's a vague description of my problem, but I haven't the slightest idea of what it is. So if you know, please share.

 

[Fergie]

The past few days, I've noticed while I turn, left or right, I get a "clunk" sound out of the front end of my late model XJ. Not only is it an annoying and dangerous-feeling sound, but I can feel it in the steering wheel. I know it's a vague description of my problem, but I haven't the slightest idea of what it is. So if you know, please share.

1. Loose wheel: check your lugnuts

2. Axle u-joints: Visual inspection

3. Unit bearing hub assembly: Jack tire up, pull in and out on wheel, see if there is any play.

4. Ball Joints: Jack tire up, grab wheel at 12 and 6, and see if there is any play.

Those are my guesses.

HTH

 

[LJRockstar]

Also check your Track Bar.

 

[John90XJ]

Ditto the trackbar....especially if you have either drilled the axle end and relocated it or if you've added an aftermarket frame mount or use a heim joint.

 

[cshontz]

You might want to check the following items:

control arm bushing
With your window open, drive straight forward and backward very quickly and brake abruptly while listening for clunks. Not an exact diagnosis, but may point to control arm bushings. Doesn't sound related, but possible.

tie rod end
Jack up the front end and steer the tires left and right with your hands. Keep a close eye on the steering linkage and look for slop. Common.

ball joints
Jack up the front end and lift the front tires vertically up and down as best you can and look for slop. Usually takes some effort, but may reveal worn ball joints.

wheel bearing
Jack up the front end and grab the top and the bottom of the tire. Try to tip it toward and away from the vehicle and look for slop. If worn, should require little or no effort to tip back and forth.

track bar
Lay down on the ground, and push up and down on the front bumper as hard as you can while examining the trackbar ends for slop. A worn trackbar can cause deathwobble.

swaybar endlinks
Lay down on the ground, and push up and down on the front bumper as hard as you can while examining the swaybar endlink bushings for slop. Common.

EDIT: Also check for abnormal tire wear.

 

[Purple People Eater]

You might want to check the following items:

control arm bushing
With your window open, drive straight forward and backward very quickly and brake abruptly while listening for clunks. Not an exact diagnosis, but may point to control arm bushings. Doesn't sound related, but possible.

tie rod end
Jack up the front end and steer the tires left and right with your hands. Keep a close eye on the steering linkage and look for slop. Common.

ball joints
Jack up the front end and lift the front tires vertically up and down as best you can and look for slop. Usually takes some effort, but may reveal worn ball joints.

wheel bearing
Jack up the front end and grab the top and the bottom of the tire. Try to tip it toward and away from the vehicle and look for slop. If worn, should require little or no effort to tip back and forth.

track bar
Lay down on the ground, and push up and down on the front bumper as hard as you can while examining the trackbar ends for slop. A worn trackbar can cause deathwobble.

swaybar endlinks
Lay down on the ground, and push up and down on the front bumper as hard as you can while examining the swaybar endlink bushings for slop. Common.

EDIT: Also check for abnormal tire wear.

Wow. I haven't experienced any deathwobble, and my tires only have about 2k miles on them, so it's hard to see any abnormal wear. But I have noticed the clunk when I accelerate quickly, so the control arm bushings (your first point) might be my first guess. I have the day off tomorrow, so I plan on trying all this stuff out and see if I can pinpoint the problem. I have limited mechanical sense that I blame on my age, so I'll try not to screw anything up too bad.

Thanks for the help gentlemen. If anything else comes to mind, lemme know.
:Mechanic:

 

[cshontz]

But I have noticed the clunk when I accelerate quickly, so the control arm bushings (your first point) might be my first guess.

Could be, but unless you've been flexing it out a lot, I kinda doubt it. I only included it because my friend had a clunk he was having trouble tracking down, and it ended up being a worn control arm bushing.

If you have track bar relocation bracketry, John is right - that is one of the first things to loosen up on lifted Jeeps, and would match your symptoms exactly.

Good luck!