Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
'97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.

Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
for) rods.

What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
this next weekend!

Thanks for any suggestions.

/Bob

Re: Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

Hi Bob,
The track bars are tearing out of the TJs all the time, but you're
describing an axle universal joint, you should be able to see the
telltale rust dust stains oozing from them. This will get you close to
where you may pull the axle:
http://www.jeeping.net/HowTo/Dana30WheelBearing/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Bob wrote:
>
> I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
> frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
> a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
> clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
> bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
> right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
> then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
> '97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.
>
> Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
> and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
> while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
> steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
> from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
> for) rods.
>
> What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
> new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
> seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
> when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
> to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
> the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
> this next weekend!
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> /Bob

Re: Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

Hi Bob,
The track bars are tearing out of the TJs all the time, but you're
describing an axle universal joint, you should be able to see the
telltale rust dust stains oozing from them. This will get you close to
where you may pull the axle:
http://www.jeeping.net/HowTo/Dana30WheelBearing/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Bob wrote:
>
> I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
> frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
> a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
> clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
> bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
> right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
> then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
> '97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.
>
> Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
> and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
> while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
> steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
> from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
> for) rods.
>
> What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
> new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
> seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
> when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
> to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
> the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
> this next weekend!
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> /Bob

Re: Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

Hi Bob,
The track bars are tearing out of the TJs all the time, but you're
describing an axle universal joint, you should be able to see the
telltale rust dust stains oozing from them. This will get you close to
where you may pull the axle:
http://www.jeeping.net/HowTo/Dana30WheelBearing/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Bob wrote:
>
> I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
> frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
> a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
> clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
> bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
> right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
> then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
> '97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.
>
> Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
> and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
> while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
> steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
> from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
> for) rods.
>
> What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
> new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
> seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
> when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
> to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
> the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
> this next weekend!
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> /Bob

Re: Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

Hi Bob,
The track bars are tearing out of the TJs all the time, but you're
describing an axle universal joint, you should be able to see the
telltale rust dust stains oozing from them. This will get you close to
where you may pull the axle:
http://www.jeeping.net/HowTo/Dana30WheelBearing/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Bob wrote:
>
> I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
> frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
> a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
> clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
> bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
> right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
> then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
> '97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.
>
> Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
> and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
> while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
> steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
> from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
> for) rods.
>
> What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
> new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
> seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
> when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
> to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
> the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
> this next weekend!
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> /Bob

Re: Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

Bill,

Thanks for your quick reply.

I don't THINK that's what it is, mainly because when I had someone
turn my wheel back and forth, the noise sounds distinctly like those
rods clicking (guess you gotta trust me on what the click sounds
like), and others in my 4wheeling group this weekend who I had listen
agreed. Plus, I felt those two bracing bars while he turned the wheel
for me, and could feel the vibration in them. I'll try feeling the
axle u-joints to be sure, but I'm reasonably confident (not just
wishfully so ;-) ) that this isn't an issue with those joints.

Any other ideas why these rods may be clicking? More importantly, what
I should do to fix them? ;-) I'm just wanting to make sure I'm not
setting myself up for a MOAB breakage disaster this weekend. I might
just break down and take it to the shop to get their opinion on it...

/Bob


L.W.(ßill) ------ III <----------@cox.net> wrote in message news:<40A11D61.FD5B0101@cox.net>...
> Hi Bob,
> The track bars are tearing out of the TJs all the time, but you're
> describing an axle universal joint, you should be able to see the
> telltale rust dust stains oozing from them. This will get you close to
> where you may pull the axle:
> http://www.jeeping.net/HowTo/Dana30WheelBearing/
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Bob wrote:
> >
> > I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
> > frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
> > a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
> > clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
> > bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
> > right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
> > then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
> > '97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
> > and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
> > while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
> > steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
> > from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
> > for) rods.
> >
> > What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
> > new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
> > seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
> > when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
> > to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
> > the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
> > this next weekend!
> >
> > Thanks for any suggestions.
> >
> > /Bob

Re: Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

Bill,

Thanks for your quick reply.

I don't THINK that's what it is, mainly because when I had someone
turn my wheel back and forth, the noise sounds distinctly like those
rods clicking (guess you gotta trust me on what the click sounds
like), and others in my 4wheeling group this weekend who I had listen
agreed. Plus, I felt those two bracing bars while he turned the wheel
for me, and could feel the vibration in them. I'll try feeling the
axle u-joints to be sure, but I'm reasonably confident (not just
wishfully so ;-) ) that this isn't an issue with those joints.

Any other ideas why these rods may be clicking? More importantly, what
I should do to fix them? ;-) I'm just wanting to make sure I'm not
setting myself up for a MOAB breakage disaster this weekend. I might
just break down and take it to the shop to get their opinion on it...

