(99, 3.5" lift, 30" tires 170K 5spd) did a search came up with:

worn pads, loose caliper, warped rotor, or i should install anti-rattle clips

i didn't do any hard braking, so the rotor shouldn't be warped

it just suddenly started, and the brakes are fairly new...

it sounds/feels like it could be doing damage, so i hate to drive it and ignore the sound... causes slight vibration at 45... almost "goes away" at 55-65.

it stops momentary when I "jerk/turn" the steering wheel in at all... brake performance feels normal, doesn't pulse or pull the jeep....

I did a little mudding, so could be crap in the wheel hub/bearing assembly or rotor area, I just haven't had a chance to pop the wheel off... and mud shouldn't cause grinding/squeaking...

its probably not the output bearing on the tc/front differential, because it quiets a little while braking..

I just want to know if I can ignore it for a month (till i can go to my parents and fix it)... or stop driving it till i fix it.

 

How are your front axle shaft ujoints? And I would pull those hubs and clean em up. My hubs went bad and did this exact same thing. A month later I had a grinding when I would first let off the brakes and at low speeds, that would stop if I turned the wheel or hit the brakes. Ended up being my axle shaft ujoints. Just something else to check.

 

check for rocks/stones between the dust shield and the rotors

 

thanks for the incite... it doubt its the wheel bearing hub assembly... i had my passenger one go bad and i drove on it for about 5K till i replaced it and the only side effect was a noticeable vibration and cab noise....

but you're right, its probably the axle shaft u-joints... i've never replaced them and i doubt the PO did... would this be "okay" to drive a few weeks until I can go to my parents and use my dad's tools to replace the u-joints? or could this cause loss of steering or destroy something?

 

yes it can break and mess up you hole day

 

Get on the ground, reach behind your wheel and grab the shaft lobes where the ujont connects the inner longer shaft and the outer stub shaft to your hubs. Try to shake it. Any play or rattling and you need to replace. I drove on mine probably 400 miles before replacing them, but I wouldn't suggest it. My jeep has 140k miles and they were the originals

 

sweet... yeah they look like originals... it just sounds bad, I'll change em in two weeks, so probably about 400 miles... i don't really have another option unless I pay some autoshop to do it, yeah right... they frown upon working on Jeeps at my apartment complex.

I crawled under but I couldn't get the steering u-joint to "wiggle" maybe its not bad... the front drive shaft had a little play, but I think its a normal amount...

thanks again for the help, i may as well replace them on both sides... is this like a couple hour job, tops? I did my ball joints and wheel hub in 4-5 hours, would have been faster but i put the dust shield in wrong and had to take it all back apart again.

gotta love the bastard pack