What did I get myself into?!
 

What a forum!! Lots of great info. Scary info. Just bought my first
Jeep. First week or two have been awesome!, with some clunking noises
that I just chalked up to "a Jeep thing".

Now graduating from clunking/rattle in the rear end over the tiniest
of bumps, it now also has a very hard rear and front clunk when
turning into inclined driveways - almost like a "pop" noise.

Yesterday I'm coming off the highway and the steering suddenly gets
very, very tight. The past day or so beforehand had a slight bump
noise from the passenger front when turning the wheel pulling out of
an incline. Now just to take a simple turn requires a firm grasp of
geometry. So it sits in my driveway till this weekend.

I've scoured the forums here, and pretty much surmised a laundry list
of things to check / fix / replace. From what I'm reading lately, it
seems that owning a Jeep is like playing "whack-a-mole" everyday. This
is a scary, and expensive proposition. I need to drive this thing, not
drop another grand into it. Followed by another grand, and so on.

I've searched and read every incarnation of "Clunk" and "Steering" on
this list, so I have a pretty good idea of what to do and what might
cause these issues... I'm just stressing out over the sudden crippling
financial impact - and the never ending list of probable causes.

Am I just overreacting? Or am I in for a cash strapped summer of ramen
noodles and never ending garage sessions just to be able to get to
work during the week?!?!

Any insight and wisdom from Jeep Guru's would be very much
appreciated!!!


~Jon

stats:
91 YJ Wrangler
4.0 6cyl
column shift 3 speed auto
83k
Shackles giving about 1.5" of lift
regular tires and wheels (from a 98)

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

Bad swaybar grommets:
http://www.discountjeepparts.com/pro...e1e0016fd95ff0
God Bless America, Bill 0|||||||0
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/


<campingisgood@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1175227578.992944.195260@r56g2000hsd.googlegr oups.com...
> What a forum!! Lots of great info. Scary info. Just bought my first
> Jeep. First week or two have been awesome!, with some clunking noises
> that I just chalked up to "a Jeep thing".
>
> Now graduating from clunking/rattle in the rear end over the tiniest
> of bumps, it now also has a very hard rear and front clunk when
> turning into inclined driveways - almost like a "pop" noise.
>
> Yesterday I'm coming off the highway and the steering suddenly gets
> very, very tight. The past day or so beforehand had a slight bump
> noise from the passenger front when turning the wheel pulling out of
> an incline. Now just to take a simple turn requires a firm grasp of
> geometry. So it sits in my driveway till this weekend.
>
> I've scoured the forums here, and pretty much surmised a laundry list
> of things to check / fix / replace. From what I'm reading lately, it
> seems that owning a Jeep is like playing "whack-a-mole" everyday. This
> is a scary, and expensive proposition. I need to drive this thing, not
> drop another grand into it. Followed by another grand, and so on.
>
> I've searched and read every incarnation of "Clunk" and "Steering" on
> this list, so I have a pretty good idea of what to do and what might
> cause these issues... I'm just stressing out over the sudden crippling
> financial impact - and the never ending list of probable causes.
>
> Am I just overreacting? Or am I in for a cash strapped summer of ramen
> noodles and never ending garage sessions just to be able to get to
> work during the week?!?!
>
> Any insight and wisdom from Jeep Guru's would be very much
> appreciated!!!
>
>
> ~Jon
>
> stats:
> 91 YJ Wrangler
> 4.0 6cyl
> column shift 3 speed auto
> 83k
> Shackles giving about 1.5" of lift
> regular tires and wheels (from a 98)
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

Bad swaybar grommets:
http://www.discountjeepparts.com/pro...e1e0016fd95ff0
God Bless America, Bill 0|||||||0
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/


