Clunk in the front end?-Help I am stumped

[DOSS]

OK here is the issue.. I have a clunk in the front end.. seems to come from the passenger side. It will occur in 4WD and in 2WD though it is easier to replicate in 4WD. If you back up with the wheel cranked to the Drivers side and hit the break hard it clunks. then to get it to clunk again you have to go forward and hit the break again. It will not do it in any other order.. you can't get it to clunk going forward until you have made it clunk in reverse and Vice versa..

I have gone through the following recently. Noise occured prior to all of these new parts or repairs
Brakes - Checked and released a stuck caliper on the passenger side
New ball joints all the way around
new tie rod and ends (seem tight still)
New tie rod end on the top of the drag link.. bottom is old but still seems "OK"
New Uper control arms and bushings (they are tight)
Lower control arm bushings checked out ok
BPE's and tightend the shocks up
Springs are sitting well
U Joints all look and feel tight
Checked for cracked frame at steering box and front end - nothing


OK what are your ideas I am seriously stumped... if you have no ideas who would you suggest taking it to that will know what they are doing.

Oh ya this is on my 01 XJ

 

[Tacoma]

did you check the wheel bearings? Caliper bolts???

 

[DOSS]

Yep wheel berrings looked good when I did the ball joints a week ago and the caliper bolts are tight as I can get them

 

[I Lean]

I'd guess it's your lower control arms. You say you checked the bushings---did you remove the bolts to check on 'em? I'm thinking the holes in the brackets are oblonged, and even though the bolts may be tight there's enough force to make it slip from the front of the oblong to the back. That's why you have to clunk it in reverse before you can reclunk it forward.

 

[DOSS]

Nope I didn't pull the bolts... Guess I have something to do tomorow night..

 

[Tacoma]

If the other stuff is all good, then I agree with Carlos Santana there: suspension parts.

 

[Kiel]

Sway bar?

 

[DaveB]

Track bar possibly, my xj was doing something similar last week and found the track bar bolt was loose.

 

[PolarXJ]

Who did you use to lift your cherokee?

 

[DOSS]

I lifted it myself - Its not the swaybar becouse it will do it with the swaybar disconected... Track bar was recently out and put back in no issues with the bushing and it is tight as it will get

 

[Zombie]

I had a nasty noise develop on my grand that only occured in reverse with the wheels cranked hard to the passenger side.
It was the pass. side tire hitting the body. Apparently I didn't trim as much on the pass side, and I still hit a little bit. Just give that you said it only occurs with the wheel turned, have you cheked body clearance?
I know the axle with sit differently in the fender in reverse and under throttle due to the physics of the axle and tire assembly moving backwards.

Just a thought.

 

[Caleb]

Check your engine mounts. I know some 4 cyl wranglers had a very similar issue and most the time it ends up being a broken engine mount.

 

[mbryson]

Check your engine mounts. I know some 4 cyl wranglers had a very similar issue and most the time it ends up being a broken engine mount.

VERY common on 4.0L Cherokees and Grands

 

[Herzog]

First thing I though of was engine mounts as well.

 

[Devel]

First thing I though of was engine mounts as well.

X2

 

[DOSS]

Guess I will have to check them out as well.. The mounts themselves don't look broken but I will have to check the rubber out with the floor jack

 

[PolarXJ]

Who did you use to lift your cherokee?

I lifted it myself

I was just curious, because I've got the RE XD 5.5 and get a clunk from my front driver side. I haven't been able to find it.

 

[Brett]

Ooooh, figure this out! Mine does the exact same thing and it's a bit annoying.