Clicking noise in 4wd while making tight left turns

[flot]

Brand new JLUR. Took it "offroad" on a grass/sand/gravel lot since I wanted to exercise it in 4wd. Everything seemed to check out, until I made a sharp left turn while in 4wd low. (To be clear, yes, I know not to use 4wd on dry pavement)

It was a rapid clicking noise that seemed to come from the driver's lower dash area - almost sounded like thin aluminum tapping, or even a relay firing rapidly, if that makes sense. I thought maybe this was some oddity of the ABS or traction control system, so turned that off but still heard it.

I could reproduce it a couple of times with a tight left turn in 4wd high, but don't hear it at all in 2wd high.

Any ideas? It was a really unusual sound but I'm stumped as to what it could be.

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[Rudolph Hart]

Some reading for you....

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/clicking-noise-when-turning.9713/

 

[flot]

Oh jeez. Thanks for that - didn’t spot that thread when I searched. Oddly I can’t reproduce in 2wd.

 

[flot]

Put the Jeep up on a lift, sure enough, the drivers side lower ball joint was a little loose (took about a quarter turn) but passenger side took a good half turn or more to bring into spec. Will see if that resolves the noise and report back.

 

[TrailTorque]

How “rough” was this gravel lot you were on?

We could start there but I have an idea as to why you were experiencing this..

 

[jerrygcoffey]

Did you resolve your issue?

 

[Uhdinator]

I try not to turn real hard in 4WD and even switch into 2WD if hard turns are needed. Even if on loose ground it can still be a bit stressful to front u Joints. It may prolong the life of components a bit. As you found it can be a ball joint issue of them not being seated well enough causing the snapping.

 

[SeaDweller 2019 Moab]

Brand new JLUR. Took it "offroad" on a grass/sand/gravel lot since I wanted to exercise it in 4wd. Everything seemed to check out, until I made a sharp left turn while in 4wd low. (To be clear, yes, I know not to use 4wd on dry pavement)

It was a rapid clicking noise that seemed to come from the driver's lower dash area - almost sounded like thin aluminum tapping, or even a relay firing rapidly, if that makes sense. I thought maybe this was some oddity of the ABS or traction control system, so turned that off but still heard it.

I could reproduce it a couple of times with a tight left turn in 4wd high, but don't hear it at all in 2wd high.

Any ideas? It was a really unusual sound but I'm stumped as to what it could be.

Disconnect Your ESC fuse. that sound is your ESC solenoid I believe.

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