Creakin Steerin

[jeepnuts311]

Hey all,

Hopefully you can help with this problem.
A few days ago, my steering started creaking real bad when driving slow and turning the wheels. (pulling in parkin spots, etc), so i re-torqued my steering box bolts, checked everything and added the steering box brace that was lying around my garage, just cuz i thought it might help, but the noise is still there. i had not wheeled or anything in a while so i didnt expect noises.

i was hesistant to drown everything in grease just because i didnt want to mask the noise, i want to be able to track it down. my brother turned the wheels and i could not pinpoint the noise like i could when my trackbar bolt was loose, instead, it was a general creaking like a haunted house, coming from everywhere.

here is what all is new, replaced in october last year.
steering gear box, ball joints, TREs, power steering hoses, all bushings in the front end, trackbar, and trackbar bracket was reinforced with 1/4" steel plate.

any help or leads would be appreciated,

-Tim

[IntrepidXJ]

i had a loud creaking noise in my steering for a while. when i finally tracked it down, it that the passenger side TRE in the knucke. it had actually opened up the tapered hole and was moving around when turning. The TRE was good, the tapered hole int he knuckle was not anymore.

Just something to look at

[ZachMan]

i had a loud creaking noise in my steering for a while. when i finally tracked it down, it that the passenger side TRE in the knucke. it had actually opened up the tapered hole and was moving around when turning. The TRE was good, the tapered hole int he knuckle was not anymore.

Just something to look at

Do they make stronger after market d30 knuckles?

[IntrepidXJ]

Do they make stronger after market d30 knuckles?

not that i am aware of. but i do have a new tera knuckle waiting to go on, once I have the rest of my steering parts ;)

for now i just got a new stock knuckle to replace it (my 3rd one to be exact.....since it has happened to me twice now)

[Kittrell]

Do they make stronger after market d30 knuckles?

Only the Tera knuckle for the passenger side. To fix a bad taper, just drill out the taper and weld in a tapered insert.

[zthang43]

My 91 was doing the same creaking noise; it turned out to be a bad lower ball joint.

Try jacking up the front end so the tires are off the ground, but support the weight of the truck on the front axle with jackstands, see if it still makes the creaking noise.

[IntrepidXJ]

says in the first post he already replaced the ball joints

[cracker]

Possibilities include:

Track bar
Track bar bracket (#1 problem I had)
LCAs
UCAs
Unibody cracking at steering box (VERY COMMON)
Do you have a aftermarket heavy duty bumper? Then your unibody spot welds may be breaking like mine did ;)


http://beta.propichosting.com/FileHandler.ashx?pa=421612351&sub=1&timecode=632872796958281250&checkref=1
http://beta.propichosting.com/FileHandler.ashx?pa=421612351&sub=8&timecode=632872797118906250&checkref=1
http://beta.propichosting.com/FileHandler.ashx?pa=421612351&sub=7&timecode=632872797252968750&checkref=1
And my favorite AFTER I fixed all the others
http://beta.propichosting.com/FileHandler.ashx?pa=501326&sub=34&timecode=632872798185781250&checkref=1

[Big Red]

I'd suggest getting a steering box inner and outer reinforcement plates (C-ROK) and also a steering brace (MORE or other places sell them) if you are running big tires because the sub frame will crack around the steering box bolts and other places. Creaking steering could be a lot, but make sure you are not going to lose your steering box due to a sub frame failure.

[jeepnuts311]

I'd suggest getting a steering box inner and outer reinforcement plates (C-ROK) and also a steering brace (MORE or other places sell them) if you are running big tires because the sub frame will crack around the steering box bolts and other places. Creaking steering could be a lot, but make sure you are not going to lose your steering box due to a sub frame failure.

i have rustys steering box brace, which was a very tight fit, and it seemed to pull the steering box to the passenger side rather than brace it, and i have thought about getting the C-ROK reinforcement plates as well just to be safe. i read on another thread just an hour ago that aftermarket bumpers and frame stiffeners may be bad for the subframe.
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=63133&page=2&highlight=steering+creak

i dont know how much validity that carries, considering how many folks run these reinforcement plates, but the brace that rustys makes seems to just pull in the opposite direction. which is just as bad


thoughts?
-TIm

[cracker]

i have rustys steering box brace, which was a very tight fit, and it seemed to pull the steering box to the passenger side rather than brace it, and i have thought about getting the C-ROK reinforcement plates as well just to be safe. i read on another thread just an hour ago that aftermarket bumpers and frame stiffeners may be bad for the subframe.
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=63133&page=2&highlight=steering+creak

i dont know how much validity that carries, considering how many folks run these reinforcement plates, but the brace that rustys makes seems to just pull in the opposite direction. which is just as bad


thoughts?
-TIm

:laugh: Good job searching. That is my thread. You see all the beautiful cracks.

I don't know how you wheel but I can tell you that I like to wheel hard and my driving style sucks donkey balls.

I welded in on both sides all those JKS reinforcement plates and they didn't do much but transfer the stresses down the unibody. My front bumper is extremely heavy duty and allows ZERO flex so when the unibody flexed out the bumper AND the reinforcement plates DO NOT flex, the unibody would just crack at the leveraged point which was the end of the re-inforcement plates (the track bar bracket area).

