I'm a proud new owner of my first 2001 Cherokee Sport. It lived a tame life and is in great shape but, it's making a hitching, grinding noise only when I turn left. It sounds like it's coming from the front drivers side wheel. I tried moving the steering components and track bar and they didn't. I tried rocking the wheel and didn't find any play. I'm thinking U-joint or bearing. Any thoughts from the pro's?
Thanks

 

Yeah, I'm thinking axle u-joint. Do both sides, BTW.

 

Welcome aboard. U-joint sounds mostly likely. You can jack up that side and see if the wheel is stiff while turning with the steering wheel cranked over.

 

Thanks for the welcome and your response. I'll try what lawsoncl suggested tomorrow. U-joint will be a little more difficult, I don't have a press, but I may be able to have the NAPA machine shop press them for me.
Thanks again for your help!

 

Rent a ball joint press from the local advance or AZ. Makes quick work of pressing ball joints.

 

I'll look into it, that would make life easier!

 

Sorry, should have said makes quick work of pressing u-joints. Was out in the VA heat all day.

 

We're enjoying a little VA heat here in upstate NY ourselves. Sounds like an "easy" job if you have the right tools, an air conditioned garage and a cool liquid reward for a job well done! Thank you all for your advice, I've already learned a lot since I found this forum and I'm looking forward to learning more about my XJ.

 

UJs are surprisingly easy with a ball joint press. Just remember to remove the grease zerk (if fitted) before trying to press the UJ out or there will be a nasty crunching noise and suddenly you'll be getting bits of UJ out instead of the whole thing in one go.
Or so I hear

 

Start soaking the caps in PB. Half the time I bent the ears while blowing them out with a 20 ton press and had to bend them back with a home-made gimmick. Somebody here made a jig to prevent that, forgot who but will try to search.

 

Good advice right there.

FWIW, I've always used a sledge hammer and sockets to do u-joints, never a press. I've always found shock works better to get them out. I usually reinstall by pressing with a bench vise.

 

lawsoncl using channel stock. Mayhaps he will stop by and post an image on how he does that.

 

I don't have an image handy and heading out the door in a few, so a quick description. I have a piece of u-channel that I set on the bottom to support the sides the joint. Then a big socket on the top of everything. Pressing or hammering on the socket forces the upper ujoint cap upwards into the socket. There are no bending forces applied to the ears, which if they do flex only make it harder to move the caps. Also because you're only moving one cap at a time it takes less force. Most people like to put the socket underneath and press on the top of the ujoint which takes more force to move both caps and can easily bend the ears of the shaft inward.

I'll have to make a drawing and take a picture next time. :}

 

Sounds experience talking LOL!

 

Thanks lawson, great tip. Bottom line is that the channel stock is exerting pressure on the U-joint cross. Definitely gonna do that next time.

See YT. Couple more U-joint pointers.