Scary malfunction - need help diagnose

[mindbomb]

I was driving today and as I stepped on the gas pedal to accelerate I heard a very loud thump from the rear right (wheel?) and then very strong vibration / grinding as if the wheel is not turning / not turning same speed as left wheel. The Jeep swindled from side to side and became very unstable. This kept happening every time I went over 15mph. I felt I got very little control over the steering when that happens. Very loud thumps any time I tried to accelerate a bit, I had to be very gentle to get it back to safety.
What might it be?

I am lifted 3” - didn’t see anything wrong with wheel lugs, struts, spring, wheel spacer or anything else immediately visible.
This was very scary and I’m not sure what to do next.

Please help me diagnose
Thanks


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[M38 Bob]

Sounds like either a twisted axle (pretty substantial part, I'd never expect to see it happen) or splines on end of axle have sheared (also highly uncommon).

 

[adamkrz]

Check for a broken shock, It happened to me a few years back, same as you described.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I'd check the Ujoints on the rear driveshaft and then the parking brake hard ware. Or maybe a caliper seized up?

 

[mindbomb]

Found it!!
The stupid JBA Y link cast housing broke!!!!

Donno what to do now

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[HoosierJeeper]

That's a little bit scary...I want to say this isn't the first case I've seen but I can't specifically remember one who had it happen.

 

[mindbomb]

Does anyone know the part number for this cast iron housing or I should call JBA?

PS it just broke in while parking, no stress no hit no bump nothing.


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[HoosierJeeper]

I'd call Marlin, he will want to know.

 

[Charlesthe2nd]

Ouch. That is a tough break. Time for an upgrade?

 

[Myke]

It's not the jba extension that broke. It's the upper control arm ball joint bracket. I've broken 2 already. I went to a junkyard and took all the ones I could find. Got 2 of them for 65 total. New they go for $300 at the dealer last time I checked.

If I was you I would not bother replacing it and just upgrade to the jba bolt on tri link.

http://jbaoffroad.com/bolt-on-kj-tri-angulated-4-link.html

 

[Myke]

This is the piece. It looks like it's bent when new so don't worry if you buy a replacement and it looks weird.

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[mindbomb]

Jesus the part is 52128586aa and quoted for 350$ online before shipping!!
The garage wants a whopping 490$ + 3 hours of work (2 bolts are stuck in the differential) putting me at a fu#$ing GRAND!!!!! HOLY FUC&

a junkyard is a good call, not sure I got any around me with KJs though...

 

[mindbomb]

It's not the jba extension that broke. It's the upper control arm ball joint bracket. I've broken 2 already. I went to a junkyard and took all the ones I could find. Got 2 of them for 65 total. New they go for $300 at the dealer last time I checked.

If I was you I would not bother replacing it and just upgrade to the jba bolt on tri link.

Bolt on KJ Tri-Angulated 4 Link

Thanks Myke. They go for 350$ now...
I'll see if I can find a junkyard nearby with a KJ.

Well this upgrade part is 600$ .. donno how much for installing it.. looks complicated, does it replace the entire boomerang Upper control arm?

problem is I cannot get the jeep anywhere now because its not drivable with the broken bracket :-/
Garage is quoting me for 939$ for the fix with the part (they want 490$ for it + bolts + shipping)

 

[Myke]

Thanks Myke. They go for 350$ now...
I'll see if I can find a junkyard nearby with a KJ.

Well this upgrade part is 600$ .. donno how much for installing it.. looks complicated, does it replace the entire boomerang Upper control arm?

problem is I cannot get the jeep anywhere now because its not drivable with the broken bracket :-/
Garage is quoting me for 939$ for the fix with the part (they want 490$ for it + bolts + shipping)

If you have basic tools do it yourself. It's really not a bad job. $900+ is ****. It's 3 bolts into the spacer and 1 bolt holding the ball joint in. For $900 I could fly there and fix it for you.

This is a 1 hour job at most.

The jba replacement takes care of the upper control arm so you won't need to worry about replacing that when the bushings go. It will also make the handling much more firm/direct as it gets rid of the slop the rear uca allows.

 

[krisP]

they use an entire bottle of thread locker on those bolts so they are probably not stuck just need some heat. unless they sheered


:edit: sorry didn't see the pics

 

[turblediesel]

Bolts look sheared. Try heating them with a pen-torch and they should come out with small vise-grips. No stress on the threads.

 

[Myke]

Bolts look sheared. Try heating them with a pen-torch and they should come out with small vise-grips. No stress on the threads.

If this doesn't work buy a bolt extractor kit from home depot/lowes.

 

[chromedragon]

Interesting to see that part break. If you are in nor cal near Stockton i know of several Kj's at the local junk yards if you need info bunch of 05's couple of 04s etc. most with the rear axle and such intact. but its been a month since i looked.