Since then I have plated the hell out of my unibody and my problems, so far, have subsided. Even Goat was shocked at my intensly plated frame and I did it on BOTH sides of the unibody.

What does this mean to you? I have no clue. I don't even know how, what or even if you wheel. I would suggest frame stiffeners and an internal cage for starters. It significantly stiffens us the whole chassis and does NOT allow it to flex as easily. This IN CONJUNCTION with Big Reds suggestions of reinforcement plates will SLOW DOWN the inevitable process of the unibody cracking and make a nice noticable difference in ride quality.

Aftermarket bumpers and frame stiffeners are necessary in addition to steering box plates, track bar bracket braces, and steering box braces. They all have to work together to keep your junk together.

All my cracking started with 33s and went ape $hit when I was on 35s. I am now on 37s and it is a LOT better.

[jeepnuts311]

ok, here is the breakdown on the noises after doing some tests.
the verdict: I'm retarded.

i have had swaybar issues in the past (keep bending it) so i took it off, there were still noises.

my first plan was to wash it and grease everything because they havent been greased since i replaced them. so after 30 mins at the pay'N'spray car wash i could seee my frame again and everything looked shiny and brand new, now i could see what i was doing a lot better. drove it home NO more noises. WTF.

so i greased everything anyways and drove it around the block a few times and there are still no noises.

so, i will wait a few days to see if the noises come back, but so far all it needed was a good bath.

-tim

[badron]

You are trying to tell me that there are Jeeps that steering do NOT creek?

[jeepnuts311]

You are trying to tell me that there are Jeeps that steering do NOT creek?

lol, well i didnt say that it doesnt make ANY noises, but its back to normal :)

(for now)

-Tim

[jeepnuts311]

Hey,
Sorry to bump this BTT, but the noises are back, and i am confused.

like i mentioned before, after pressure steam washing the underside very well all the noises went away, but they came back about a day later.

the only moving part on the front axle that hasnt been replaced are the knuckles, could they be making the noises?

the noise seems to be coming from the area near the left tire. i have replaced teh steering stab, reinforced the trackbar mount, new control arms (RE) and ball joints and TREs.

-Tim

[cracker]

Hey,
Sorry to bump this BTT, but the noises are back, and i am confused.

like i mentioned before, after pressure steam washing the underside very well all the noises went away, but they came back about a day later.

the only moving part on the front axle that hasnt been replaced are the knuckles, could they be making the noises?

the noise seems to be coming from the area near the left tire. i have replaced teh steering stab, reinforced the trackbar mount, new control arms (RE) and ball joints and TREs.

-Tim.

Do you have an aftermarket bumper?

[jeepnuts311]

.

Do you have an aftermarket bumper?

not yet. currently i have rustys tow hook brackets and the stock XJ bumper with a hilift jack mounted on it. i am waiting on my JCR stage 2 winch bumper to come, should be here next week (with unibody tie ins)

no visible cracks in my unibody

thanks for the help, cracker

-Tim

if it helps, i ran with no bumper and just the tow hook brackets for about a year

[kubtastic]

stethoscope and start probing. Maybe something will pop up. In a pinch, even a long screwdriver can serve as a stethoscope.
edit: I admit it: I saw it on Trucks! once.

[cracker]

not yet. currently i have rustys tow hook brackets and the stock XJ bumper with a hilift jack mounted on it. i am waiting on my JCR stage 2 winch bumper to come, should be here next week (with unibody tie ins)

no visible cracks in my unibody

thanks for the help, cracker

-Tim

if it helps, i ran with no bumper and just the tow hook brackets for about a year

Tim,

Can you remove your track bar bracket? Clean and inspect the area (including the bracket itself). Before re-installing move the vehicle for and aft and see if the noise is present while turning (a little is fine at low low speed) to see if the noise disapears. Then grease the bracket a little and re-install. It should take you no more than 30 minutes.

Let us know

Thanks

-Avery

[jeepnuts311]

Tim,

Can you remove your track bar bracket? Clean and inspect the area (including the bracket itself). Before re-installing move the vehicle for and aft and see if the noise is present while turning (a little is fine at low low speed) to see if the noise disapears. Then grease the bracket a little and re-install. It should take you no more than 30 minutes.

Let us know

Thanks

-Avery

hey, are you talking about the track bar bracket at the frame? i could do that. the part i have reinforced with 1/4" plate is the axle end of the bracket which was wallowed out.

-Tim

[hockey10588]

I have the same f-ing problem on my jeep and it just started a couple days ago!! it used to be fine and dandy, no creaks. the noise is also comming from the front left tire but I cant figure out what it is! maybe a good washing will clear it up and give me a better look-see. my creaking pretty much only happens when I turn the wheel left at lowish speeds. wtf is going on?!

I do have 33's with a stock steering set-up

[cwlongshot]

Try disconnecting the sway bar and go for a ride...mine was the bushings after a lift. the bushings didnt like the new positions!!! Soner white lithium grease took care of them once I found out they where the problem!!!

