WK2 Jeep Grand Cherokee Suspension Clunk Solved!!! 

Same

Any special tools needed to make it happen?

@@ApexPredatorOutdoors Definitely recommend flex head ratcheting wrenches. You're going at those nuts blind and there's an awkward angle for the two closest to the cabin so having a flex head wrench would help. I didn't at the time, and I was by myself, so I ended up duct taping a regular box end wrench to the nut so it stayed in place, and then backed out the bolts in the wheel well slowly. Also cut off those little tabs on the bolts to get them out. I'm sure those are there to keep the bolts from coming loose but I had no choice with my resources. Very jerry rigged but it worked!

@@sampankow1820 Thanks!

Maxcare is a godsend No doubt. Definitely a huge win purchasing that

You're not wrong!

I am going crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so right!

Very likely that's what is going on....

I took my car in today to get checked out and they couldn’t find anything wrong! So weird. I only have 73k on it and they were doubtful it was the upper control arm. And they couldn’t replicate the noise I hear on an almost daily basis pulling into parking spaces and such. Frustrating.

Went through the same problem for over a year. Took them replacing several parts and probably 10 visits for them to replace that upper control

@@TroutWest So you think I should just go ahead and get that replaced before spending the money tomorrow for more diagnostics? It’s definitely coming from the drivers side however they didn’t hear anything driving around and parking etc. They quoted me $600 for the upper control arm plus $100 for an alignment. Sound about right?

Had same after I installed RC lift and level two months ago. Installer re-torqued everything, and no issues since.

djones599 okay. Yea I will have to do that and plus I don’t have a bigger tires for it yet. Maybe that’s another issue it’s making noises too?

Peter Vang it’s not because you don’t have bigger tires, I installed a 2 in for 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee and i have the same sound but I only get when I make turns my mechanic will take a look at it this weekend he says it could be the front axle because we can here it around the middle do the car while driving

Skrillexsgames okay, yea mine it make sounds only when I go over bumps. Maybe upper control arm, ball joints, or axel like you said. I’m planning to take mine to go check up soon too.

Peter Vang yeah could be I’ll let you know what my mechanic says after he takes a look at it, also I currently only have Bfg ko2 same size as what the was on the old pair

The metallic rattle sounds like either swaybar is loose or it's the upper control.

So sway bar and links were replaced all good. Now upper control arm is next. Man thank god I bought the maxcare. Gonna save me a lot with this air suspension

@@johnnyranz Maxcare is amazing.. don't ever get rid of the jeep, just make them fix it. Those warranties don't exist anymore on any vehicle. Remember those airstruts are covered forever.

yeah my block went at 196K.

Hope it works out for you. Have them check that upper control arm

Very common issue unfortunately a very expensive one if you're not under warranty because there are actually a lot of things that can cause noises in that area of the suspension I listed all of them in this video

@@TroutWest Unfortunately, my WK2 is no longer under warranty... So I am going to take the route of replacing the cheaper items in hopes of that solving the issue. I am still very happy with my Jeep which has gotten me there and back from great outdoor experiences. As it gets older I am sure issues like these will surface. I just hope the WK2 community will keep supporting one another like you have with this video in order to keep our WK2s on the road and providing us with great outdoor experiences... Again thanks for taking the time to create and upload this video!

My upper ball joints boots a ripped and they’ve been replaced once already so I’m gonna go ahead and do the upper controls while I’m doing struts

Okay I lied lol I’m just going to replace my struts and grease my joints I don’t have much life expectancy on this bad boy and I might be scooping up this clean Chevy

This sounds exactly like what I’m experiencing. What did it turn out to be for you?

So what was your jeeps problem after all? I have the same issue.

