Popping noise on JTRD - bushing issue?

[Predator31]

Getting a popping/creaking noise from the front end on my 21 rubi diesel. Have retorqued body mounts and lower front control arm bolts where I've added accessories. Little to no change. Noticed the control arm bushing condition in the attached photo that makes it look like it's coming out of the axle housing on driver side upper attach. But there is a blue mark there, which typically means checked and good. Is it just a spacer to fill the arm or aid articulation? Several threads exposed past nut, so seems like it's attached properly still. Bit this one looks different than passenger side, which I'll add in reply.

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[CrazyCooter]

Looks normal to me! Hard to tell from that angle, but is there any clean area on the metal bushing can right where it presses into the housing?

 

[Predator31]

 

[Predator31]

Looks normal to me! Hard to tell from that angle, but is there any clean area on the metal bushing can right where it presses into the housing?

I thought the same thing, which calmed my excitement a bit because there are none and the blue mark is there.

 

[CrazyCooter]

The two sides have different castings, so they look different. Here's mine.....

 

[Predator31]

The two sides have different castings, so they look different. Here's mine.....

Looks the same as mine. Must not be the culprit. Thanks!

 

[jbehrn]

I’ve had my dealer try to solve a reported popping sound issue as well. They initially identified it as a loose bolt - that wasn’t it as it is still occurring and they weren’t able to reproduce on a second visit. I’m interested to see what you find.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Is it when turning/side loads?

Without inspecting it myself, I'd suggest loosening the front track bar bolts and then re-torquing.

 

[Predator31]

Is it when turning/side loads?

Without inspecting it myself, I'd suggest loosening the front track bar bolts and then re-torquing.

That's the other perplexing part... it's not consistent with similar events. Best I can tell is when the axle gets torqued when stopping or starting in certain ways. Can feel it at times in the floorboard and through steering wheel. If it did it more often I'd aim for ball joints. Otherwise I'm thinking body mount but that's a low confidence thought. Did it only occasionally off road where it was a low speed creek bed crawl over small to medium rocks, so everything was constantly torquing.

 

[CerOf]

What “accessories “ do you have? If you’ve loosened any suspension parts/bolts, make sure they were only torqued while the Jeep was as resting on the ground.

 

[Predator31]

What “accessories “ do you have? If you’ve loosened any suspension parts/bolts, make sure they were only torqued while the Jeep was as resting on the ground.

Control arm skids and rock sliders mounted to only the body mounts. Both loosened and retorqued on level ground.

 

[CerOf]

Control arm skids and rock sliders mounted to only the body mounts. Both loosened and retorqued on level ground.

I hate mystery noises. Has to be something pinched, caught, in a bind.

 

[obrianmcc]

I hate mystery noises. Has to be something pinched, caught, in a bind.

... x2

 

[Predator31]

I've removed one of the control arm skids as a trial in case it was preventing the full clamp force between mount ears and bushing. The bushing has a strange serration on it and has copied that into the ear surface. I wonder if skipping of those teeth is what I'm hearing. We will see what changes. Images attached for fun knowledge if nothing else.

 

[CrazyCooter]

I've removed one of the control arm skids as a trial in case it was preventing the full clamp force between mount ears and bushing. The bushing has a strange serration on it and has copied that into the ear surface. I wonder if skipping of those teeth is what I'm hearing. We will see what changes. Images attached for fun knowledge if nothing else.

That looks good too......If it was loose, the teeth would be smooth and shiny

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