Clayton Lifted JTRD, noticeable clunk in drivers side front under braking.

[mjfrank]

Hi all,
Have been meaning to introduce myself for a while, I bought a 2021 JT Rubicon diesel almost a year ago now. I really love this thing, it’s my third and most favorite Jeep. Anyway, the JT has been great, until about three weeks ago. It’s always wandered a little on the highway, and had a noticeable pull to the right. It’s running a Clayton 2.5“ full lift (arms, springs, shocks,etc), and 37” BFG AT-KO2s. From the carfax history, the lift and tires have been on since late ‘21, when it had about 700 miles on it, so this combo has 41,000 miles on it now. Back to three weeks ago, I hit one of St. Louis’s finest pot holes with the passenger side front tire, I wasn’t going real fast, about 35-ish, pulling into a shopping center, but it was a good enough smack that even my wife reacted. The Jeep drove fine after, no vibrations, even took a long highway trip with it, but then about a week later I started hearing and feeling a clunk from below the floorboard whenever I’m braking to a stop. Not every time, of course, so I’ve yet to figure out a pattern to the noise.

I’ve just spent a bunch of hours this weekend lying under it, checking and tightening everything I can find with a bolt in it. I thought I found the issue, the drivers rear lower arm and passenger front upper arm jam nuts were both loose and not even contacting the threaded arm. After snugging those down I went for a drive, and made it to the third stop before I heard the clunk, seemed like it was under my footwell. Went back and did some more checking, tie rod, drag link, all the arms, shock mounts, sway bar end links, etc, all were pretty snug. The passenger front upper arm had an aftermarket bolt that was too short to reach the locking part of the locknut. It wasn’t loose, but it wasn’t tight either. I removed the washers they had on it and was able to get the bolt all the way through the locknut. The pitman arm end of the drag link has a very slight amount of play in it, certainly not enough for me to feel while driving, and I don’t feel it while turning the wheel. The tie rod and the other end of the drag link is tight. All of the arm joints appear tight too. I haven’t test driven it again since the last go-round, so I don’t know if the bolt fix “fixed” it, but I’m kinda doubting it since the noise didn’t seem to come from that side. I did do some adjustments on the track bars, both axles were offset to the passenger side by about 3/8”, but I don’t think that was the cause of the clunking either.

I’m kinda out of options, the only other thing I noticed was the drivers side front shock is leaking a bit of oil.(Fox 2.0) Does anyone have any other ideas for things to check or where the noise could be coming from?

Thanks in advance!
Mike Frank

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[Waltzforzizi]

Might be tie rod/drag link flop. They may be tight but still can flop back and forth causing a clunk. I know mine does it (will be swapping out eventually) .

 

[JTdiRtyD]

If you have a leaking shock I'd start there.

Otherwise remove components and double check that nothing is cracked, no broken joints. Things can still be tight, but if the joint itself broke or cracked that it could still be moving around.

But my bet is on that shock.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Might be tie rod/drag link flop. They may be tight but still can flop back and forth causing a clunk. I know mine does it (will be swapping out eventually) .

This may be it. If it’s just starting to wear you’ll hear it every now and again. Once it’s toast you’ll hear it more often. You’ll especially hear it on a trail with some decent flex spots when everything is cycling.

 

[drexotic]

Look under the seat. Loose "stuff" has fooled me more than once.

 

[WILDHOBO]

When braking, clunks are very often a slightly loose control arm bolt. Not a safety issue almost ever. Just play between bushing and bolt with not enough clamping pressure. I’d definitely start there. Especially if it’s only when braking.

 

[Gizmo]

I have found a rubber mallet is helpful at times. Whack different components and listen.

 

[mjfrank]

I’ll try to respond to all the posts above, thanks for the suggestions. So the second thing I did was pull the stuff out from under the rear seat, because that junk does clunk around a bit, but the noise was still there. I do think it still may be a control arm, and I did tighten them all up but haven’t driven it since. (it’s not my daily) I’m hoping to get it back out this weekend. The shock does give me some concern, though I’m not getting noise over bumps.

The drag link and tie rod are probably next highest on my list, I did initially think it was them, because both ends on the passenger side clunked when I shook them. I thought it was vertical or lateral slop in the joint, but after playing with it a bit, I realized I was rocking them which was causing the clunk, and the joint itself was tight. Now I’m wondering if they should even rock? (To be clear, by “rock”, I mean I‘m basically twisting them) So, is that not normal? I don’t believe that failure is imminent, but is it a sign that the rod ends are on their way out? Guess I better start investigating replacements if so.