I don't know if you guys fixed your issues or not but make certain all 4 tires are the same, tread wear the same, and air pressures the same. If not it can burn up your transfer case really easy in these things. The clunk you might be hearing could be the transfer case engaging the 4 wheel drive.... if the tires are off in any of those 3 mentioned it can repeatedly engage and disengage wearing out components and burning up the t case. When replacing tires all 4 must be replaced also for the same reasoning... the wheel speed sensors will detect variations in speeds and keep engaging and disengaging the 4 wheel drive thinking you are on slippery conditions. I found this out the hard way as I neglected a slow leak around a bead after putting new tires on (just kept pumping it up here and there).... it would make a clunk similar to the sound of a really hard shift but what it was is the 4wd engaging. If you ever feel your wheel pull unusually going uphill or around turns it's also a sign to check those things because it's trying to make corrections thinking you are slipping on a slippery surface. If that is not your issue (as it was mine) then well I hope it helps you save future headaches knowing such anyways because t cases are thousands like most other damn things it seems for these vehicles. 🙄✌

The clunk I was hearing on my 2012 overland is gone! I had the transfer case fluid changed and I swear I do not hear that thump clunk noise anymore.

Check tie rods, pitman arm, sway bar link. Those all are effected by turning wheel. Hate to say it but if you have AWD or 4X4 look at transfer case if it's while stopped slow and fast traveling. Can also be wheel hub/bearings. But if it's only during big bumps and not after startup Sway Bar Bushing/Links, but if it's at startup you really need to check transfer case/Drive Shaft if you have 4x4/AWD. This is why suspension problems suck.. it can always be 5 things.

Gotta link for those shocks?

Hi PC. Mine is exact your model and year. QD 5.7 ride is crappy over bumps. Good other that that bump stop crash noise. Replaced lower links tie rods. It may be normal as I put 31 tires on and ride in or2 with the lift link trick. But still think it done it before I did that mod. Thanks much. Also replaced air line elbows in front and holds air fine.

@@SM-rd3wd HEY S M. Let me know if you need more info, the noises went away after fixing the upper Control arms…BTW, I have also replaced my Air Struts as well…Next I will likely do my Sway bar. I have had the front end apart so many times, I am very comfortable doing things in a day or less.

Haha, yep, whole new front end. Drive shafts too

Hahaha. That's the whole plan!

@@TroutWest 😎

I got all this replaced. I need front end alignment done now

Did you replace the control arm? Did it solve your issue?

Robert Putney did you do all 4?

@@onefastlife5017 No. The front shock was the only one I could find anywhere including calling dealerships in other states. They were backordered for months and I already had it apart so I got lucky.

Robert Putney that’s crazy , I was going to get bilsteins for my 07 wk1 srt8, I said Fuu that, I just ordered 2 KYBs and mounting plates for the front , $370 for the pair

Replace air struts? Engine mounts checked?

Depends on what the actual problem is... With the problem I had I drove over 40,000 miles with that sound because they couldn't figure it out

I have same problem

OMG having the same problem and replace the cv axle as well and they still don’t know where the noise coming from

Under maxcare it covers all suspension parts... Every little washer bolt nut..it's not hard for them to cover it under maxcare they just make the call and they fix it

No..but when that was happening it was a loose swaybar bolt

Thank you. Going to try that

@@Wise-Tech33 Did you get it fixed?

JMR Rebuilders yes I did...craziest thing that was easy. All I did was change the the transfer case fluid. Would never have guessed it would fix it but it did.

@@Wise-Tech33 never would have. Crazy.

They did the alignment as part of the replacement.

Good deal did it fix the issue?

Was your issue fixed?

Yes guys it was the upper control arm and I did change both.

Isaias Apodaca My 2011 Jeep Cherokee is making the noise on bumps or when I turn 😫 Im so stressed... Was it expensive?

Angie's it was not but if you go to a dealership it will. I did tried to do it myself but there were a screw I couldn’t remove because space. I just went with someone that I know and he charge me 100 dollars for labor .

Sorry I tried to get it on film but it was never allowed enough that a camera would have picked it up... It's really a subtle clunkfrom the suspension it always sounded like it was from possibly the engine bay but it was the vibration of the clunk transferring from the upper control arm mount to the side of the engine bay wall. It was only happening over certain bumps usually speed bumps or railroad tracks. Or sometimes on that small lip when you leave your driveway. Chances are you have a different issue if that upper control arm was replaced. it could be that problem that I talked about earlier in the same video where two pieces of metal were touching...fortunately now that it's all over I realize there's only certain things that it could possibly be to make that noise... Your next step would be motor mounts I think

@@TroutWest thank you for your quick response ;-) well, as you said, the upper control arm was replaced but not replaced piece to piece, they pressed the new bushings and the ball joint. Yesterday they realized that one bushing is kind a moving (it is very little move up to 1mm, but still not ok). I hope it will be the problem, otherwise I am completelly lost :D thanks also for the motor mounts, will look at it closer too. And of course, will update you what was my issue once resolved..

Stock size! KO2 in this video. They work good. you can go up a few sizes no problem without rub

I'm running 265 70 18 in an all terrain. They rub in the front on sharp turns when the suspension is on entry/exit. Otherwise it runs pretty freaking awesome and I get more miles out of the tires because there's more rubber on a bigger tire.

your description sounds pretty similar to what I was experiencing they replaced everything as you can see it wasn't until they replace the upper control arm that it was fixed and that was definitely what it was. If you have over 70, 000 miles and you're getting that noise and they haven't replaced the upper control arm I'm betting that's what it is

It might slightly happen more when it's colder but as a whole it's pretty consistent. Mainly it's certain types of bumps and not others

Could be your sway bolts... Check into that first.

At times you could feel it in the floorboard but it was more of a clunky metal noise

yep it is definitely going to be that upper control arm you have the same symptoms that I had I don't know any mechanics your way and I wouldn't trust much work on this vehicle not at the dealership... They have all the tools for the air suspension and all that. call around and ask if you don't know how to do it yourself and see how much different places cost to replace an upper control arm. It can be done with some patients and moderate knowledge of suspension.

@@TroutWest so I decided to go to the dealer that I know and trust, he wants 4 hours of labor at 130 an hour, not sure how much the part is though yet. Told him I would think about it. I also have the air suspension on my truck as well so hence why the extra hours to complete. My only fear of doing it myself is the tools for the suspension. He also wants another 130 for assessment cause if they do it it's on them then if my diagnosis is wrong, since I'm telling them it's the upper control arm.. not sure what to do yet

@@Tomba1121 Seems a lil' high for this work. It's about a 1hr job to replace an upper control.

Very likely is the upper control arm secondarily I would say the lower control arm or sway bar bushing

Maxcare is a lifetime unlimited mile bumper to bumper warranty offered by Fiat/Chrysler on all new vehicles.

@@TroutWest USA is so lucky to have that sort of warranty insurance , in Australia we get the 12 month 60k Ml warranty thats it. We seem to get screwed regularly !

I tried... Just didn't come through on the video

Okay we are having the same problem- thanks for looking!

Check that frame contact

Maxcare covers wear and tear.

It's possible your upper control arms are done but I don't know at 25k. My tires have always sort of rounded off. The only thing I can think of is you need a harder compound Tire like a ko2. The only thing that would allow a tired of really do that is a sway bar or LCA. if you have a bad upper control you will hear a clunking or some noises over small bumps for sure. Especially like railroad tracks or entering or exiting a driveway

Did you get this fixed? My '14 overland does the exact same thing. Everything that you mentioned. Annoying.

William Ryan Yeah. I had my local FCA dealer align my Jeep and the tires no longer feather. Turns out the Goodyear shop did a shit job aligning it, even though everything was “in spec” according to their machine. The intermittent steering wheel shake I still get, but not as bad. I think these Jeeps are just super sensitive to the road.

Small update… the steering wheel shimmy got worse, and the bump steer was awful over most bumps. So I took it to the dealer and they found that the rearmost bushing in each lower control arm was shot. So I got those arms replaced along with the lower ball joints and the bump steer is very much improved. Unfortunately I still have the shimmy. I have yet to figure it out, but I suspect it’s going to be the UCA’s that are at fault.

@@LimpHz just noticed i missed your update, which i appreciate you doing. Any further issues recently? I have about 156k miles on my ecodiesel '14 overland, and man...the bumpsteer on the interstate can almost be scary at high way speeds. The whole rear end will want to jump sideways if i hit any decent imperfections. But, the feeling is on all 4 corners. And yes...this steering wheel shimy at 65-70 is still the same. I've yet to have it checked out still. I keep putting it on the backburner, but need to do something soon now for sure...

You should probably check your motor mounts.....

@@TroutWest I just paid $320 yesterday to have those done as well

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p2X2Yr2UiVo.html

I had same issue, which was because the bushings holding the front end were bad and it could move up and down when shifting gears. After I replaced them (the upper one was the main issue) the clunking stopped. Just get under your Jeep and let someone switch gears to see if your front end moves when the drive shaft puts some torque on it. Edit, my Jeep is GC WK/WH, so same model as yours.

