Crunching noise when going over dips in road

[fun2drum]

Over the past few weeks my truck has been sometimes making a crunching or grinding noise from the front left as it goes over certain dips and bumps in the road. It's mostly in dips and mostly at low speed, sometimes when braking and sometimes not. It seems to happen more in situations when I'm either accellerating from a stop or slowing down like to enter a driveway, and it's that dip where the road and driveway meet that it will happen. It doesn't happen all the time - it was just once in a while at first, but it's getting more frequent. It could be my imagination but it seems to do it more when it's cold, and after driving on a trip it's less likely to occur. The sound is similar to what you'd hear by dragging one concrete block across another, and it seems to be as the suspension is coming out of the dip rather than the initial impact.

The only 4x4 driving I've done is on the NC beaches a few times. Nothing wild or anything, and it has performed great. There are no other issues and it drives great on the road.

I have an appointment with the dealer on Jan 26th which is a week away. The first thing she asked me on the phone was if I had replaced any of my suspension with aftermarket parts. I was fortunately able to truthfully say that it's all stock. I did replace the tires which are the same diameter but about an inch wider, but that was after the noise first appeared. There's no chance they're rubbing on anything. There's plenty of room around behind there.

So anyway, I thought I would see if any of you have experienced this or have any ideas before I get to the dealer next week.

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[JT202006]

I have the same thing, I think it may be exhaust related

 

[fun2drum]

I have the same thing, I think it may be exhaust related

I just can't wrap my mind around that, considering where the noise seems to be coming from and when it happens.

I've been surprised before though. My last car had a clunking sound when I turned corners and nobody could figure it out. I took it to this independent shop that works on our used cars and they finally found it. The horn, hidden behind the fender, wasn't attached and was swinging from the wires, banging against the fender when I turned.

 

[TheGreatCO]

I've noticed as it got colder, my suspension is making weird noises that it didn't used to make. Not squeaks, but the way you describe it sounds about right.

 

[Mjolnir]

Check for rubbed components.

There very well could be a rock lodged somewhere causing the sound.

 

[JeepCares]

Hi @fun2drum,

How was your appointment today? Please feel free to keep us updated via private message.

Darlene
Jeep Cares

 

[fun2drum]

Hi @fun2drum,

How was your appointment today? Please feel free to keep us updated via private message.

Darlene
Jeep Cares

Thanks, the appointment went about the way I expected. As I mentioned before, the noise is not present all the time, and as luck would have it the dealer couldn't replicate it. They did look around under there and made sure nothing was loose or obviously wrong. The service manager told me we would set another appointment if/when the noise becomes more frequent. I get it - If they can't replicate it then it's darn hard to diagnose it.

It's such a weird thing though. It made the crunch sound in two dips within a couple of blocks of my house as I was driving there. It does seem worse on a very cold morning, which it wasn't. It seems worst after driving cold for a short distance, and then gets gradually better as the truck is driven more. If I've been on a trip of a longer distance then it doesn't make the sound at all - maybe not until the next morning.

Anyway, thanks for checking in with me. I'll keep you posted by PM if anything changes. BTW, I'm confident that the people at my local dealership will take care of me.

 

[InvertedLogic]

I think I hear the same noise, but I hear it from the driver side rear mostly and on cold days. I've chalked it up to bushing noise and haven't tried to hunt down the cause yet.

 

[Eric Kern]

Had something very similar, tracked it down to driver side under B Pillar...havent fixed it yet but posted a vid and description over here (if the vid even works, forums are funky with uploading vids/sounds etc...) Looks to be exhaust pipe/routing related

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/scrape-sound-over-bumps-or-dips-in-road-help.38207/

 

[Eric Kern]

Oh and if it’s coming from the front of the truck...pull the cotter pins out of your lower ball joint castle nuts and see if they’re even finger tight (mine weren’t, huge known issue with the JLs as well, that carried to the gladiators)..anyways retorque both upper and lower.....if the noise is middle/rear (and I know this is gonna sound crazy) hose down the grommets on your exhaust hangers with WD40

 

[AlexMasal]

Hi all,

Was this ever resolved? I too have this issue. It's a clinking/rubbing noise from the front left hand side. It happens when the front end articulates at low speeds (speed bumps/dips in road/driveways)

 

[User Name]

Had a noise coming from the rear left shock sounded like a crunch sound of sorts. Originally thought it was a bushing but it was the whole shock itself at only 4,000 km. Could only replicate on warm days and not colder days. Luckily didn't have to drive it to prove of it's existence just had to jump on the rear bumper when I brought it in. But as you described at low speeds and very small bumps would create the sound. Gradually got to the point where it sounded like an 80 year old farm truck squeeking and crunching down the road.

 

[Eric Kern]

Hi all,

Was this ever resolved? I too have this issue. It's a clinking/rubbing noise from the front left hand side. It happens when the front end articulates at low speeds (speed bumps/dips in road/driveways)

Did you check your ball joint Castle nuts?

 

[AlexMasal]

Did you check your ball joint Castle nuts?

No I haven't. I'll check it out today.

 

[fun2drum]

I'm bumping this old thread back to life because now that the cooler mornings are back, so is that sound. It's so weird! It went away completely during the warm months so I kinda forgot about it.

Maybe there's some new info out there about this? I have sort of come to a point of letting it go as just a "Jeep thing". It doesn't seem to be affecting anything regarding performance. It's just a sound, and that sound stops once I've driven a few miles and/or it gets warmer. Maybe if it starts getting worse or lasts long enough to where it's still doing it by the time I get to the dealer I'll take it back in. My warranty will last until around July and then my extended goes way past that but with a deductible. Am I stupid to just let it go like that?

For now I've found it helpful to crank up the music when I first start and that way I don't notice it. lol

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