<campingisgood@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1175227578.992944.195260@r56g2000hsd.googlegr oups.com...
> What a forum!! Lots of great info. Scary info. Just bought my first
> Jeep. First week or two have been awesome!, with some clunking noises
> that I just chalked up to "a Jeep thing".
>
> Now graduating from clunking/rattle in the rear end over the tiniest
> of bumps, it now also has a very hard rear and front clunk when
> turning into inclined driveways - almost like a "pop" noise.
>
> Yesterday I'm coming off the highway and the steering suddenly gets
> very, very tight. The past day or so beforehand had a slight bump
> noise from the passenger front when turning the wheel pulling out of
> an incline. Now just to take a simple turn requires a firm grasp of
> geometry. So it sits in my driveway till this weekend.
>
> I've scoured the forums here, and pretty much surmised a laundry list
> of things to check / fix / replace. From what I'm reading lately, it
> seems that owning a Jeep is like playing "whack-a-mole" everyday. This
> is a scary, and expensive proposition. I need to drive this thing, not
> drop another grand into it. Followed by another grand, and so on.
>
> I've searched and read every incarnation of "Clunk" and "Steering" on
> this list, so I have a pretty good idea of what to do and what might
> cause these issues... I'm just stressing out over the sudden crippling
> financial impact - and the never ending list of probable causes.
>
> Am I just overreacting? Or am I in for a cash strapped summer of ramen
> noodles and never ending garage sessions just to be able to get to
> work during the week?!?!
>
> Any insight and wisdom from Jeep Guru's would be very much
> appreciated!!!
>
>
> ~Jon
>
> stats:
> 91 YJ Wrangler
> 4.0 6cyl
> column shift 3 speed auto
> 83k
> Shackles giving about 1.5" of lift
> regular tires and wheels (from a 98)
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

Bad swaybar grommets:
http://www.discountjeepparts.com/pro...e1e0016fd95ff0
God Bless America, Bill 0|||||||0
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/


<campingisgood@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1175227578.992944.195260@r56g2000hsd.googlegr oups.com...
> What a forum!! Lots of great info. Scary info. Just bought my first
> Jeep. First week or two have been awesome!, with some clunking noises
> that I just chalked up to "a Jeep thing".
>
> Now graduating from clunking/rattle in the rear end over the tiniest
> of bumps, it now also has a very hard rear and front clunk when
> turning into inclined driveways - almost like a "pop" noise.
>
> Yesterday I'm coming off the highway and the steering suddenly gets
> very, very tight. The past day or so beforehand had a slight bump
> noise from the passenger front when turning the wheel pulling out of
> an incline. Now just to take a simple turn requires a firm grasp of
> geometry. So it sits in my driveway till this weekend.
>
> I've scoured the forums here, and pretty much surmised a laundry list
> of things to check / fix / replace. From what I'm reading lately, it
> seems that owning a Jeep is like playing "whack-a-mole" everyday. This
> is a scary, and expensive proposition. I need to drive this thing, not
> drop another grand into it. Followed by another grand, and so on.
>
> I've searched and read every incarnation of "Clunk" and "Steering" on
> this list, so I have a pretty good idea of what to do and what might
> cause these issues... I'm just stressing out over the sudden crippling
> financial impact - and the never ending list of probable causes.
>
> Am I just overreacting? Or am I in for a cash strapped summer of ramen
> noodles and never ending garage sessions just to be able to get to
> work during the week?!?!
>
> Any insight and wisdom from Jeep Guru's would be very much
> appreciated!!!
>
>
> ~Jon
>
> stats:
> 91 YJ Wrangler
> 4.0 6cyl
> column shift 3 speed auto
> 83k
> Shackles giving about 1.5" of lift
> regular tires and wheels (from a 98)
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

Bill,

Thanks for the lead!

I assume the new grommets will clear up the front clunkage? The price
is certainly affordable!

Concerning the steering, I was pumping gas the other day (before the
lock up) and noticed a pool of liquid forming under the engine. I
poked around and nothing seems to be leaking, but the horizontal
"piston" type device in the steering assembly had just a bare rod and
no rubber boot that I would assume keeps dirt, dust, etc.. from
fouling it. Could this unit seize up and cause the stiff steering that
I currently have? there were no whining noises that I normally
associate with bad PS pumps prior to steering lockup. So I think the
pump is fine, fluids are good, just what seems to be a "leaky" grease
fitting in the steering assembly. Does any of this make sense?

