Surfwagon
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Steve
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2020
- Threads
- 27
- Messages
- 142
- Reaction score
- 126
- Location
- Carlsbad, CA
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 JLU Sport S
- Thread starter
- #1
Recently had a Rubicon axle swap done and am experiencing a small (but somewhat expected) issue.
Front axle has old style Teraflex track bar (heim joint version), stock rubicon drag link and steer smarts tie rod. Ball joints were all in great shape (axles only had 14k miles and not a scratch on them.)
Everything had been re-torqued after a few hundred miles, post-swap. Steering straight/true, no wobble, slack, looseness, etc.
2 things possibly causing clunk (in m and a slight, singular “tap” in the steering wheel when it happens:
- The Teraflex track bar has rotation play. The joints do not move, but I can reach up and twist the track bar forward and backward, like twisting a motorcycle throttle. It’s only a few degrees either way. Teraflex says that it was an early design (with Heims) and that it could be noisy.
- The stock Rubicon drag link jiggles at the axle side mount….meaning I can get a clicking sound to reproduce if I attempt to move in an “up/down” motion. Front to back there is movement as well.
Keep in mind, this only occurs during acceleration/deceleration(braking)…and so far, only going in straight lines….meaning if the steering is under load (turning) while accelerating or braking, then there is no clunk. I’ll add that I’ve felt it during turning and not move as well (parking lot situation).
I’ll try to attach some videos:
Front axle has old style Teraflex track bar (heim joint version), stock rubicon drag link and steer smarts tie rod. Ball joints were all in great shape (axles only had 14k miles and not a scratch on them.)
Everything had been re-torqued after a few hundred miles, post-swap. Steering straight/true, no wobble, slack, looseness, etc.
2 things possibly causing clunk (in m and a slight, singular “tap” in the steering wheel when it happens:
- The Teraflex track bar has rotation play. The joints do not move, but I can reach up and twist the track bar forward and backward, like twisting a motorcycle throttle. It’s only a few degrees either way. Teraflex says that it was an early design (with Heims) and that it could be noisy.
- The stock Rubicon drag link jiggles at the axle side mount….meaning I can get a clicking sound to reproduce if I attempt to move in an “up/down” motion. Front to back there is movement as well.
Keep in mind, this only occurs during acceleration/deceleration(braking)…and so far, only going in straight lines….meaning if the steering is under load (turning) while accelerating or braking, then there is no clunk. I’ll add that I’ve felt it during turning and not move as well (parking lot situation).
I’ll try to attach some videos:
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