Every time I make a left turn or just turn the wheel slightly to the left I hear a squeal. it sounds like a squeaking break, but a lower pitch and louder. was thinking that it was a wheel bearing? This is my first jeep Cherokee. I got this 99' two days ago with 205,XXX on it. Hopeiing that it is a simple fix. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Check your front hub/wheel bearing assembly.
And Welcome to CF!

 

i am new to all of this but eager to learn. how do you tell if it is a bad wheel bearing?

Thanks, and glad to be a member.

 

This explains how to test and repair if needed. http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoHubReplacement.htm
This site is very helpful.> http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/index.htm

 

Could also be a dust plate rubbing the brake disk. I had that problem with mine after I lifted it. To find out if its the dust plate, look at the back side of your disk brake (The axle side) while a friend turns the wheel and see if the dust plate touches the brake disk at all.

To test the wheel bearing, jack up the front end and try to move the wheel with your hands. Push on the top of the wheel while pulling from the bottom and vice-versa. Also do the sides the same way. Movement COULD be a bad wheel bearing, or it could be bad bushings. If you find it to be the wheel bearing, do yourself a favor and just buy the full wheel bearing/hub assembly; it will save you a bunch of time, energy, and frustration. I got my Timken hub assembly for $110. Do yourself another favor, if you replace one side, replace the other because most likely the other side will go out within the next 10,000 miles. Or 300 in my case....

Good luck =) Hope everything works out for you.

 

Thanks a lot guys I will take a look today. I appreciate all the info.

 

After further review of the noise i determined that it was coming from the rear right wheel. I pulled the drum off and found a spring tension er for the E-break laying in the bottom of the drum. that is what was causing the squealing. Thanks again guys. Love the forum.