I plan on blasting the piston with WD40 to see if the guy who sold me
the Jeep resorted to "bananas in the tranny" style honesty....

Thanks for any info.

~Jon

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

Bill,

Thanks for the lead!

I assume the new grommets will clear up the front clunkage? The price
is certainly affordable!

Concerning the steering, I was pumping gas the other day (before the
lock up) and noticed a pool of liquid forming under the engine. I
poked around and nothing seems to be leaking, but the horizontal
"piston" type device in the steering assembly had just a bare rod and
no rubber boot that I would assume keeps dirt, dust, etc.. from
fouling it. Could this unit seize up and cause the stiff steering that
I currently have? there were no whining noises that I normally
associate with bad PS pumps prior to steering lockup. So I think the
pump is fine, fluids are good, just what seems to be a "leaky" grease
fitting in the steering assembly. Does any of this make sense?

I plan on blasting the piston with WD40 to see if the guy who sold me
the Jeep resorted to "bananas in the tranny" style honesty....

Thanks for any info.

~Jon

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

Bill,

Thanks for the lead!

I assume the new grommets will clear up the front clunkage? The price
is certainly affordable!

Concerning the steering, I was pumping gas the other day (before the
lock up) and noticed a pool of liquid forming under the engine. I
poked around and nothing seems to be leaking, but the horizontal
"piston" type device in the steering assembly had just a bare rod and
no rubber boot that I would assume keeps dirt, dust, etc.. from
fouling it. Could this unit seize up and cause the stiff steering that
I currently have? there were no whining noises that I normally
associate with bad PS pumps prior to steering lockup. So I think the
pump is fine, fluids are good, just what seems to be a "leaky" grease
fitting in the steering assembly. Does any of this make sense?

I plan on blasting the piston with WD40 to see if the guy who sold me
the Jeep resorted to "bananas in the tranny" style honesty....

Thanks for any info.

~Jon

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

On Mar 29, 11:06 pm, campingisg...@gmail.com wrote:
> What a forum!! Lots of great info. Scary info. Just bought my first
> Jeep. First week or two have been awesome!, with some clunking noises
> that I just chalked up to "a Jeep thing".
>
> Now graduating from clunking/rattle in the rear end over the tiniest
> of bumps, it now also has a very hard rear and front clunk when
> turning into inclined driveways - almost like a "pop" noise.
>
> Yesterday I'm coming off the highway and the steering suddenly gets
> very, very tight. The past day or so beforehand had a slight bump
> noise from the passenger front when turning the wheel pulling out of
> an incline. Now just to take a simple turn requires a firm grasp of
> geometry. So it sits in my driveway till this weekend.
>
> I've scoured the forums here, and pretty much surmised a laundry list
> of things to check / fix / replace. From what I'm reading lately, it
> seems that owning a Jeep is like playing "whack-a-mole" everyday. This
> is a scary, and expensive proposition. I need to drive this thing, not
> drop another grand into it. Followed by another grand, and so on.
>
> I've searched and read every incarnation of "Clunk" and "Steering" on
> this list, so I have a pretty good idea of what to do and what might
> cause these issues... I'm just stressing out over the sudden crippling
> financial impact - and the never ending list of probable causes.
>
> Am I just overreacting? Or am I in for a cash strapped summer of ramen
> noodles and never ending garage sessions just to be able to get to
> work during the week?!?!
>
> Any insight and wisdom from Jeep Guru's would be very much
> appreciated!!!
>
> ~Jon
>
> stats:
> 91 YJ Wrangler
> 4.0 6cyl
> column shift 3 speed auto
> 83k
> Shackles giving about 1.5" of lift
> regular tires and wheels (from a 98)

Check you front u-joints. The ones by the wheels. That tight
steering is obviously very dangereous so just make sure it is not the
u-joints. Also, you have very long shackles (for 1.5 inch lift they
are 3 inches longer than stock) so that may be messing up your
steering geometry.

