Co-MAAAN-cheee Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 My 88 MJ has developed a symptom. It seems similar to what happens when you're turning on dry pavement in four-wheel drive, but it's not anywhere near back. I don't so much get a hopping as I can hear a tire scrape as if I'm kicking off too quick on gravel. I took it to a shop and they told me it was ball joints $2,000 later problems still exist. I carefully checked the front axle even removing the cad and locking the front axle in two-wheel drive. No change in the symptoms. It happens just as you're starting up in in a left-hand turn. From in the cab it sounds like it's coming from the front but gosh it's hard to tell. I have a couple of theories at the moment. One is something's wrong with the front suspension causing some toe out or there's some problem with the rear diff causing a slight bit of binding. Anyone deal with this exact issue or would you check next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Does this happen at all speeds? If the tire is rubbing on something, you should see a bare metal wear mark or a black mark if it’s rubbing on something plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Co-MAAAN-cheee Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 I only notice it at very slow speed. Mostly just at take off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I would check the alignment with a tape measure quick to make sure the toe is close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Are you at or near full steering lock when it happens, and does it go away when you dial the steering back a little? It’s pretty common for a tire to catch the lip of the lower control arm, especially with larger than stock size tires, but even stock sizes can make it happen with aggressive enough tread. If that is what’s happening, going to tubular lower control arms like the WJ arms might be enough to stop the rubbing, or at least give them something with less bite to rub against compared to the stock arm. My ZJ on 31’s was bad for that, it would turn heads while parallel parking before I swapped the lower control arms. I’ve also had tires catch my inner fenders a little and make not great noises, but the tread blocks catching on the lower control arms can be drastic enough you’ll feel it in the steering wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizzaman09 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Do you have an LSD rear end? My truck with a Dana 44 with LSD definitely isn't the happiest in the truns like you describe. I haven't the checked the quality of the fluid but know it has it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Co-MAAAN-cheee Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 On 1/31/2025 at 3:26 PM, gogmorgo said: Are you at or near full steering lock when it happens, and does it go away when you dial the steering back a little? It’s pretty common for a tire to catch the lip of the lower control arm, especially with larger than stock size tires, but even stock sizes can make it happen with aggressive enough tread. If that is what’s happening, going to tubular lower control arms like the WJ arms might be enough to stop the rubbing, or at least give them something with less bite to rub against compared to the stock arm. My ZJ on 31’s was bad for that, it would turn heads while parallel parking before I swapped the lower control arms. I’ve also had tires catch my inner fenders a little and make not great noises, but the tread blocks catching on the lower control arms can be drastic enough you’ll feel it in the steering wheel. My do rub at full lock. But that's not it. It definitely tire on pavement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Co-MAAAN-cheee Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 On 1/31/2025 at 8:40 AM, 89 MJ said: I would check the alignment with a tape measure quick to make sure the toe is close. Thanks. I checked and it was toe out about .4". And the steering wheel was off center. I spend several hours messing around with alignment. Going way too far in various directions. Handling like $#!&, steering full off in the other direction. The problem got worse. I eventually got toe in a better place and steering wheel centered. I'm really starting to think I have a bad diff in front of back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Just now, Co-MAAAN-cheee said: Thanks. I checked and it was toe out about .4". And the steering wheel was off center. I spend several hours messing around with alignment. Going way too far in various directions. Handling like $#!&, steering full off in the other direction. The problem got worse. I eventually got toe in a better place and steering wheel centered. I'm really starting to think I have a bad diff in front of back. That toe is a big factor. You should be toed in between 1/16” and 1/8”. You might have to pull the diff cover and see if you have a limited slip or locker in that front axle for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Co-MAAAN-cheee Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 On 1/31/2025 at 6:49 PM, pizzaman09 said: Do you have an LSD rear end? My truck with a Dana 44 with LSD definitely isn't the happiest in the truns like you describe. I haven't the checked the quality of the fluid but know it has it. I had the rear diff profesh replaced years ago. I remember they ordered the wrong one and gave me the upgrade. I vaguely recall them saying possi, but I don't have receipts. I don't drive her much, and other then annoying me, it doesn't affect drivability. I might wait and see if it gets worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizzaman09 Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 3 minutes ago, Co-MAAAN-cheee said: I had the rear diff profesh replaced years ago. I remember they ordered the wrong one and gave me the upgrade. I vaguely recall them saying possi, but I don't have receipts. I don't drive her much, and other then annoying me, it doesn't affect drivability. I might wait and see if it gets worse. Mine feels like the way you describe yours around some turns. Also if there is a decent load in the bed or I'm hauling a heavy trailer the diff or something in the drivetrain gets grumbly or the tires scrape. My LSD is a clutch based one and I can't imagine is very strong at 270k miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Co-MAAAN-cheee Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 On 2/2/2025 at 7:25 AM, pizzaman09 said: Mine feels like the way you describe yours around some turns. Also if there is a decent load in the bed or I'm hauling a heavy trailer the diff or something in the drivetrain gets grumbly or the tires scrape. My LSD is a clutch based one and I can't imagine is very strong at 270k miles After some driving the steering is off center again and sloppy. I'm thinking that this summer I'll replace the steering components, maybe even the steering box. Get it aligned and see if it gets better. It's something I've been wanting to do anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 it's never a bad idea is get new steering parts. unless you get a rebuilt box and that box turns out to be bad and you chase your tail for weeks trying to find the issue because it can't possibly be your new rebuilt box that's bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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