Steering Rack Yoke Adjustment (Solve popping noise)
While i'm not sure if this is the root cause to my popping noise (ill find out Saturday), I know this has solved a lot of WK/XK owners issues who couldn't track down a strange pop/clunk in their front end.
There's a yoke adjustment on the steering rack. It's used to set the gear mesh during assembly and I can replicate my clunk noise with a pry bar pushing upwards on the driver side tie rod, indicating excessive clearance in the gears at this location. The adjustment is on the driver side of the rack pointing up/forward; you can see it if you look above the sway bar.... though I think 3.7L and 4.7L vehicles you need to remove the oil filter drain guard because that sits over it. I think that, primarily for us lifted guys, we wear our pinion gear down more due to the upward force from the angles associated with our lift kits.
You need an External Torx socket, size E20. (You can get one for $10 off amazon/sears/etc.) or a 17mm socket/wrench depending on model model year.
I'll take some pictures when I do mine this weekend, but here's a diagram:
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i..._cutaway-1.gif
1 Attachment(s)
Did adjust then found this to be Problem
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JumpmasterRT
This may be the solution I've been looking for. When mine pops it causes the left wheel to come out of alignment and resets when I hit the brakes. It usually only happens when i'm turning left excessively... can't wait to try it.
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When wheels were turned hard left or right, wheel stop had worn a groove, which matched up only under certain load conditions. When it does not match up any motion or tap of brakes causes it to suddenly drop in place resulting in a sound like a sledge hammer had hit frame. (I did notice in previous posters' picture in background this same wear. Surface grinder to resurface contact area fixed problem. But this is casted metal contacting cast aluminun so it is not the final solution.
I am certain this is a common problem on all Jeeps with this design. see attached pic.
This is my 2010 Jeep Cherokee Problem started at about 36,000 miles
Rollem
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