My Gladiator is making a thump or popping noise when turning steering wheel left or right

[JK Spartan Adventures]

Hey Jeep Community,

My Gladiator has a thumping or popping noise when i turn my steering wheel left or right. It happens standing still or even when driving. Have you guys ran into this before?

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[High Alextude]

Is it coming from the steering wheel itself or do you suspect it is coming from the suspension/steering components?

 

[JK Spartan Adventures]

Its coming from the front end. I can hear it. If i have someone turning the steerin wheel and i am out under the jeep. It is coming from the front end. I just cannot pin point on where it is coming from. I think it might be the drag link. However, i am not for sure.

 

[High Alextude]

I’m not sure what you’ve done to your Jeep thus far, but I would check track bar ends and make sure all lug nuts are tight.

 

[JK Spartan Adventures]

I have a 3.5 lift from rough country. I replaced the front track bar that comes with that kit with the steer smarts front track bar. I added the steer smarts sector shaft brace. This kit has been on my Gladiator for about 5 months. I have tighten down the components every 3000 miles since the first tight down after 500 and 1000 miles. This popping and/or thumping just started about a week ago.

 

[Lunentucker]

If it's clunking it should also be sending a vibration through the related components.
If possible, get someone to work the steering while you hold a hand on each steering component and see if you can feel it to source if out.

Obvious precautions to prevent injury or death.

 

[JK Spartan Adventures]

Thanks, i will do that tomorrow.

 

[bleda2002]

Ball joints, check the torque on the ball joints as they will click if loose

 

[Caspien]

I'm going to propose a simple solution (since I just had the same thing happen, today.. lol), may not be the problem, but figured I'd at least offer up a potentially easy problem that can cause a pop when turning the wheel.

Have you checked your inner fender liners? After washing mine today, I started noticing a popping noise.

Turns out, when I used the pressure washer to clean all of the mud and rock from the liners, I actually pulled 2 of the plastic panel retainers free, which caused the liner to sag a bit... and when turning the wheel, it'd snag a bit. Replaced the 2 retainers, issue resolved

(I seriously hope your issue is this one, since it's less than a dollar


~ Casp

 

[JK Spartan Adventures]

Thank you! I fixed it this morning. I got under the Gladiator and had the wife move the steering wheel back and forth and it turn out being the pinch bolt on the drag link not being tightin down and i did that all is good no more popping or thumping going on drove it around for about 30 minutes. Steering is good.

 

[Elgin]

Thank you! I fixed it this morning. I got under the Gladiator and had the wife move the steering wheel back and forth and it turn out being the pinch bolt on the drag link not being tightin down and i did that all is good no more popping or thumping going on drove it around for about 30 minutes. Steering is good.

I have the same issue. How did you notice the pinch bolt on the drag link not being tightened? By looking or touching?

 

[Camaroboi13]

I have the same issue. How did you notice the pinch bolt on the drag link not being tightened? By looking or touching?

Sometimes it’s hard to see, best to grab the bar and see if you can feel it moving. On a side note I had a clunking issue and I thought it was the track bar. Turns out my steering box was falling off the Jeep ?

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