Good luck,
CW

[Saratoga]

I had this same problem, replaced everything I could think of turned out the one thing I didnt replace was the problem, my steering stabilizer shock.

[cracker]

hey, are you talking about the track bar bracket at the frame? i could do that. the part i have reinforced with 1/4" plate is the axle end of the bracket which was wallowed out.

-Tim

Yes. The portion at the frame. It comes off with 4 3/4 nuts (mine did at least).

Sorry about the delay, the e-mail notifications have been a little hit and miss lately.

[Sierra Drifter]

Hey,
Sorry to bump this BTT, but the noises are back, and i am confused.

like i mentioned before, after pressure steam washing the underside very well all the noises went away, but they came back about a day later.

the only moving part on the front axle that hasnt been replaced are the knuckles, could they be making the noises?

the noise seems to be coming from the area near the left tire. i have replaced teh steering stab, reinforced the trackbar mount, new control arms (RE) and ball joints and TREs.

-Tim

Before you do anything try this.
In your driveway disconnect the track bar from the frame mount. Then start it up and turn the steering lock to lock serveral times. If the noise is gone, then it's your track bar, most likely the frame mount.

I have the exact same simtoms, and power washing makes the noise go away temporarily. The water gets inside the frame mount and ask like a temporary lubricant.

I have to tighten the 4 bolts holding my RE frame side track mount bolts about every 2-3 weeks. Even with locktight on the bolts. I so tired of the creaking and poping that I had the bracket stich-welded to the unibody, which cured the issue...... for a couple months, then the creaking returned

[Sierra Drifter]

Hey,
Sorry to bump this BTT, but the noises are back, and i am confused.

like i mentioned before, after pressure steam washing the underside very well all the noises went away, but they came back about a day later.

the only moving part on the front axle that hasnt been replaced are the knuckles, could they be making the noises?

the noise seems to be coming from the area near the left tire. i have replaced teh steering stab, reinforced the trackbar mount, new control arms (RE) and ball joints and TREs.

-Tim

Before you do anything try this.
In your driveway disconnect the track bar from the frame mount. Then start it up and turn the steering lock to lock serveral times. If the noise is gone, then it's your track bar, most likely the frame mount.

I have the exact same symtoms, and power washing makes the noise go away temporarily. The water gets inside the frame mount and acts like a temporary lubricant.

I have to tighten the 4 bolts holding my RE frame side track bar bracket to the unibody about every 2-3 weeks, this stops noises for a while. Even with locktight on the bolts. I got so tired of the creaking and poping that I had the bracket stich-welded to the unibody, which cured the issue...... for a few months, then the creaking returned although much quieter.

I recently purchased a track bar frame mount brace from RE, this item is relatively new, and I suspect RE developed it for this issue. I havn't installed it yet.

If it turns out not to be your track bar, then I would look at LCA & UCA mounting bolts and joints.

[boise49ers]

I have had numerous different problems and steering noise. The latest was my LCA brackets were broken at the factory welds. I have also had Trac-bar noise after going to a larger Tierod, Control arm bushing noise. Cracks in the uni-frame around the steering box. C-Rok fix. It seems to be a constant problem of some sort. Of course like Cracker said these intensify as you go larger tires. On 31" I had none of these issues, then 33s I had more now at 34"s I have new ones. Enough to drive yuh nuts eh ?
What the hell is a ying yang ?:flipoff:

[jeepnuts311]

thanks drifter and cracker,
i will try the track bar thing. the fact that i hear it near the front passenger tire may mean that the noise is travelling straight thru the trackbar throwing off my ears. i have the RE6130 kit and the stock frame mount but it has been modifed to accept the RE trackbar.

will getting the heavy duty frame mount offered by rustys (i use them cuz i get parts next day) or others fix this, or will it still happen?

already replaced the steering stabilizer...


-Tim
p.s. i thought yall would think i was crazy when i said washing it made teh noises go away lol
Yes. The portion at the frame. It comes off with 4 3/4 nuts (mine did at least).

Sorry about the delay, the e-mail notifications have been a little hit and miss lately.

Before you do anything try this.
In your driveway disconnect the track bar from the frame mount. Then start it up and turn the steering lock to lock serveral times. If the noise is gone, then it's your track bar, most likely the frame mount.

I have the exact same symtoms, and power washing makes the noise go away temporarily. The water gets inside the frame mount and acts like a temporary lubricant.

I have to tighten the 4 bolts holding my RE frame side track bar bracket to the unibody about every 2-3 weeks, this stops noises for a while. Even with locktight on the bolts. I got so tired of the creaking and poping that I had the bracket stich-welded to the unibody, which cured the issue...... for a few months, then the creaking returned although much quieter.

I recently purchased a track bar frame mount brace from RE, this item is relatively new, and I suspect RE developed it for this issue. I havn't installed it yet.

If it turns out not to be your track bar, then I would look at LCA & UCA mounting bolts and joints.

[cracker]

FYI

I have heard of some of the RE track bar brackets braking. If you are going to get a new bracket / trackbar, I would have to suggest Kevin's Offroad bracket WELL over the RE.

Let us know how it goes