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Clunking sound happening when turning steering wheel?

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Old 02-22-2010 | 06:08 PM
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baycountry16's Avatar
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From: Kensington, MD
Year: 2001 XJ Limited
Model: Cherokee
Default Clunking sound happening when turning steering wheel?

So I just finished putting in my 3" rough country lift with new shocks, coils, swaybar drop brackets, LCA's, JKS adjustable track bar, and steering stabilizer in the front, and now my steering feels a little funny. It kind of feels tight and when I turn the wheel sometimes I am getting a quick clunking sound almost like something is ready to break. Does anyone know what this could be? Is it just the normal wear in of new parts? I got under the vehicle and had someone turn the wheel but I couldn't pin point where the noise was coming from. I don't know if something is too tight or what. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated
Old 02-22-2010 | 06:11 PM
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Hommersimpson's Avatar
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From: St Augustine Florida
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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I bought my jeep with a 4.5 rubicon lift.. and i have a clunk sound to.. and im almost gona have to say its the rear flex joints on the control arms... Im not very happy about it eather.. wondering if this is normal for these
Old 02-22-2010 | 06:16 PM
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Skreed's Avatar
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From: Phillipsburg, NJ
Year: 1990
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Take a closer look at your track bar ....I had that prob turned out to be the axle end bushing binding and making a clunk. I lubed it up and it was fine.
Old 02-22-2010 | 06:27 PM
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Year: 2001 XJ Limited
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How did you lube up the axle end? There is no grease fiitting on that end. I know there is a grease fitting on the frame end and I put grease in that. I'm wondering if maybe I tightened the axle end too tight on the trackbar.
Old 02-22-2010 | 07:11 PM
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From: smyrna,de
Year: 1997
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i have this problem from my re 3.5 kit hommer is right lcas. i tried tightening them but they are not made of very good material. im heading back to oem until i can find something with a higher quality bushing.

not saying re is a bad lift just the bushings. this is my opinion and well everyone's got one..
Old 02-22-2010 | 07:25 PM
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Year: 1992
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Rubicon Express 4.5" Super-Flex Lift Kit - Reviews

Update, one year later. RE 7000, 3 1/2" springs.Date: Dec 20, 2009 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Apple Valley, CA)I cannot say enough about this product. I've had NO problems! NO sag as of yet, and My Jeep gets used! Flex city! Great on the road, and even better on the rocks! No bushing probs. (I've read about the bad run of off shore parts, guess I got lucky) I would recommend this kit to everyone! Thank you RE!!!! This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. Rubicon Express Bushings: Factory DefectDate: Nov 19, 2009 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Seattle, WA)*****FACTORY KNOWN DEFECT: Rubicon Control Arm BUSHINGS*****

For those of you who have recently installed Rubicon Express lift; please know that Rubicon Express has experienced run of Overseas bushings which they deemed defective.

For those of you considering the purchase of a Rubicon Express lift or product, please know that they will not honor labor costs associated with their products.. This includes a factory defect.. Please use caution when ordering products from Rubicon Express This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. Bad bushingsDate: Aug 19, 2009 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (WY)Bushings wear out super flex joints rust in and cant be taken out they need to rust proof them more they were covered in grease and still rusted up. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. Super Ride Bushings are the weak linkDate: Aug 22, 2008 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Vancouver, WA)i have a re sf kit on an 05 rubicon. the kit includes f/r re adj track bars, rear upper sdj control arms and 3.5" springs.

the first set of super ride bushings lasted three months and the second set one month. re has a problem with their super ride bushings.

the kit performs very well for a short arm kit.

i will probably end up changing out the lower control arms or cutting off the super ride end of the lowers and welding on johnny joints.

super ride joints sux. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. Best kit for Short arms on the marketDate: Feb 28, 2008 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Dallas, Texas)I got this kit not to long ago and LOVE it! flexes like a demon and i run MX6 shocks from procomp. those of you who want great road manners and the off road manners as well this is the kit for you. they say that you might need a 1 inch body to clear 35s but i do it just fine under full flex and turn. took 22 hours to install and a 5/8 drill bits are hard to find but it was worth it. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. RE 7000 with 31/2" springsDate: Oct 27, 2007 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Apple Valley, CA)Im happy with it. My first real Jeep,(06 LJ Rubicon),my first lift kit.Handles as good as it did stock,and off road, WOW! Great flex. Get an adj. rear track bar. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. One man job.....Date: May 16, 2007 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Louisiana)I've read everything I could find about the RE 4.5 Superflex kit. Being that I am not a mechanic, I was quite aprehensive about tackeling the install. Now that it's over, I don't see what all the fuss was about! I'm a 41 yr old, with a bad back, and I did it with no help. If you have the proper tools, and can follow directions, you can put this kit on yourself.

The lift is even better than I expected. Once dialed in, with sye, cv ds, and all angles correct, it rides better than my TJ did stock. I'd recommend this kit to anyone who wants quality, flex, and street mannors. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. TJ Kit with 3.5 springsDate: May 09, 2007 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Santa Barbara)This is a very good kit, very nice quality, straightforward install, all the parts were there and decent instructions.

