Oh yes. While I was down there, I went ahead and replaced the TORX
bolt with a regular hex-head bolt, and got one that was a slight bit
longer, adding a lockwasher to the mix. On top of that, I used liberal
amounts of red threadlocker to keep that nut in place. If it falls off
again, I'll be rather surprised (and annoyed ;-) )


"Nick N" <nnote@despammed.com> wrote in message news:<mBsWb.30301$tP1.7260@fed1read07>...
> I've had that happen with both my front and rear trackbar. In fact I've
> lost many a bolt here and there! You can take your rear trackbar off and
> sell it for a 6 pack, with the front I suggest putting some strong lock
> tight on the bolts, or atleast on the rear trackbar bolts also if you don't
> decide to toss it. Sheeess... I've even been driving down the road, hit a
> bump and heard ringing like a bell going off into the distance, I look and a
> bolt of mine is cruising down the street beside me..
> nick
>
> "Bob" <magicclaw@mac.com> wrote in message
> news:47b769ae.0402110716.25cddf37@posting.google.c om...
> > Thanks for your suggestions, Nick and Crwlr!
> >
> > I ended up deciding my motor mounts still looked ok, and my t-case
> > mount was still good and tight as well. Then, I decided to roll back
> > to the rear axle and check the control arms and any other suspension
> > components...voila! My trackbar bolt was hanging halfway out; its nut
> > had gotten loose and fallen off somewhere along the way, so my
> > trackbar had been banging around in its axle mount, and the bolt had
> > also been banging against the gas tank as it tried to back out (enough
> > to put a pretty good dent/scar in the gas tank skid plating).
> >
> > So, I went out and got a new bolt (to replace that nast torx bolt) and
> > nut, put it in, torqued it down, and it's fixed. No more thunking; it
> > drives 10 times better now, with none of that annoying thunking when I
> > step on the gas.
> >
> > /Bob
> >
> >
> > "Nick N" <nnote@despammed.com> wrote in message
> news:<tGXUb.22884$tP1.13399@fed1read07>...
> > > They could be cracked, torn, missing...also check the metal brakets that
> > > hold them. I've had one of those split. The same on those, you could
> get
> > > some play out of them if you use a prybar. If you don't see anything,
> > > simply check to make sure they are bolted down tight.
> > > Nick
> > >
> > > "Bob" <magicclaw@mac.com> wrote in message
> > > news:47b769ae.0402061212.691200ad@posting.google.c om...
> > > > Thanks for the suggestions. I will do that this weekend (tomorrow) and
> > > > see what I can find out. What should I look for when "visually"
> > > > inspecting the motor mounts, aside from obvious cracking? Does anyone
> > > > (Bill? ;-) ) have any links to pictures of good and bad motor mounts
> > > > so I have a good reference point?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks. I appreciate the help. I'm also extremely pleased that no one
> > > > is suggesting my tranny is going out or anything! =) I didn't think it
> > > > was that, but it is still a worry in the back of my mind...
> > > >
> > > > /Bob
> > > >
> > > > "Nick N" <nnote@despammed.com> wrote in message
> news:<PmwUb.21838$tP1.21094@fed1read07>...
> > > > > Most likely your engine or tranny mounts. There's 2 under your hood
> and
> 1
> > > > > mounting your tranny to the skid plate under your jeep. For the
> engine
> > > > > ones, visually inspect them and for the tranny, see if you can move
> it
> up
> > > > > off the skid with a pry bar. If it moves your mount is probably
> bad.
> If
> > > > > you do have 1 bad one, replace all three. I'd bet your shifter
> gives a
> good
> > > > > shake when you start from a stop also.
> > > > > Nick
> > > > >
> > > > > "Bob" <magicclaw@mac.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:47b769ae.0402051047.b0abe06@posting.google.co m...
> > > > > > I have been noticing a disturbing trend in my driveline lately.