Also, has anyone had the aftermarket Fox 2.0 shocks rebuilt, or do you just replace them? I’d probably have both fronts rebuilt. I know it’s possible, but is it worth it.

Thanks again!
Mike

 

[WILDHOBO]

I’ll try to respond to all the posts above, thanks for the suggestions. So the second thing I did was pull the stuff out from under the rear seat, because that junk does clunk around a bit, but the noise was still there. I do think it still may be a control arm, and I did tighten them all up but haven’t driven it since. (it’s not my daily) I’m hoping to get it back out this weekend. The shock does give me some concern, though I’m not getting noise over bumps.

The drag link and tie rod are probably next highest on my list, I did initially think it was them, because both ends on the passenger side clunked when I shook them. I thought it was vertical or lateral slop in the joint, but after playing with it a bit, I realized I was rocking them which was causing the clunk, and the joint itself was tight. Now I’m wondering if they should even rock? (To be clear, by “rock”, I mean I‘m basically twisting them) So, is that not normal? I don’t believe that failure is imminent, but is it a sign that the rod ends are on their way out? Guess I better start investigating replacements if so.

Also, has anyone had the aftermarket Fox 2.0 shocks rebuilt, or do you just replace them? I’d probably have both fronts rebuilt. I know it’s possible, but is it worth it.

Thanks again!
Mike

Being able to rotate the drag link and tie rod joints is normal. And if rotated to the point of hitting, they’ll make a noise, but not typically when steering or braking.

I have a set of fox 2.0’s laying around that also need to be rebuilt. I’ve been told it’s relatively inexpensive to do.

 

[md2k]

remove the shock entirely then drive. see if it still clunks. then remove and replace the other side.

if its the shock... it cant clunk if it aint there.

What speed to you have be going when you brake to get it to clunk? if its low, it opens up a few precarious options LOL.

got a go pro? secure it under the jeep near the control arm( WITH A TETHER) and see if it can record it moving or maybe easier to focus on where the clunk is.


probably shouldnt... but wonder how bad it would be to drive with 3 out of 4 control arms... hmmm
mopar 2" lift lower control arms are pretty cheap, like $80. They're only 1/4" longer.

 

[mjfrank]

LOL, I'll pass on the three-control arm test drive, I don't think I want to explain that to my insurance company if something happens!

The clunk was sometimes at parking lot speeds, sometime just slowing to a stop light, so maybe 35-40mph, always with my foot on the brake.

Yeah, I'm still looking at shock rebuild or replacement, but I just got back from a test drive, well multiple test drives, and I think the work last weekend cured it for now. I said multiple test drives, because during the first one I was too distracted trying to get it to move to notice anything. I forgot I had adjusted the front trackbar and didn't readjust the drag link, so my steering wheel was off and the stability control kept kicking in to the point where I barely made it back up the road to my house, oops! No harm done, got it back, adjusted the steering, and tried again. Not really hearing the noise now, so either the loose jam nuts or the questionably tightened control arm bolt were the likely culprit. I'll probably put a few more miles on this weekend to make sure.

Next up is new tires, new or rebuilt front shocks and decent alignment. May look into steering (drag link and tie rod) replacement later this year.

Thanks again!
Mike

 

[Stan H]

LOL, I'll pass on the three-control arm test drive, I don't think I want to explain that to my insurance company if something happens!

The clunk was sometimes at parking lot speeds, sometime just slowing to a stop light, so maybe 35-40mph, always with my foot on the brake.

Yeah, I'm still looking at shock rebuild or replacement, but I just got back from a test drive, well multiple test drives, and I think the work last weekend cured it for now. I said multiple test drives, because during the first one I was too distracted trying to get it to move to notice anything. I forgot I had adjusted the front trackbar and didn't readjust the drag link, so my steering wheel was off and the stability control kept kicking in to the point where I barely made it back up the road to my house, oops! No harm done, got it back, adjusted the steering, and tried again. Not really hearing the noise now, so either the loose jam nuts or the questionably tightened control arm bolt were the likely culprit. I'll probably put a few more miles on this weekend to make sure.

Next up is new tires, new or rebuilt front shocks and decent alignment. May look into steering (drag link and tie rod) replacement later this year.

Thanks again!
Mike

Take 2 blocks of wood place one in front and one behind a front tire then move just slightly against it both directions see if you have the clunk . Switch to other side try same thing. Also can take a jack place under axle and just start to take strain off one wheel then get under and shake that Lower control arm up and down see if that is it .
Also check front and rear Sway bar end links the top knuckles and lower bushings should have zero slack if they move they are wore out.

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