'96 ZJ Front end rattle

[nebmike]

First time post - long time lurker.

Just curious if anyone else with a ZJ (mine has 160K) has experienced a clanking noice coming from the front end on choppy surfaces. I've replaced the ball joints, shocks, track bar, sway bar control arms, had brake work done, and checked the wheel bearings... and after several different shops and even more mechanics, nobody can seem to find the cause of the problem. They've all said they can hear it during test drives, but when they get under it in the shop, nobody can find anything loose.

I can simulate a similar noise if the vehicle is stopped, and the front wheels are turned about 15 degrees to the drivers side... and then quickly turning the steering wheel back and forth about 4-6". The wheels have to be turned to this position or there is no noise when moving the steering wheel. Also, if I jack up that one wheel (turned at the same angle) and physically grab the tire and try to turn it from side-to-side by hand, I get the same noise. When I do this, it sounds as if the noise is coming from somewhere behind (to the rear) of the front axle... but when the wheel is on the ground as I first described, then it sounds as if it is coming from in front of the axle.

Any suggestions?!?

 

[TwistedCU]

I have read recently that the stock shock mounts can develop a noise like you described over time. I'm not sure if that is your problem, but if it is, you can solve it with a set of bar pin eliminators, or "BPE's". They're pretty inexpensive and look like a relatively easy install.

Here's an example:
http://www.rocky-road.com/zjbarpin.html

Good luck with it!

 

[graewulf]

reciever adjustment due to wreck

out of curiosity, have you checked the steering system? sounds like it may be steering related since it does it when you turn the wheel. check the tie rod ends/steering box for slop - does it want to wander when driving?