> It's
> > > > > > gotten to a point of good consistency, now, so I'd like help in
> trying
> > > > > > to diagnose the problem. If any of you can give me some pointers
> on
> > > > > > what parts to check (and possibly how to check them), in order of
> > > > > > likeliness, I would appreciate it greatly!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > My Jeep: 1997 TJ I6 4.0L, 4" lift, 33" tires, D30 front, D44 rear
> > > > > > (w/limited slip), AA SYE kit (installed myself), brand new CV
> front
> > > > > > and rear driveshafts (front installed < 6 months ago, rear
> installed
> > > > > > w/SYE kit in October-ish). Still original AX15 and NP231.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The Problem: Whenever I first start from a stop, and often when
> apply
> > > > > > the gas after a shift (especially in 1st through 3rd gears), I am
> > > > > > getting a small but noticeable "thunk". I can't so much hear it,
> but I
> > > > > > can feel it both through my seat and through my pedal (I can feel
> it
> > > > > > when riding as a passenger in my jeep as well). This thunk also
> occurs
> > > > > > when I let off the gas pedal quickly while in gear, especially
> > > > > > noticeable in lower (more torquey) gears. It has become a futile
> > > > > > battle of me trying to match my engine RPMs EXACTLY when shifting,
> and
> > > > > > pulling the clutch out VERY slowly, in order to try to get the
> thunk
> > > > > > to not occur; I am successful probably 40% of the time when I try
> > > > > > this. So, it seems something is loose in my drivetrain or in
> something
> > > > > > that has tension under forward and rearward drive direction, and
> > > > > > thunks when extra power is applied, or if a deceleration force due
> to
> > > > > > engine braking occurs. BTW, all of this is happening in 2-high
> mode.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > What should I check? So far, I've put the t-case in neutral and
> tried
> > > > > > moving both the front and rear driveshafts. The rear had
> negligible
> > > > > > play (pretty close to none); the front had quite a bit more play
> (but
> > > > > > I have ruled that out as the cause since it is not even engaged at
> the
> > > > > > transfer case end when I get this problem). Could this be control
> arm
> > > > > > related? I have brand new teraflex adjustable rear control arms on
> it
> > > > > > (installed at the time of my SYE kit), which I've kept greased
> > > > > > properly... I haven't tried prying on them yet to see if they are
> the
> > > > > > issue.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > /Bob

 

Oh yes. While I was down there, I went ahead and replaced the TORX
bolt with a regular hex-head bolt, and got one that was a slight bit
longer, adding a lockwasher to the mix. On top of that, I used liberal
amounts of red threadlocker to keep that nut in place. If it falls off
again, I'll be rather surprised (and annoyed ;-) )


"Nick N" <nnote@despammed.com> wrote in message news:<mBsWb.30301$tP1.7260@fed1read07>...
> I've had that happen with both my front and rear trackbar. In fact I've
> lost many a bolt here and there! You can take your rear trackbar off and
> sell it for a 6 pack, with the front I suggest putting some strong lock
> tight on the bolts, or atleast on the rear trackbar bolts also if you don't
> decide to toss it. Sheeess... I've even been driving down the road, hit a
> bump and heard ringing like a bell going off into the distance, I look and a
> bolt of mine is cruising down the street beside me..
> nick
>
> "Bob" <magicclaw@mac.com> wrote in message
> news:47b769ae.0402110716.25cddf37@posting.google.c om...
> > Thanks for your suggestions, Nick and Crwlr!
> >
> > I ended up deciding my motor mounts still looked ok, and my t-case
> > mount was still good and tight as well. Then, I decided to roll back
> > to the rear axle and check the control arms and any other suspension
> > components...voila! My trackbar bolt was hanging halfway out; its nut
> > had gotten loose and fallen off somewhere along the way, so my
> > trackbar had been banging around in its axle mount, and the bolt had
> > also been banging against the gas tank as it tried to back out (enough
> > to put a pretty good dent/scar in the gas tank skid plating).
> >
> > So, I went out and got a new bolt (to replace that nast torx bolt) and
> > nut, put it in, torqued it down, and it's fixed. No more thunking; it
> > drives 10 times better now, with none of that annoying thunking when I
> > step on the gas.
> >
> > /Bob
> >
> >
> > "Nick N" <nnote@despammed.com> wrote in message
> news:<tGXUb.22884$tP1.13399@fed1read07>...