/Bob


L.W.(ßill) ------ III <----------@cox.net> wrote in message news:<40A11D61.FD5B0101@cox.net>...
> Hi Bob,
> The track bars are tearing out of the TJs all the time, but you're
> describing an axle universal joint, you should be able to see the
> telltale rust dust stains oozing from them. This will get you close to
> where you may pull the axle:
> http://www.jeeping.net/HowTo/Dana30WheelBearing/
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Bob wrote:
> >
> > I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
> > frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
> > a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
> > clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
> > bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
> > right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
> > then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
> > '97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
> > and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
> > while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
> > steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
> > from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
> > for) rods.
> >
> > What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
> > new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
> > seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
> > when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
> > to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
> > the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
> > this next weekend!
> >
> > Thanks for any suggestions.
> >
> > /Bob

Re: Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

Bill,

Thanks for your quick reply.

I don't THINK that's what it is, mainly because when I had someone
turn my wheel back and forth, the noise sounds distinctly like those
rods clicking (guess you gotta trust me on what the click sounds
like), and others in my 4wheeling group this weekend who I had listen
agreed. Plus, I felt those two bracing bars while he turned the wheel
for me, and could feel the vibration in them. I'll try feeling the
axle u-joints to be sure, but I'm reasonably confident (not just
wishfully so ;-) ) that this isn't an issue with those joints.

Any other ideas why these rods may be clicking? More importantly, what
I should do to fix them? ;-) I'm just wanting to make sure I'm not
setting myself up for a MOAB breakage disaster this weekend. I might
just break down and take it to the shop to get their opinion on it...

/Bob


L.W.(ßill) ------ III <----------@cox.net> wrote in message news:<40A11D61.FD5B0101@cox.net>...
> Hi Bob,
> The track bars are tearing out of the TJs all the time, but you're
> describing an axle universal joint, you should be able to see the
> telltale rust dust stains oozing from them. This will get you close to
> where you may pull the axle:
> http://www.jeeping.net/HowTo/Dana30WheelBearing/
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Bob wrote:
> >
> > I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
> > frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
> > a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
> > clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
> > bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
> > right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
> > then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
> > '97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
> > and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
> > while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
> > steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
> > from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
> > for) rods.
> >
> > What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
> > new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
> > seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
> > when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
> > to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
> > the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
> > this next weekend!
> >
> > Thanks for any suggestions.
> >
> > /Bob

Re: Creak/Click up front - Trackbar brace?
 

Bill,

Thanks for your quick reply.

I don't THINK that's what it is, mainly because when I had someone
turn my wheel back and forth, the noise sounds distinctly like those
rods clicking (guess you gotta trust me on what the click sounds
like), and others in my 4wheeling group this weekend who I had listen
agreed. Plus, I felt those two bracing bars while he turned the wheel
for me, and could feel the vibration in them. I'll try feeling the
axle u-joints to be sure, but I'm reasonably confident (not just
wishfully so ;-) ) that this isn't an issue with those joints.

Any other ideas why these rods may be clicking? More importantly, what
I should do to fix them? ;-) I'm just wanting to make sure I'm not
setting myself up for a MOAB breakage disaster this weekend. I might
just break down and take it to the shop to get their opinion on it...

/Bob


L.W.(ßill) ------ III <----------@cox.net> wrote in message news:<40A11D61.FD5B0101@cox.net>...
> Hi Bob,
> The track bars are tearing out of the TJs all the time, but you're
> describing an axle universal joint, you should be able to see the
> telltale rust dust stains oozing from them. This will get you close to
> where you may pull the axle:
> http://www.jeeping.net/HowTo/Dana30WheelBearing/
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Bob wrote:
> >
> > I have two connecting rods that go from a bracket on the driver's side
> > frame rail to the passenger side frame rail; they are both attached to
> > a bolt on the bottom of the passenger side rail (a bolt that goes
> > clear through the rail vertically), and to a bracket attached to the
> > bottom of the driver's side frame rail. I am not in front of the jeep
> > right this instant, but I believe the bracket on the driver's side is
> > then where the front trackbar attaches. Oh yeah, I'm talking about a
> > '97 TJ here that has a 4" short-arm Pro-Comp lift on it.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm getting a lot of loud ticking and clicking when turning
> > and when changing the direction of the wheel (turn back and forth)
> > while standing still. The clicking doesn't seem to be coming from the
> > steering linkage or from the trackbar itself; it seems to be coming
> > from these two horizontal bracing (I'm assuming that's what they're
> > for) rods.
> >
> > What could be wrong with them? How do I fix this? Do I have to get all
> > new bracing rods? I checked the bolts where these rods affix, and all
> > seems tight, so I'm stumped. I wouldn't normally worry about it, but
> > when I hear noises this loud while turning my steering wheel, I want
> > to find the cause, lest my steering fall apart while I'm driving down
> > the highway, or, worse, while I'm driving down Cliffhanger at Moab
> > this next weekend!
> >
> > Thanks for any suggestions.
> >
> > /Bob