Depends on where it's coming from.. (area of the vehicle). I have had that and it was the drive shaft...

Oh they're trail rated. I beat the crap out of mine... still going strong.

There are a few things in the area that can cause that. I had a bent piece of metal doing it before I found this one. Good luck on the hunt.

@@TroutWest I've replaced wheel bearings, spindles, upper and lower control arms, struts, sway bar and end links and had everything aligned. Noise went away for a couple of weeks and now it's back. Sounds like the whole suspension is busting out

Could be your drive shaft

Did you get this fixed? My 14 Summit does this now. But it's not all the time about obesity every 4 or 5 weeks. Replaced transfer case, module, drive shaft, wires have been checked and sensor replaced. It will drive fine going forward but once or month it so it will clunck in reverse.

I believe I started hearing noises around 75,000. Maybe 80,000

?

The usual suspects are motor mounts, upper control arm, or sway bar bushings.

@@TroutWest thank you, I'll start replacing bits 🙂

Hard to tell ya without driving it.

I doubt it. Completely different chassis

185,000 I think at the time

Grrrrr, my upper control arms were refused because the dealer dicked around for a year and a half “shotgunning parts here and there” “can’t find a problem” we originally took it in at 145,000 miles with this rattle but it has 175,000 on it now.

@@silver_cd they should just be replacing it if it's worn out you need to call maxcare or go to a different dealership.

I’ve called maxi-care, they say the dealer told them it was worn out and maxicare said “that it falls outside our coverage”

@@silver_cd yeah that doesn't make any sense because worn out is the same as broken.. every part I've had replaced were because it was worn out. sounds like you need to escalate... Good luck with it don't give up... it's a contract they need to honor it. You may end up needing to get a lawyer. But I don't think it's the case I think you just need to get the right people on the phone.

Do not hesitate to take it in. Although it's normal to hear a "THUD" in OR2.. a clunk isn't normal.

With a bad upper control? Yeah. You wouldn't want bolts to snap

Could be sway bar link. If you have the air suspension it's normal to creak

I didn’t have air suspension , but when I go to the pump And make a noise and I check it it look normal

@@TroutWest My friend has 565 thousand km in Russia on Jeep Grand Cherokee wk2 2012 motor 3.6 no problem

No...

Lol. Pretty much

No idea hoss. Call your dealership. That will be the high price

In this video they were BFG KO2

@@TroutWest Thanks, Also I recently replaced. My air suspension compressor. Do you have any suggestion on why. The ride height does not work?

SWAY BAR

It's an extended warranty offered by Chrysler.. they don't offer the unlimited mile/year anymore, but they still offer a 150K mile version that covers the same until that mileage.

Nothing during braking unless I was going over bumps while braking

@@TroutWest I have 2014 Overland 5.7L Hemi, I get a clunk/rattle noise when going over bumps. If I am applying even slight braking resistance, regardless of the bump, it is silent. The front brakes and rotors are due for a change, so I'm going to have a good look around when we do that this weekend. I've heard it could be a rattle from the pad shifting when the clips on the back of the pads rust/break. It would be great if you could confirm "unless I was going over bumps while braking" definitively means that you could STILL hear the clunk from the control arm while riding brakes over potholes. Thanks!

@@nmckinlay If it was over a bump, it still made the noise. Didn't matter braking or not. Usually it was the smaller road bumps or when you're backing out of a driveway, that small lip at the curb. It sounds like a loose bolt, or bracket. but it's the upper control. Happened a lot over railroad tracks or potholes

Between $1600-2000 now. But yeah about that.

It was all covered under warranty so they robbed the warranty company then. 😂

Yeah those were the KO2s

Just lifted my WK2. Looking at wheels & tires to replace my stock 17s. Thinking of going with a dark gray 18in Gladiator set. I’ve been considering Nito Grappler, Cooper Discoverer & Falken Wildpeak

@@explorerboi84 I've been running both the Wildpeak and the Rubitrek's now for a while.. .Those are my GO-2

The bushings get loud when it's cold/moist outside. You'll know it's a clunk .. aka bad upper control when you go over small bumps and hear it knocking around. Especially when turning and going over bumps.