xj shaft?

[andyblack]

popping sounds cured

I just wanted to let everyone know that I found out what was causing the popping sounds and fixed it. It had nothing to do with the XJ steering shaft or box or anything, even thought it sounded like the noise was coming from around the steering box output shaft. It ended up being loose nuts on top of the u-bolts on the driver's side. I guess that since I got the steering working so well and got the pitman arm good and really tight, the forces the steering was able to exert were great enough to move the axle around a lot more on that side and make the nuts loosen up. I tightened them to 140 ft./lbs. (they were only at about 100 ft./lbs.) and the popping sounds went away. Yes! Now I've only got about four other mystery sounds to track down and silence and then my nerves can finally calm down while I'm driving.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Gotta love the random noises these things make.

Mine ERK ERK ERK ERK ERKS while turning.

 

[andyblack]

Yeah mine was going crack crack creak creak grind grind pop pop crunch cruch. Now it's just going squeak squeak rattle rattle. Oh and I can't forget the irritating whistling that the vent windows make when I have to close them during the winter. This February I drove about 60 or 80 miles on the interstate in sub freezing temps with the windows partially down because that was the only way to stop the vent windows from whistling so loud at 70+ mph that my ears were ringing. I need to fix that before this winter. Even two pennies and a dime won't seal them up any more. At least the steering is quiet though. For now.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

There ya go, think positive!