Hi! I am completely new to Jeeps and this site but I got a 2000 Cherokee Sport yesterday. Today we replaced spark plugs, oil, air filter, and some other small tweaks. Well everything runs perfect but I noticed whenever I turn I hear a "popping" noise. It happens more when I turn left but occasionally happens when I turn right. Other than that it drives amazingly well! I am really curious to what this could be....I can even very slightly feel the pop on the floor. I just hope this isn't some serious issue because I got a great deal on the car and so far I freakin love it and I don't want to lose it!! Thanks for your help..

 

id check the axle u-joints

 

Yes, replace the front axle u-joints. Ez fix. These u-joints are located just underneith the spindle, brake calipers.

 

Ok I will do that. Thanks!

 

mine does this VERY OCCASIONALLY, I thought it was the steering box or a bushing or something, haven't heard this one before.

 

Mine started doing this a few days ago. I was going to check my ball joints but 5-90 me told to check the Cardan joints.

 

forgive my not noingness, but are carden joints another word for the front axle u joints?

 

I guess they are part of the same whole

 

Try greasing all those joints to see if that helps.

 

Check your sway bar end link bushings too. Mine were shot and then I replaced them (then I realized that was a waste of time and money when the lift came ahhahhaaha). Also, track bars have been known to come loose, check it at both ends along with the bushings attached to it.

 

Is your Jeep lifted with a trackbar drop bracket? Mine pops sometimes as the trackbar bracket will pop to an up position (less than an 1/8th of an inch up or down) and then back down depending on which way you turn. Tightening the bolts and using red loctite fixes mine.

 

My Jeep was exhibiting the same behavior recently. Got to looking around under the Jeep and noticed that the frame-side ball joint of my track bar was shot. Replaced the entire track bar ($39.97 from O'Rielly's) and no more popping noises.

 

Yes cardan joints=u joints.

They are located on the front axle shafts as previously explained, and also in the drive shafts.

The picture in this thread is a double cardan (yes or double u joint) on the front shaft (which we do have only on the front drive shaft).

Not every u joint is grease-able, so if there isnt a zerk fitting on there, you can figure its non grease-able.

Quick low down on how u-joints can cause popping ( or more of a click click clack click clack pop, yes sometimes you can feel them in the floor too) noises, the caps on the joints have small needle bearings in them, as they go bad from whatever reason, they make noise or produce slop between the caps and the joint, usually leading into a click type noise. They twist and turn on the front axle shafts as you turn, hence the reason why they would make noise ONLY on turns OR also in 4x4 when there is a load on them. If the terminology doesnt make too much sense, just look up a picture of a u joint, and you'll see what I mean.

Pretty much works the same on drive shafts too, just more or less with acceleration or deceleration.

They are easy to check on the front axles though, grab each shaft on both sides of the joint, and twist them opposite of eachother, if it moves, REPLACE it, greasing the ones that do have zerks on a regular basis (on drive shafts and axle shafts) WILL help prolong the life of them!

Hope that helps a bit!