Loud popping

[07JeepXK]

I've had the same thing happen to me a few times while off roading in similar situations as yours. Im still not exactly sure what it was but I know for sure it came from the front end. The last time it happened was at Rausch Creek on a hill climb while spinning the tires in 4 Low. I'll probablly never figure out what it was until it does it again and something breaks.

[Sal-XK]

I'll probablly never figure out what it was until it does it again and something breaks.

I guess thats one way to go. At first I thought it was the traction control but I discounted that because the pop was real loud. Some that were there though it was my half shaft slipping or what ever and were convinced it was going to break if I stayed on the throttle. I'm not sure man I like to know what going on because things never break conveniently in your garage when you have a spare hundo or two laying around to fix them. they always break when your on a trail hours from home.

[07JeepXK]

I hear you. I've looked over the front of the Commander each time it has happened but haven't found anything that could have made the noise. My cv's are still in great shape with over 62,000 miles on them. Do you think the noise could have came from the front differential??

[Sal-XK]

I'm not sure but it sounded like the something slipped good. Whether or not it was at the tire end of the shaft or in the diff not sure but it diffidently came from the right side of the XK. I PM Robby to see what his thoughts about it were because I hate posting questions on the other place like this all you get is guys who never wheel or even work on there XK yelling traction control or spamming your thread with Links that don't help you know who I'm talking about LOL

[Doc in AZ]

have you ever heard an older front wheel drive car making a sharp turn in the parking lot and it starts clicking and sounds like the wheel of fortune?

it's the bearing binding in the CV joint... this happens when they have exceeded their maximum angle. stock joints are only good for (and this is a random number as i'm not familiar with the commander specs) say 30* off center. compount the axle droop, torque & the turning radius and you can easily exceed this number. it's the ball bearings inside the center section popping in and out.

keep in mind that a lift kit also adds some additional angle to the CV. it's a common practice to have to drop the front diff a little to correct the CV angle with larger lift kits to prevent the self destruction of the CV from normal, everyday driving due to the excessive angle.

crappy picture but you get the idea.... center splined section goes on the axle. then you see the "cage" and then the outter section that bolts to the stub shaft. in the middle of all that you see the bearings and take note of the grooves the bearings ride in. and if you look closely you notice the thickness of the entire assembly... it doesn't take much to get the bearings to the edges of it where it will bind and then snap back into place.