I've been trying to track down this popping noise in the front end of my '96 XJ for a LONG time now. The last few weeks it appears to be getting worse. There is normally a nice pop or clunck sound that comes f/the drivers side front... I can (what feels like) feel it under my feet when it happens. It seems to be more prominant after the XJ sits overnight or in the parking lot all day at work. On turns mainly.. there is a pop f/the front drivers side.
I was thinking back to my days wrenching on Mustangs and the multiple suspensions I've changed out and the front (and rear) coil springs had rubber spring isolators that kept the steel spring f/ rubbing on the steel frame. I noticed this past weekend when looking under my Jeep (yet again to try and figure this thing out) that the springs did not have any type of isolator on the bottom coil and that just rides right on the frame. It almost looked like the spring was rotated or not sitting correctly and this got me to thinking that it could be the spring moving/rubbing that was causing the popping noise.
The only other thing I can think it could be would be the ball-joint part of the Track Bar... could be somehow worn out (it looks good and is greased up)? It could be a soft/worn out shock? Could be a bad/worn bushing in my Upper or Lower Control arms (the bolts are all tight on these)? Or... I guess it could be a crack in the frame somewhere that I just haven't found yet?
The real problem is trying to simulate driving and suspension movement while sitting under the front end trying to find the source.
Any suggestions?
I was thinking back to my days wrenching on Mustangs and the multiple suspensions I've changed out and the front (and rear) coil springs had rubber spring isolators that kept the steel spring f/ rubbing on the steel frame. I noticed this past weekend when looking under my Jeep (yet again to try and figure this thing out) that the springs did not have any type of isolator on the bottom coil and that just rides right on the frame. It almost looked like the spring was rotated or not sitting correctly and this got me to thinking that it could be the spring moving/rubbing that was causing the popping noise.
The only other thing I can think it could be would be the ball-joint part of the Track Bar... could be somehow worn out (it looks good and is greased up)? It could be a soft/worn out shock? Could be a bad/worn bushing in my Upper or Lower Control arms (the bolts are all tight on these)? Or... I guess it could be a crack in the frame somewhere that I just haven't found yet?
The real problem is trying to simulate driving and suspension movement while sitting under the front end trying to find the source.
Any suggestions?