Upper Control Arm Bolt Hitting Frame

[nU7OuxIx]

I have a stock JLUR with steel bumpers from the factory. When I got it, I mounted a winch on it, which has naturally caused the front to sag a bit. After about 4 years, I noticed a popping noise when coming to a stop, especially on a hill.

Today I finally got around to taking a really really good look, and discovered that the upper control arm bolt is too long and is making contact with the frame. You can see paint rubbed off on the frame and the end of the bolt is pretty clean vs dirt everywhere else. When the jeep is parked, there's about an inch and a half of clearance or so. But I think when I'm stopping and turning, the momentum is just enough for it to make contact.

Has anybody run into this? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[jav_eee]

A picture would do wonders

 

[nU7OuxIx]

A picture would do wonders

You are right; I was being a bit lazy. Figured it's a rub so there's not much to see.

When I was trying to figure things out (I thought it was originally the ball joint), I had my gopro strapped to the sway bar and that thing did seem to move a surprising amount on just the road. I was really surprised at that. I'm leaving for a trip soon, but I will try to hook the gopro up Sunday and get a video of it.

Sorry for the quality, already jacked the car down and put the wheel back on. You can see where it's making contact with the frame, and you can see the end of the bolt that's pretty clean. I spray the jeep with fluid film so that's why it looks the way it does.

 

[Remorseless]

If your UCA is moving that far over the whole front end would feel like it was coming apart

 

[jav_eee]

How do your control arm bushings look? Thats a lot of side to side movement.

 

[ScotM]

My front passenger upper control arm for reference. No where near the frame. Am I misunderstanding the situation?

 

[nU7OuxIx]

My front passenger upper control arm for reference. No where near the frame. Am I misunderstanding the situation?

It looks like your upper control arm bolt sits below the frame. Mine sits about in the middle of the frame.

I think you're getting the situation. When stopping downhill the end of the bolt hits the frame. At least that's what I believe. It's raining out today and I'm leaving soon for a trip. I'm planning to capture this on video Sunday for verification.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

How do your control arm bushings look? Thats a lot of side to side movement.

Not sure, I would have to get under there and check. But I will definitely take a look at them Sunday.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

If your UCA is moving that far over the whole front end would feel like it was coming apart

My jeep has always been exciting to drive. It's hard to keep it in the lane and if you turn your head to look out the window, you start drifting into the other lane. From the factory, the toe was way off and got that fixed. My caster is around 5.7*. I always just thought the drifting was a jeep thing.

My drag link joint at the pitman arm was popping and clicking so I changed that out. After taking it for a drive, it steers TONS better. But now I'm wondering if the UCA bushings are shot too.

 

[Remorseless]

My jeep has always been exciting to drive. It's hard to keep it in the lane and if you turn your head to look out the window, you start drifting into the other lane. From the factory, the toe was way off and got that fixed. My caster is around 5.7*. I always just thought the drifting was a jeep thing.

My drag link joint at the pitman arm was popping and clicking so I changed that out. After taking it for a drive, it steers TONS better. But now I'm wondering if the UCA bushings are shot too.

The drifting, IMO, is pretty normal. Every solid axle Jeep I've had wanders, just the nature of the beast.

I'm willing to bet it's a different bushing you've got that's dying though, and that the frame rub was from one of the lines over in that area and not that bolt. Your axle would have to shift to the right a full couple inches for the bolt to hit, which would feel EXCEEDINGLY violent. Like you'd be terrified to drive it because you're going to die violent. Very, very unlikely to be the culprit.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

The drifting, IMO, is pretty normal. Every solid axle Jeep I've had wanders, just the nature of the beast.

I'm willing to bet it's a different bushing you've got that's dying though, and that the frame rub was from one of the lines over in that area and not that bolt. Your axle would have to shift to the right a full couple inches for the bolt to hit, which would feel EXCEEDINGLY violent. Like you'd be terrified to drive it because you're going to die violent. Very, very unlikely to be the culprit.

Thanks for the response. There's a few wire looms over there but they look to be in tact. Since I spray with fluid film, it has a nice cover of dust and dirt all over the place. When jacked up and the wheel removed, the bolt end of the UCA looks like fresh steel and the frame is rubbed right about in that area. With the jeep popping a few times when stopping, I'm just assuming that the pop is the bolt end whacking the frame.

I also checked the LCA and UCA bolts and while I didn't torque them to 100-some ft/lbs, they were very tight. Looking at the UCA bolt area when jacked up, to me...it looks like it's not centered and more passenger than driver. But that was just me glancing at it without actually looking at the bushing. The driver side looks fine.

I don't doubt you that it would be exceedingly violent. I had a grand cherokee 20 years ago and I never had an issue driving it. This jeep has always been a bit scary to drive. My goal is to investigate more Sunday and I will definitely be posting the video here.

 

[jav_eee]

I also checked the LCA and UCA bolts and while I didn't torque them to 100-some ft/lbs, they were very tight.

well I hope your lowers are much tighter than that. They’re supposed to be at 190. Uppers are only 85 I believe.

is your axle centered under the vehicle?

 

[ASSFROW]

Is the Jeep lifted? Without an adjustable trackbar the axle will be offset to the drivers side when lifted, an improperly adjusted trackbar can do the same to either side. Worn out trackbar bushing will allow the front axle to move side to side and is a culprit for death wobble. My Wrangler is completely stock and has almost no drift.

 

[Upnarms]

Im not seeing how that uca bolt would move that much either, unless your trackbar is crazy loose or unbolted in which case you'd have other major issues.

I would try mounting a go pro or an old cell phone somewhere with a view to see what is actually happening. That should give you confirmation before assuming it's that bolt

 

[krweatherl]

Wore out Track bar bushings or a broken frame mount (which was a problem when the JL was first released in 2018). Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you look for movement at the ends of the track bar. There should be no movement side to side.

Sponsored