Question for your Rubicon owners out there. I took my rig down to th Moab area this last weekend for the first time. Those things can do some incredible stuff and I had a great time but heard a few noises that I got a little worried about. I bought this jeep used with 11k on it and didn't get to speak with the original owner because I bought it from a dealership.

Anyways I have a Rubicon Express lift on it and 33" tires. Longer brake lines and some after market bumbers but other than that she is stock.

There were 2 noises that concern me, here is my attempt at describing them. For you other Rubicon owners out there have you heard these?

The first one sounds like the drive shafts rocking back and forth to me and is probably normal. Basically when you are in 4 low and you give it a little gas then pull of the gas there is some knocking type of noise. It would make sense since there is a lot of torque and power getting transfered but have you guys heard this, and is it normal?

The other one worries me. When I first heard it I first thought the coil spring slipped and twanged. The noise both times I heard it came from the front end and was from compressing or streaching one of the wheels to its extent of travel. Why this noise worried me is because I have heard axels snaping and it kind of sounded like that but the axels are fine and it only made this noise when doing some of the more difficult obstacles.

I was thinking I would pull the axels and inspect them but figured I would check with you guys to see if you have experienced this with your rigs or a friends.

We are headed back down to Moab on the 20th and will be hooking up with some friends from Arizona to do some trails and I just want to make sure my rig is good to go. Can't wait.....

Thanks

This might help. The noise that sounded like the axel breaking or the coil spring twanging happened when dropping off a ledge in 4Low and no lockers in. No power was being applied to the wheels since I was just riding the breaks.

I bet the first one is normal. The second noise might be the shock topping out hard. You might want to consider putting some limiting straps on. Since it was caused by a no power drop off, I bet it is suspension related and not axle related unless you have a bad ball joint on the steering knuckle. It could also be a loose break caliper bolt since you said the break were on.

Thanks for the feedback. I have decided I'm not going to worry about it too much and see if we can figure it out on some of the trails we do. If I break down so be it.

Since both times it happened while dropping off a ledge I am going to try dropping off a few loading docks here at work and see if we can figure it out. If I ever figure it out I will post in on here for others.

Thanks

I'd like to see that! Take photos.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />