Upper Control Arm Bolt Hitting Frame

[dlong1119]

I've got a popping noise when stopping that I'm trying to find as well. It only happens one time and only when slowing to a stop and sometimes seems like it's the driver side and sometimes the passenger side, noises like that can do weird things in my experience. I'm on a 2.5" Clayton OL+ lift, DT ball joints, CavFab steering, Reid knuckles, autoLynx disconnects and Synergy track/sector brace.

Are you sure that wiring harness in your pics doesn't have any rub marks on the back side? That mark on the frame seems too smooth for it to a bolt scraping it, looks more like a harness that is slowly rubbing when it makes contact, with the center of the area having worn down more because that's where it makes the most contact the most frequently.

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[Lofty]

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!

Check your track bar bracket bushings. I bet they are shot. Really the major thing that would allow that amount of cross car motion. Start your jeep have someone turn the wheel side to side while you look for bushing slop. Should help you pin point the issue

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Back home from my trip; I'll check more tomorrow.

While driving I had some time to think. The bolt on the UCA lines up about mid-frame width for me. If I'm stopping, the frame is moving down, not up. So those marks must just had been coincidental because I don't think the axle would move like that when stopping.

I'm definitely going to check those wire looms out tomorrow. I had my inner fender rub on the drivers side and it looks like a very similar mark. So I do agree, it's a smooth wear. But if that wire loom is hitting, I'm wondering when it will break, and if others are having a similar issue. If I remember, it's the loom for the FAD sensor. And I'm wondering if that wire loom is rubbing the end of that bolt as well.

Either way, I'm going to set the gopro up tomorrow pointed in that area to see what it looks like. Thank you all for the responses.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

I've got a popping noise when stopping that I'm trying to find as well. It only happens one time and only when slowing to a stop and sometimes seems like it's the driver side and sometimes the passenger side, noises like that can do weird things in my experience. I'm on a 2.5" Clayton OL+ lift, DT ball joints, CavFab steering, Reid knuckles, autoLynx disconnects and Synergy track/sector brace.

Mine is all stock so I don't know if I would compare your pop to mine. But it happens when coming to a stop especially downhill. It was one pop at first, then it turned into two or three.

I did replace the drag link joint at the pitman arm last week. I don't want to jinx it, but I didn't notice it today, and I was really rough on it offroading. Maybe the jeep wants to do that more than drive downhill on pavement.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Update: I got the camera mounted and I can't replicate the pop anymore.

I went offroading yesterday and I don't know if something jiggled back in place or maybe the undercarriage wash knocked something or what. But so far, I haven't been able to get it to pop.

I'm expecting it to come back soon. I hope it doesn't but I'm sure it will in a week. I'm going to put this thread on pause until I can get a video of it.

 

[Beach Nut]

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.

That’s A LOT of movement side to side…you should check all your bushings and ball joints…but with that much movement…you should DEFINITELY feel it! I would not drive it until you know what’s going on, just MHO.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

One more update. Still can't replicate the noise or the bolt getting close. As the others have mentioned, I believe the wiring loom was rubbing up against the frame, causing the mark.

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