Mudderoy
09-15-2014, 09:18 AM
I recently notice a knocking noise while at idle. I thought it was the transfer case tapping on the freshly reinstall skid, but no.
It would come and go. Above idle you wouldn't hear it and it would only return sometimes, usually when the engine wasn't at operating temperature.
I figured I better find the cause A.S.A.P. before it found me to or from work.
After pulling the 98 into the garage, I grabbed sockets and socket wrench to remove the inspection plate so I could check the flex plate torque converter bolts. I've never heard lose bolts make this much noise but it was an easy first thing to check. Hell maybe one fell out that the nut was jammed in there somewhere.
After removing the inspection plate I notice this...
6043
Well that's not right. I don't know if you recognize it but that's the factory upper control arm bolt.
It wasn't until I was able to get it out that I realized the nut didn't vibrate off the bolt SHEARED off!
6044
Two things I noticed recently. The passenger's side wheel felt like it was folding over during sharp left turns, and didn't want to center itself.
I was able to find a grade 8 bolt and get it back together after much effort and a tie down ratchet strap, no destroyed.
6045
I returned to the flex plate bolts. All but one was locked down tight. The loose one I wouldn't call loose I was just able to turn it slightly.
I didn't hold out much hope that either of these "fixes" were the solution to my popping/knocking problem.
I started up the engine and with the wheels chocked from forward and reverse I crawled under the jeep to find that noise.
I thought maybe it was the down pipe rattling on the cross member. I took my big screwdriver and used it to move the down pipe off the cross member, strangely the knocking changed. I tried just jamming the screwdriver in between the down pipe and holding it still, the knocking came back. It only changed when I put pressure, leverage up on the pipe.
I moved to the collector to see if the two bolts were in, everything was solid. I was able to apply pressure to the exhaust further up and the knocking would stop.
Then I saw this...
6046
6047
If you can't make it out, or tell where it is, this is the transmission to engine block bolt, driver's side. It was completely out of the block and the only reason it was there was the kick down cable bracket for the transmission was there.
I had to remove the kick down bracket to tighten up this bolt.
I thought if one wasn't tight maybe more, so I started checking. Looking on the passenger's side I saw that directly across from the loose bolt was a hole, but no bolt! Digging through my "spare" Jeep bolts I found one long enough to fit. Tighten it down.
Put everything back together, inspection plate, kick down bracket, and started it up.
No knock.
Drove her to work this morning. No more wandering on those "lines" that separate the two road surfaces. "Expansion/contraction" joints? Oh and no knocking.
Funny thing is I noticed the bushing on the pass side UCA was coming apart maybe a month ago, but the bolt was still in there. It's not unusual for me to drive 80 mph and well, I'm just glad it held together.
Inspect your rigs, regularly.
It would come and go. Above idle you wouldn't hear it and it would only return sometimes, usually when the engine wasn't at operating temperature.
I figured I better find the cause A.S.A.P. before it found me to or from work.
After pulling the 98 into the garage, I grabbed sockets and socket wrench to remove the inspection plate so I could check the flex plate torque converter bolts. I've never heard lose bolts make this much noise but it was an easy first thing to check. Hell maybe one fell out that the nut was jammed in there somewhere.
After removing the inspection plate I notice this...
6043
Well that's not right. I don't know if you recognize it but that's the factory upper control arm bolt.
It wasn't until I was able to get it out that I realized the nut didn't vibrate off the bolt SHEARED off!
6044
Two things I noticed recently. The passenger's side wheel felt like it was folding over during sharp left turns, and didn't want to center itself.
I was able to find a grade 8 bolt and get it back together after much effort and a tie down ratchet strap, no destroyed.
6045
I returned to the flex plate bolts. All but one was locked down tight. The loose one I wouldn't call loose I was just able to turn it slightly.
I didn't hold out much hope that either of these "fixes" were the solution to my popping/knocking problem.
I started up the engine and with the wheels chocked from forward and reverse I crawled under the jeep to find that noise.
I thought maybe it was the down pipe rattling on the cross member. I took my big screwdriver and used it to move the down pipe off the cross member, strangely the knocking changed. I tried just jamming the screwdriver in between the down pipe and holding it still, the knocking came back. It only changed when I put pressure, leverage up on the pipe.
I moved to the collector to see if the two bolts were in, everything was solid. I was able to apply pressure to the exhaust further up and the knocking would stop.
Then I saw this...
6046
6047
If you can't make it out, or tell where it is, this is the transmission to engine block bolt, driver's side. It was completely out of the block and the only reason it was there was the kick down cable bracket for the transmission was there.
I had to remove the kick down bracket to tighten up this bolt.
I thought if one wasn't tight maybe more, so I started checking. Looking on the passenger's side I saw that directly across from the loose bolt was a hole, but no bolt! Digging through my "spare" Jeep bolts I found one long enough to fit. Tighten it down.
Put everything back together, inspection plate, kick down bracket, and started it up.
No knock.
Drove her to work this morning. No more wandering on those "lines" that separate the two road surfaces. "Expansion/contraction" joints? Oh and no knocking.
Funny thing is I noticed the bushing on the pass side UCA was coming apart maybe a month ago, but the bolt was still in there. It's not unusual for me to drive 80 mph and well, I'm just glad it held together.
Inspect your rigs, regularly.