Carrier bearing making noise?

[gearhead22]

New to me 2021 gladiator rubicon with 49k miles. we just completed a 2 hour trip to a campground hauling a some gear and a small popup camper. Once the camper was unhooked and we were driving around the campground mostly empty I could hear this light clunk/thud when the suspension cycled up and down on the road. Once we stopped I opened the tailgate and pushed down on it to cycle the suspension and could hear/feel the clunk/thud. I laid under the jeep and had my wife bounce it up and down, and I can audibly hear it and the only piece where I can feel it is in the driveshaft. No movement from any shock, sway bar link, control arm etc. I feel it in the driveshaft. I put both hands on each side of the carrier bearing and it feels as if it’s in there. But there’s no play up and down, it feels as if ifs in and out. By pushing on the driveshaft in any way I cannot make it do it, it will only happen when the suspension moves up and down.

Thoughts?

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[pcrawfordpt]

Unfortunately a thud or clunk on a bumpy road could be a hundred different things. I suspected my carrier bearing was making some noises, but it turned out to be suspension. The carrier bearing is a little looser than I would expect, and the outside of the rubber will appear cracked. According to Jeep, this is norma.
Does your JTR have a lift and or after market parts. The first thing you should do in this case is torque everything to spec. Will help you gent to know your Jeep better anyway. You may find the culprit, or at least rule out what it isn’t.

Loose or worn suspension parts are the most likely offenders of the thud/clunk.

After owning a Jeep for a while you will get the “what was that noise curse” on a regular basis. Get t know your Jeep and how to maintain it.

 

[Stan H]

Mine was making an unusual clunk and this went on for weeks couldn't find it . Then one day I was parked uphill receiving some forward tension on the front suspension and I had just heard it again. I got underneath started trying to shake things . Here I discovered it was my Lower control arms. The metric bolts are smaller than the hole in the control arm and it was allowing it to clunk up and down. Tightened it up and then get Synergy ⅝×4" grade 8 bolts . Problem fixed no more clunkity clunk.

 

[gearhead22]

Unfortunately a thud or clunk on a bumpy road could be a hundred different things. I suspected my carrier bearing was making some noises, but it turned out to be suspension. The carrier bearing is a little looser than I would expect, and the outside of the rubber will appear cracked. According to Jeep, this is norma.
Does your JTR have a lift and or after market parts. The first thing you should do in this case is torque everything to spec. Will help you gent to know your Jeep better anyway. You may find the culprit, or at least rule out what it isn’t.

Loose or worn suspension parts are the most likely offenders of the thud/clunk.

After owning a Jeep for a while you will get the “what was that noise curse” on a regular basis. Get t know your Jeep and how to maintain it.

You can feel it in the driveshaft. No other component has the same feel. It feels as if it’s in the carrier bearing. But unlike typical carrier bearing play that’s up and down this is forward and back/in and out.

 

[pcrawfordpt]

You can feel it in the driveshaft. No other component has the same feel. It feels as if it’s in the carrier bearing. But unlike typical carrier bearing play that’s up and down this is forward and back/in and out.

Are the bolts holding the carrier bearing tight? Some play is normal. A driveshaft not under torque will move and clunk a little. Again, just put tools on everything until you find the loose component. Could even be loose/banging exhaust? Something in the bed…I had traction boards leaning up against the back of the bed that would clunk on bumpy roads.

Welcome to “what’s that noise”…

 

[tysongladiator]

I agree with @pcrawfordpt. It could be a number of things especially when you're dealing with the driveline. It could be the carrier bearing, driveshaft itself, pinion bearing, etc. A lot of times (with any vehicle), when you hear a sound, it could echo through several components and lead you down a long rabbit hole.

I'm trying to narrow down an issue on my F150 right now. I think it's the wheel bearings. Or might be the brake calipers because I haven't removed the wheels yet to inspect. But... that's how it is with any automobile.

I had a pinion bearing issue on my JT as well. So... it could be something from a number of components. You're best option may be to seek out an offroad shop if it's not under warranty anymore.

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