Clunk From Rear End

[CzarKJ]

Mine started making a clunk in the rear. It did it hard last week in the rain when the slipping tires finally grabbed, I got a good (bad) "wham". Whilst changing the oil yesterday, I gave my rearend a once-over. With it in gear and the parking brake off, I rocked the Jeep fore and aft while looking at the boomerang. The center portion is going up and down separate from the link on the rear housing. Yep, mine is a goner, and that certainly would be the source of the clunk.

Whatever you do make sure you get a mopar one.

 

[profdlp]

I finally crawled under there and looked around. Everything "looks" good, for what that's worth. I'm handicapped by not having anyplace level to do much more. Since it is so minor a noise, doesn't affect driveability, and others seem to think it's normal, I am going to not worry about it. If anything changes I will be keeping an ear on it.

 

[kjdreamin]

If you get a slight dancing around of the rear end on bumps would that indicate a worn trilink? I have a slight clunk sound from the driver rear on light bumps and a slight side to side on big bumps

I have the same
Or sometimes I hear like a bowling ball in the rear cargo area
Kind of sounds like the rear hatch isn't closed all the way but that's not it

I went out just now and pushed the spare tire to the left/right from side to side and I had lots of wobble
is this normal?

Bad tri-link?

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

I have the same
Or sometimes I hear like a bowling ball in the rear cargo area
Kind of sounds like the rear hatch isn't closed all the way but that's not it

I went out just now and pushed the spare tire to the left/right from side to side and I had lots of wobble
is this normal?

Bad tri-link?

There should be minimal side-to-side movement - based on what you said your tri-link is bad. As CzarKJ said above, only go with the Mopar replacement - you'll be replacing the tri-link again in 6 months or so if you use an aftermarket unit.

Bob

 

[Renedave]

When the Kj starts feeling like she wanting to do the hula , most all times its the lower control arms
Or when you get on the Interstates and hit the grooves from big trucks and the rear dances / feels like you are on ice almost then its the LCAs

Sorry for the hijack, but I "un-borrowed" the KJ back from the family today only to discover it's got a rear end clank over bumps and wandering on the highway, not to mention rhythmic steering wheel vibes that cycle good/bad every ten seconds or so - they've only been driving it around town, so it's possible they never noticed any of this.

When you say LCAs, am I correct in assuming you mean rear? The rear LCAs were replaced by the local dealership under recall several months ago, and while I remain ever-hopeful it wouldn't be the first time they'd created a problem while performing recall work.

 

[CactusJacked]

When going down the road, cutting the steering wheel back and forth made the back of my Jeep sway like a boat, I would get some clunks when hitting bumps or sometimes when accelerating, and I was getting rear driveshaft vibrations. The new tri-link took care of all of that.

 

[Renedave]

Sounds close enough for me to order a new tri-link - there's a definite wag. The KJ is at 130K anyway, and given the use and mods it's had I have to think it's had a good life.

 

[CzarKJ]

Sounds close enough for me to order a new tri-link - there's a definite wag. The KJ is at 130K anyway, and given the use and mods it's had I have to think it's had a good life.

Bring a hammer.

 

[scbenoit]

Prof - how did you make out withthis ?

I have a similar clunk and have done th etri-link replacment at the back and still have the clunk. One rubber bushing was really deterioated on mine, but that wasn't the clunk.

 

[turblediesel]

All y'all scared me into looking at my lower control arms and upper boomerang. Mild rust only. I'm sure I'll revisit someday... with a hammer.

 

[profdlp]

Still clunks. Can't spot anything underneath that makes me go "hmmmmm", though. When I can I'm going to get a more experienced pair of eyes to look it over.

 

[megatone]

Check the rear cargo door striker plate. I had a clunk coming from what I thought was the rear end/suspension.....turned out to be that the cargo striker plate rubber piece was worn out......moved the plate out a fraction of an inch and the clunking sound went away.

Be advised though, moving the striker plate out too much will put too much pressure on the latch mechanism and will jam things up to the point where your door latch will not allow the door to be open.....

I will try to find the link I posted a while back about this situation.

 

[megatone]

Click this link> http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/cl...-problem-solved-not-suspension-related-58090/

 

[twowings]

Still clunks. Can't spot anything underneath that makes me go "hmmmmm", though. When I can I'm going to get a more experienced pair of eyes to look it over.

Maybe you should lay off the Mexican food awhile...many rear-end problems start there...:mexsmoke:

 

[megatone]

Click here for better pics of another one of my links on the same subject> SOLVED!!!! Mysterious clunking sound from rear of vehicle!!!! - JeepForum.com

 

[scbenoit]

Thanks megatone, going to check mine when its light out again and the rain stops

 

[jeeptorino68]

Mine does this too.
2002 3.7 45rfe and nv 231
What year transmission etc?

There is a TSB for grand Cherokee that I saved, it is like this problem. Clunk on take off. They have a fix and it is the slip yoke splices.
Google it. Or I can find it on my pc tonight and post it.

 

[jeeptorino68]

Oops didn't see your post with the solution. I will have to try this.

 

[luvmykj]

Did you ever resolve this? I am having the same issue

 

[jeeptorino68]

Did you ever resolve this? I am having the same issue

Mine turned out to be a bad y link On the rear suspension (upper control arm)