> > > They could be cracked, torn, missing...also check the metal brakets that
> > > hold them. I've had one of those split. The same on those, you could
> get
> > > some play out of them if you use a prybar. If you don't see anything,
> > > simply check to make sure they are bolted down tight.
> > > Nick
> > >
> > > "Bob" <magicclaw@mac.com> wrote in message
> > > news:47b769ae.0402061212.691200ad@posting.google.c om...
> > > > Thanks for the suggestions. I will do that this weekend (tomorrow) and
> > > > see what I can find out. What should I look for when "visually"
> > > > inspecting the motor mounts, aside from obvious cracking? Does anyone
> > > > (Bill? ;-) ) have any links to pictures of good and bad motor mounts
> > > > so I have a good reference point?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks. I appreciate the help. I'm also extremely pleased that no one
> > > > is suggesting my tranny is going out or anything! =) I didn't think it
> > > > was that, but it is still a worry in the back of my mind...
> > > >
> > > > /Bob
> > > >
> > > > "Nick N" <nnote@despammed.com> wrote in message
> news:<PmwUb.21838$tP1.21094@fed1read07>...
> > > > > Most likely your engine or tranny mounts. There's 2 under your hood
> and
> 1
> > > > > mounting your tranny to the skid plate under your jeep. For the
> engine
> > > > > ones, visually inspect them and for the tranny, see if you can move
> it
> up
> > > > > off the skid with a pry bar. If it moves your mount is probably
> bad.
> If
> > > > > you do have 1 bad one, replace all three. I'd bet your shifter
> gives a
> good
> > > > > shake when you start from a stop also.
> > > > > Nick
> > > > >
> > > > > "Bob" <magicclaw@mac.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:47b769ae.0402051047.b0abe06@posting.google.co m...
> > > > > > I have been noticing a disturbing trend in my driveline lately.
> It's
> > > > > > gotten to a point of good consistency, now, so I'd like help in
> trying
> > > > > > to diagnose the problem. If any of you can give me some pointers
> on
> > > > > > what parts to check (and possibly how to check them), in order of
> > > > > > likeliness, I would appreciate it greatly!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > My Jeep: 1997 TJ I6 4.0L, 4" lift, 33" tires, D30 front, D44 rear
> > > > > > (w/limited slip), AA SYE kit (installed myself), brand new CV
> front
> > > > > > and rear driveshafts (front installed < 6 months ago, rear
> installed
> > > > > > w/SYE kit in October-ish). Still original AX15 and NP231.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The Problem: Whenever I first start from a stop, and often when
> apply
> > > > > > the gas after a shift (especially in 1st through 3rd gears), I am
> > > > > > getting a small but noticeable "thunk". I can't so much hear it,
> but I
> > > > > > can feel it both through my seat and through my pedal (I can feel
> it
> > > > > > when riding as a passenger in my jeep as well). This thunk also
> occurs
> > > > > > when I let off the gas pedal quickly while in gear, especially
> > > > > > noticeable in lower (more torquey) gears. It has become a futile
> > > > > > battle of me trying to match my engine RPMs EXACTLY when shifting,
> and
> > > > > > pulling the clutch out VERY slowly, in order to try to get the
> thunk
> > > > > > to not occur; I am successful probably 40% of the time when I try
> > > > > > this. So, it seems something is loose in my drivetrain or in
> something
> > > > > > that has tension under forward and rearward drive direction, and
> > > > > > thunks when extra power is applied, or if a deceleration force due
> to
> > > > > > engine braking occurs. BTW, all of this is happening in 2-high
> mode.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > What should I check? So far, I've put the t-case in neutral and
> tried
> > > > > > moving both the front and rear driveshafts. The rear had
> negligible
> > > > > > play (pretty close to none); the front had quite a bit more play
> (but
> > > > > > I have ruled that out as the cause since it is not even engaged at
> the
> > > > > > transfer case end when I get this problem). Could this be control
> arm
> > > > > > related? I have brand new teraflex adjustable rear control arms on
> it
> > > > > > (installed at the time of my SYE kit), which I've kept greased
> > > > > > properly... I haven't tried prying on them yet to see if they are
> the
> > > > > > issue.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > /Bob