Keep in mind that although very complete you will find yourself possibly buying a few other things in addition to shocks. Depending on your vehicle you might need a new rear track bar and either weld on or bolt on rear spring relocators.
I have a high clearance (Nth Degree) center skid, so I needed both to work with my raised pinion. This was with the 3.5" springs, the 4.5's would make these parts even more necessary.

After getting it all installed, I brought it in for an alignment and all went fine, everything set at the factory specs. I have since adjusted my rear pinion a few times to eliminate vibrations- I can't imagine a kit without adjustable control arms like RE gives you- your jeep would straight up suck to drive if so.

You may hear about short arm lifts riding rough- here's my take: Your TJ with its original suspension rode rough anyway. My newly lifted Rubicon rides almost exactly the same as original. A Long Arm may make it ride better than stock, but don't let someone saying that a SA kit rides rough scare you off. Rubicon Express is great quality, and if you get a good kit, install it properly, and adjust some vibes away, you'll have a good ride. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. 05 Rubicon unlimitedDate: Jun 20, 2006 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Canyon Lake, CA)I must say a 5 is only for the troubles I have had. The kit works very close to a 10 for what it is. I purchased this kit approx 8 months ago and have been very happy with the performance, but I have had to replace the rear upper arm front bushings 4 times. Rubicon Express were cool enough to replace the first three but I am now on my own at twenty bucks each. The jeep is not a daily drive and has only 6K miles on it and Ive had it a year. Whats happening is the rubber bushing is splitting in half and grinding apart to the point of falling out and the control arm is just banging around the bolt that holds it on. I have never driven with anything loose and I keep it well lubed. I am really happy with the performance of the kit, but I do not want to replace bushings every other trip. I feel Rubicon Express should Johnny Joint both ends to eliminate this problem. Has anyone else had this problem? This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. Great Lift Kit!Date: May 09, 2006 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Toluca, Mexico)I have been using this lift kit for about 8 months and it performs great. My jeep driving manners got better than stock (i must say that i am using Procomp MX-6 Shocks). But I have to mention that HAD to install the SYE. The only thing I dont like is that It has developed a small noise in one of the 8 arms. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. 4.5 super flex xj kit, very goodDate: Feb 23, 2006 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (myrtle beach SC)OK this is how i put my kit together and its incredible. after owning my XJ for about week i ordered my kit. I bought the RE 4.5 inch superflex kit but i had them switch the rear which was 3.5 inch lift springs with a 1.5 inch shackle for just the 4.5 inch spring cuz i figured id want to up grade and this left me more room for that. So after finding that the stock shackle gave me hardley anyflex i put on the 1.5 inch RE shackle they accidentaly send me anyway and added 2 inch coil spacers to the front springs. now sits completely level at about 6 inches, i have no SYE, hardly any vibrations, i fit 33s beautifuly, the RE short control arms from the 4.5 inch kit did pull my front axle back a little bit but it rides and flexes awsome. i like the short arms cuz they dont get in the way like longarms do. ive rident TEllico in NC and Paragon in PA and impressed everyone with my articulation and trail ability, especialy with open differentials. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. Short Arm Super-FlexDate: Dec 08, 2005 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Yucca Valley, CA)Very solid, handles good. The 35s rubbed a bit until I put additional length bump stops in. You "will" feel road vibration that you never felt before. Must have SYE. I now can go wherever my courage will let me. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. Great ProductDate: Nov 13, 2005 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Tulsa OK)Ive been running this for a while and It is a great kit, I would recommend it with an adjustable rear tracbar that way you dont have to mess with the brackets. But I give it 10 stars great articulation solid product. This review is the subjective opinion of a JeepReviews user and not of JeepReviews.com. Best ArticulationDate: Sep 21, 2004 Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (Portland, OR)I've put three of these kits on mine, my nephew's, and a friends Jeep (2000, 97, and 2004 Rubi). I learned a lot in the process. You must have a SYE, and along with that you'll need to have both rear shock relocators (on the axle) and an angled rear track bar mount to deal with the rotation of the rear axle for the CV driveline. You'll need a good, and I mean Snap-On or Mac Tools, 55mm Torx driver. And last, be very careful in drilling the chassis mount end of the front trackbar. This is my only complaint on the kit, this end is very succeptable to loosening up. You'll have to check it periodically after installation. This design is very common among aftermarket trackbars. As far as function, I ramped 950 with 33" tires. I'm now running 35s and they hit the front fender just slightly under full compression, but I've got extra weight in the front. Also this lift kit runs higher than 4.5" typically, and slightly low in the front. You may need to add front spring spacers. And my last thing, it can be a bit noisy on the trail, clunk noises under max. articulation.
Old 02-22-2010 | 07:31 PM
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Hommersimpson's Avatar
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From: St Augustine Florida
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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i snaged that off a site for reviews... what a frigin bummer... so have you found your clunk yet ?
Old 02-22-2010 | 07:47 PM
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djritter1122's Avatar
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From: smyrna,de
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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yea it is a total downer i hope they make it right with me. i love the kit otherwise
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