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

On Mar 29, 11:06 pm, campingisg...@gmail.com wrote:
> What a forum!! Lots of great info. Scary info. Just bought my first
> Jeep. First week or two have been awesome!, with some clunking noises
> that I just chalked up to "a Jeep thing".
>
> Now graduating from clunking/rattle in the rear end over the tiniest
> of bumps, it now also has a very hard rear and front clunk when
> turning into inclined driveways - almost like a "pop" noise.
>
> Yesterday I'm coming off the highway and the steering suddenly gets
> very, very tight. The past day or so beforehand had a slight bump
> noise from the passenger front when turning the wheel pulling out of
> an incline. Now just to take a simple turn requires a firm grasp of
> geometry. So it sits in my driveway till this weekend.
>
> I've scoured the forums here, and pretty much surmised a laundry list
> of things to check / fix / replace. From what I'm reading lately, it
> seems that owning a Jeep is like playing "whack-a-mole" everyday. This
> is a scary, and expensive proposition. I need to drive this thing, not
> drop another grand into it. Followed by another grand, and so on.
>
> I've searched and read every incarnation of "Clunk" and "Steering" on
> this list, so I have a pretty good idea of what to do and what might
> cause these issues... I'm just stressing out over the sudden crippling
> financial impact - and the never ending list of probable causes.
>
> Am I just overreacting? Or am I in for a cash strapped summer of ramen
> noodles and never ending garage sessions just to be able to get to
> work during the week?!?!
>
> Any insight and wisdom from Jeep Guru's would be very much
> appreciated!!!
>
> ~Jon
>
> stats:
> 91 YJ Wrangler
> 4.0 6cyl
> column shift 3 speed auto
> 83k
> Shackles giving about 1.5" of lift
> regular tires and wheels (from a 98)

Check you front u-joints. The ones by the wheels. That tight
steering is obviously very dangereous so just make sure it is not the
u-joints. Also, you have very long shackles (for 1.5 inch lift they
are 3 inches longer than stock) so that may be messing up your
steering geometry.

Re: What did I get myself into?!
 

On Mar 29, 11:06 pm, campingisg...@gmail.com wrote:
> What a forum!! Lots of great info. Scary info. Just bought my first
> Jeep. First week or two have been awesome!, with some clunking noises
> that I just chalked up to "a Jeep thing".
>
> Now graduating from clunking/rattle in the rear end over the tiniest
> of bumps, it now also has a very hard rear and front clunk when
> turning into inclined driveways - almost like a "pop" noise.
>
> Yesterday I'm coming off the highway and the steering suddenly gets
> very, very tight. The past day or so beforehand had a slight bump
> noise from the passenger front when turning the wheel pulling out of
> an incline. Now just to take a simple turn requires a firm grasp of
> geometry. So it sits in my driveway till this weekend.
>
> I've scoured the forums here, and pretty much surmised a laundry list
> of things to check / fix / replace. From what I'm reading lately, it
> seems that owning a Jeep is like playing "whack-a-mole" everyday. This
> is a scary, and expensive proposition. I need to drive this thing, not
> drop another grand into it. Followed by another grand, and so on.
>
> I've searched and read every incarnation of "Clunk" and "Steering" on
> this list, so I have a pretty good idea of what to do and what might
> cause these issues... I'm just stressing out over the sudden crippling
> financial impact - and the never ending list of probable causes.
>
> Am I just overreacting? Or am I in for a cash strapped summer of ramen
> noodles and never ending garage sessions just to be able to get to
> work during the week?!?!
>
> Any insight and wisdom from Jeep Guru's would be very much
> appreciated!!!
>
> ~Jon
>
> stats:
> 91 YJ Wrangler
> 4.0 6cyl
> column shift 3 speed auto
> 83k
> Shackles giving about 1.5" of lift
> regular tires and wheels (from a 98)

Check you front u-joints. The ones by the wheels. That tight
steering is obviously very dangereous so just make sure it is not the
u-joints. Also, you have very long shackles (for 1.5 inch lift they
are 3 inches longer than stock) so that may be messing up your
steering geometry.