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Clicking/clunk in front end taking off?

kapk22

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I recently noticed a clunk feeling when taking off. I can feel it in the gas pedal. I checked the trackbar, tie rod ends, control arms draglink by hand and nothing feels loose. I shook everything as hard as I could. However, I’m still wondering if I am
Not able to feel anything loose when it’s on the ground. I also had my wife move the steering wheel back and forth to check the tie rod and drag link. The only thing that clicked a little was the upper drag link end. Any ideas?

2021 JLUR, 2” Mopar lift, Clayton adjustable lower control arms, rc adjustable track bar, 37” mud grapplers
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autotragic

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I'm thinking ball joints or wheel bearing. Get the front tires off the ground and check again.

Can you reproduce the clunk at speed if you let off and coast then hit the gas again?
 
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kapk22

kapk22

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I'm thinking ball joints or wheel bearing. Get the front tires off the ground and check again.

Can you reproduce the clunk at speed if you let off and coast then hit the gas again?
I do believe I can. I will check this afternoon

I forgot to mention there’s only 21k miles on it with minimal Offroad. I did have to replace the lower control arms already, but they were garbage rc and the bushings wore out.
 

autotragic

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I do believe I can. I will check this afternoon

I forgot to mention there’s only 21k miles on it with minimal Offroad. I did have to replace the lower control arms already, but they were garbage rc and the bushings wore out.
Also listen for any clunking/clicking while making turns. That is usually the sign of a bad u-joint.

If you are lucky you might just have developed a lot of slop in the gears as well. Sometimes if the gears are just on the edge of the specs from the factory you can get some slop in them after some miles are put on it. I had this problem with an old Mustang of mine, it wasn't a big deal but it was noticeable if you payed attention to it. You could feel a "clunk" off the line if you didn't floor it and if you coasted and then got on it about half throttle or less...it was just a little extra backlash in the gears and it wasn't going to hurt anything.
 

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I would start with torque to spec everything. Uppers, lowers, shocks, everything. Somewhere on this forum was a comprehensive list of torque values. Grabbing a component isn't going to tell you anything unless its ready to fall off..
 

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I would start with torque to spec everything. Uppers, lowers, shocks, everything. Somewhere on this forum was a comprehensive list of torque values. Grabbing a component isn't going to tell you anything unless its ready to fall off..
I had a similar clunk and it turned out to be the LCA axle bolts - retorqued them to spec and got it fixed (190lbs/ft if memory serves, so definitely stronger than you'd do by hand unless you're The Hulk)
 

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kapk22

kapk22

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Also listen for any clunking/clicking while making turns. That is usually the sign of a bad u-joint.

If you are lucky you might just have developed a lot of slop in the gears as well. Sometimes if the gears are just on the edge of the specs from the factory you can get some slop in them after some miles are put on it. I had this problem with an old Mustang of mine, it wasn't a big deal but it was noticeable if you payed attention to it. You could feel a "clunk" off the line if you didn't floor it and if you coasted and then got on it about half throttle or less...it was just a little extra backlash in the gears and it wasn't going to hurt anything.
I took it to a local shop and they said the track bar has some play at the axle side. They also said there is some play in the draglink, on the drivers side.

Gotta start saving up for some parts now.

I am not surprised about the trackbar however, I thought I would have been able to feel it by hand the other day.
 

autotragic

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I took it to a local shop and they said the track bar has some play at the axle side. They also said there is some play in the draglink, on the drivers side.

Gotta start saving up for some parts now.

I am not surprised about the trackbar however, I thought I would have been able to feel it by hand the other day.
That sounds like fun, good luck with all that. Not really a surprise since you are lifted and have bigger tires.
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