1998 Jeep Cherokee XJ 3.5 rough country, np231, automatic, rear-8.25.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvN69...ature=youtu.be

The noise is most defiantly coming from the front end. I CANNOT for the life of me figure this darn thing out.. I hope the video helps. In addition, front end has fresh fluid and new gasket, all gears looked good! Slight play in front right wheel joint, but this noise?!?!?! It is not as bad when 4wd is engaged but still there slightly.. I can feel it in the steering wheel when the noise occurs.

I posted a couple months ago on this subject. I replaced (moog everything) steering stabilizer, sway bar bushing and sway bar link bushing, track bar, bushings for upper and lower links, balljoints upper and lower, tie rod ends. finished everything off with an alignment. It fixed a couple clunking noises that I was encountering but not this noise. Everything needed to be replaced, all stock stuff at 167000 besides steering stabilizer.

Thanks,
Dave

 

Apply brakes when it is making the noise...if it goes away, probably rotors.

Otherwise, could it be tires scrubbing? Hard to tell without actually driving the Jeep.

 

Not tires. Not brakes. Checked both very carefully.

 

u joints? just a guess haha

 

Pull the front drive shaft and see if it goes away. If so then replace the u joints. Don't forget to replace the cv ball joint that's at the transfer case side of the shaft.

 

Man Good one! You have looked closely at the wheel and rim for any sign of something rubbing? Is it only turning left? Both my front axel U-joints went, but didn't make that sound.

Not sure there, but some U-Joints have zirk fittings, and others might have nothing but a little hole that takes a pointy deal on the grease gun. If you DO have a dry bearing, (U-Joint cap) it might warm up after being run a bit.

 

sounds like a u joint freezing up from no grease. happened to me.

 

Worth the read...

Alright everyone, THANKFULLY, I got this figured out.. Can't take the credit for this one though.. I work on a ranch here in Colorado and use my jeep all the time for short trips around the property. I ruled out the u-joint early in the day after fully greasing it with the noise still loud and clear. At that point I was waiting for you guys to fix me lol

An old timer (Orval) on the ranch was walking over to me with a can of PB blaster.. Im already thinking, can't wait to hear what inappropriate and crude comment hes got waitin for me this time. Orval says, "Those **** jeeps have the worse suspension ever made.. One thing is for **** sure, its metal rubbing on that piece of **** frame.." He hands me the PB blaster and says

1. start spraying every movable joint, bushing and connection one at a time.
2. let it sit for 15 minutes, then drive to the next spot on the fence.
3. Make sure you let it sit and give it a chance to penetrate real nice like <--- his words
4. Do this until that thing shuts up...

I said, "give me a break Orval, are you serious?" Orval says, "Alright, keep driving around the ranch scaring old ladies and horses like ****** idiot then"..

I went for it and sure enough about 75% through the front end I found it (It was a night and day difference).. Literally, the only two bushings on the front end of the jeep I had not done.. RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING!!! The bolt had rounded out and was grinding itself into powder on the bracket .. How it made that awful noise only in turns, I am still confused by!!! Picked up the bushings on the way home from work and did upper and lower daystar, problem fixed.. Drives like a dream. I decided to wait on those bushings earlier because I figured there is no way it could make a noise like that..

Sorry for the long story, thought it might give you all a good laugh..

 

Ha. Thanks! ironically I was remotely close to Orval's Idea. I almost posted to try PB Blaster on the U-joint. (to see if the sound changed). Then decided it wouldn't get past the seal. I sure don't get that squeaking as the wheel goes around....(there might be "more to the story!) I'm sure three of mine are the round kind.

 

Correction, when I said rounded out I meant about 1/8-1/4 inch of play around the bolt.. They are rounded but have worked there way into an oval at this point lol that was my bad termination, I apologize. Orval just so happens to be a complete boss at welding and helped me get hole back to normal.. a little fabrication and it worked out. Could not have done it without him!!

The sound still blows my mind.. I would have never thought about it making that kind of noise.. I agree though, def could be more to the story. My second xj and still finding surprises and learning tons. XJ front suspension = a black hole

 

I thought I would do an update on this thread.. The noise turned out to be a front right ujoint. Needle bearings were nothing but powder on all sides. The technique I used to find out where the noise came from masked the problem big time.