Front End noise/growl

rmckenna · 11-21-2003, 05:48 AM

I just bought my wife a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 5.2L for $7,000.00. The vehicle was in good cond. and had 115K on it. New rubber all around. I just replaced all the rotors and pads (Under warranty), but still have a noise in the front end when I'm slowing down. I don't think it is a brake noise as it happens when I'm not applying the brakes. The noise goes away as I'm speeding up and the vehicle goes down the road smooth. This is full time 4WD, and my friend, who is a mechanic says the noise is common with these. The noise is not loud, but I'm not used to hearing this, as my Ford F-150 4WD does not do this. Although, I can take my Ford out of 4WD. Can anyone share with me if they have this same simular noise in the front.

Thanks,
Rick

gcl97 · 11-21-2003, 08:41 AM

with 115K on the truck, I would check the wheel bearings. Here is a good website to check and replace them:

http://www.off-road.com/jeep/cheroke...ing/index.html

Mr.momjgc · 11-25-2003, 01:56 PM

Check the u-joints on the front drive shaft. I had one go bad and caused the same noise you described.

Swamp Boy · 11-25-2003, 10:15 PM

I dont think a CV will make that kind of noise.. And a 98 ZJ will definatly have CV's not U joints.. (Unless someone changed them)
I agree with the wheel bearing thing..

Or if the noise is only there at decel ... And its kind of a high pitched whine.. Take it to a shop and have them check it out..
It could be a loose pinion preload.. (Maybe the front diff has been rebuilt recently ) This is not a big deal.. As long as you catch it now.. If you let it go to long it will wear out your pinion bearing and it will come apart.. Leaving you totally screwed..

If it is gear whine and you dont take care of it before the pinion bearing goes ... You will need to buy new ring and pinion as well as a rebuild kit..

Not trying to scare you but .. It is better to check out these type of things before they give you problems..

The quadratrack does not make noise all the time.. People tell you that because they dont know why it making the noise..

Good luck..

Carl

Mr.momjgc · 11-27-2003, 09:59 AM

QUOTE=Swamp Boy]I dont think a CV will make that kind of noise.. And a 98 ZJ will definatly have CV's not U joints.. (Unless someone changed them)
I agree with the wheel bearing thing..

Yes the front axle has cv joints. The front drive shaft has 3 u-joints. For $15 I fixed this same problem on my jeep with the same problem. For me it took removing the front driveshaft to find the problem.

Swamp Boy · 11-27-2003, 10:29 AM

MCKenna... Does it make a pinging noise when you put it in gear, especially reverse?

Mr. Mom could certainly be right about the U joints in the shaft..
They are easily found at auto zone for about $15 each..

Brute Force U joints are pretty tough.... I have them all over my ZJ..

(Sorry for the smartass reply earlier Mr Mom.. I really dont remember typing that.. I must have been drinking...

Hope I didnt ruffle your feathers. )

By the way.. I do have U joints in my axle shafts..I put XJ Superior shafts in mine..

Good luck McKenna...

Carl

Mr.momjgc · 11-29-2003, 02:48 PM

(Sorry for the smartass reply earlier Mr Mom.. I really dont remember typing that.. I must have been drinking...

Hope I didnt ruffle your feathers. )

No ruffled feathers here my fellow Jeep friend. I just can't believe all the hassel a $15 part caused me. It seemed easy to miss with the drive shaft in place. Heck me and at least four other people (most of them mechanics) yanked, twisted and pulled on everything driveline related and found nothing untill I pulled it.

Anyway when you get it figured out and fixed let us know what it was so we can continue to learn about these sometimes cranky Jeeps.

Take it easy

rmckenna · 12-19-2003, 11:44 AM

Well last weekend, I put the 98 GC back on the lift to change the front brake pads again, as the metallic pads I put on about 2 weeks earlier where squealing. I put on a set of ceramic pads. A little more costly, but I'm told they are worth it. While I had it on the lift, I noticed my drivers side CV boot was ripped. I ordered a new CV shaft for $70.00, rather than trying to take the old one apart and clean it. I also ordered a new wheel bearing, as this was the side that had the noise. The Wheel bearing was costly at $160.00, but I was'nt going to put everything back together and then have to take it apart 2 months later. This was the original WB and the jeep has 116K on it. After all this work, the front end was a little quieter, but it still has a slight sound in the front. Maybe its the other wheel bearing. I will deal with that side in the spring. At least my brakes don't squeal anymore.

soccer_jim · 06-16-2004, 06:09 AM

my ZJ came stock with 297 u-joints on the axles

but of course I wouldn't be looking at this thread if I didn't have a pinion problem myself... Hopefully mine just needs the preload adjusted :-\ surprisingly no metal shavings in my diff yet

96 JEEP GCL · 06-17-2004, 06:34 PM

I hope that you have fixed your problem. I have a similar problem & have posted to this site with no response. Maybe if I wanted info on putting on 22's & clear lenses I would have gotten an answer! My GC started doing making the noise that you describe when it was under acceleration...now it does it when I let off of the gas. I have replaced or rebuilt almost everything except the front driveshaft & VC. It does not act like the descriptions for a bad VC...no lurching or jerking. It does however seem to slip the front wheels. I have had the rear driveshaft out & the front wheel slipping is much more noticeable. When I did the front axles, the hubs seemed fine...about 1000 miles ago. Jeep has 135k on it now. Any help would sure be appreciated. 1996 LTD 249 NVG

garryjs · 06-26-2004, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccer_jim

my ZJ came stock with 297 u-joints on the axles

but of course I wouldn't be looking at this thread if I didn't have a pinion problem myself... Hopefully mine just needs the preload adjusted :-\ surprisingly no metal shavings in my diff yet

i have the same problem in my 96 grand , ive put a different hub bearing on and still the same noise, then new cv still the same , the got a seconhand diff put in which was good no noise untill i did around 2oo kms and now its making the same racket , so im stumped and cant figre it out, maybe just paint some tar paint on the inside weel arch so you cant hear it!, please tell me if you can figre it out

**doorocks** · 06-26-2004, 01:10 PM

Maybe its the other wheel bearing. I will deal with that side in the spring. At least my brakes don't squeal anymore.[/QUOTE]

If you have the AWD or LSD in the front, change your axle fluid to 85/140 and use some LSD additive, 4 ounces to be exact.

Should help remove the noise from high mileage axles.

Dalmask · 06-27-2004, 12:34 AM

Same trouble here, at 166k miles. I'll give the U-joints a go and see if it helps.

Good thread, seems a lot of us have the same issue.

-Dal

Edit: Forgot to ask...is this happening for others all the time or just a certain speed range? For me, it's occuring at 45-60 mph, but the sound is undetectable at any other speeds.