Always difficult to describe a noise, but here goes. My 98 Sport has started to make a low grinding noise when I make a left turn. Drive or neutral doesn't make a difference.

I jacked up the car and checked the wheel for excessive play, but feels fine. I looked for any visual clues, something touching or a worn rubber, but I can't find or see anything. Juggled the handbrake to check if it's sticking. Don't think so, the brake drum doesn't get warm.

Very annoying. Any thoughts, suggestion

 

U joint? Did you check for play in your u joints?

 

Mine did the same, the dealer replaced a bearing, probelm solved. I will see if I can find out what specifically it was. Ping me in a few days if I do not post it,as I tend to forget much. JB

 

Spend a little more time under the Jeep to try and find the cause of this grinding noise when turning left.

No play in the U joints.

I took the brake drum of the left wheel. Nothing obvious wrong with the brakes, brake shoes look fine, inside of the drum looks good, although its obvious its worn down a bt. Had to turn the brake shoes out quite a bit before the drum came off.

With the wheel and brake drum off I could measure about 1mm axial play in the rear wheel axle. It'sa bout the same on the right, where I don't have this noise.

I have noticed that the left drum gets a little warmer then the right, nothing major, but you can definitely feel the difference.

So I think there might be two possible reasons:

One: Bearing gone. I understand this is a quite a big job
Two: the play is just sufficient for the drum to touch the sides of the pads when cornering.

any thoughts?

Jeroen

 

I have the same thing going on. I have disc brakes up front on my 98 sport and can't find any ecessive wear. The alignment and u-joints checked out fine. Going to give it the once over one more time this weekend then pull off the tires and change the front wheel bearings.

 

did you check the front? you could have a loose caliper?

 

So what did we find out? Still trying to figure mine out.

 

Mine makes a grinding when turning left.

Its the motor mounts. Mine are bad enough to let the motor shift and the alternator makes contact with my aftermarket bumber tie in bracket bolt.

 

You may want to take a look at your knuckles too. Sometimes they get grooved and your calipers hang up in there. This will make your pads rub too.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll have another go at it this weekend.
Jeroen