Rear suspension clunk after new lift components

[tdr1213]

If you jack the xj up by the frame, letting that side droop, does the bolt hit the tail pipe? I know you've ruled out the shock, but I have to ask, how much travel is left in the shock. You might be surprised how little there is. Make a mark on the shock where the top cover is before you jack up the vehicle. That way you can measure how much travel you've got.

Also, my shackle bolt is in the other way. Head inboard and nut outboard.

 

[Fergie]

Well, I took off the shocks and tightened up the RRO BPEs and still have the clunk.

I am going to swap out the current OMEs for some stock shocks and see if that eliminates the problem. However, when I switch the shocks, how can I know if it is shock length or bushing preload that is making the clunk go away?

Does anyone know of a way to isolate the one from the other so I know which to fix? Thanks

Fergie

 

[RichP]

I had a clunk that I started noticing the past couple of weeks, been raining so much I have not gone under to look till it was up on the lift today for the auburn. The back bracket hanger clamp was done for and was allowing the tailpipe to move around. Picked up a new clamp tonight and will be sticking it on in the morning.

 

[tdr1213]

To find my clunk - I got a couple big friends to jump up and down in the cargo area while I was underneath isolating the problem. It worked.

 

[Fergie]

Here is the list of things I am going to try, not in any order:

1. Remove BPEs and put washers in between bushing and BPEs to create more preload.

2. Swap in stock shocks to see if that is the problem.

3. Remove the BPEs and replace them with stock BPs or JKS BPEs as they only add .4" as opposed to over 1".

If it does turn out to be shock length and I am just topping out te shocks, then it is time for an OME AAL, spacers up front and an SYE and cv ds!

Any more insight/help is always appreciated. Thanks again.

Fergie

 

[macgyvr]

Here is the list of things I am going to try, not in any order:

1. Remove BPEs and put washers in between bushing and BPEs to create more preload.

2. Swap in stock shocks to see if that is the problem.

3. Remove the BPEs and replace them with stock BPs or JKS BPEs as they only add .4" as opposed to over 1".

If it does turn out to be shock length and I am just topping out te shocks, then it is time for an OME AAL, spacers up front and an SYE and cv ds!

Any more insight/help is always appreciated. Thanks again.

Fergie

lube the inside of the slip spline on the drive shaft were it goes over the output splines on the tcase...

also good possiblity it could be a tranny mount going south....

when my jeep was small and daily driven i had a bad clunking noise for a while...i in stalled an sye did a bunch of stuff...finally fixed the problems when i replaced the tranny mount with a new one.... that and re shimed the rear axle for proper pinion angle with the new lift....

mac 'that was a loooooooooong time ago' gyvr

 

[Fergie]

I'll try the tranny mount too, but the other things first.

Just to re-clarify what is going on and why this is confusing me:

In stock form, there was no clunk. I lifted to 2.5" using Rancho stuff, and RS9000s all the way around. This is when the clunk first appeared. I swapped out the RS9000s for stock shocks, as the Ranchos werent any longer, and the noise went away. Now the ranchos had poly bushings and the stock ones had rubber, so this leads me to believe that that was the culprit.

I have removed all the Rancho stuff, and am now running all OME with an RE shackle. The clunk has reappeared and I want it gone!!

I am *pretty* sure it has to do with bushing preload and/or shock length.

Fergie

 

[tdr1213]

Can you get it to clunk by pushing and pulling the rear up and down? It's amazing how high and low a couple people can get a rig to move. Get that thing hoppin in your driveway. If you're clunk occurs while going over a speed bump then you probably don't have to get the rig moving up and down very much to hear the clunk. Then you don't have to tear everything apart.

I asked this site about my clunk, I used that advice and easily figured out my problem. Which was the shock.

 

[Fergie]

Okay, some progress!!

I swapped out the OMEs for the stock shocks, and found something that is most likey whe clunk culprit.

The lower bushings of the OMEs are wallowed out, to where I can fit my pinkie almost all the way through, and I cant do this on the stock ones. Also, with the stock ones on, there is no noise anymore.

So, now I go to the local spring shop for some new rubber shock bushing and see if that will cure my ills.

Fergie

PS- I'll try and get some pics of the bushings up tomorrow.