Hi guys, I'm having a problem with my xj that I can't seem to figure out. If I put the jeep in reverse and start letting the clutch out, I get a loud grinding/ metal on metal sound from the bellhousing area. If I do not not push the clutch back in the motor will die. Feels like the flywheel is almost getting caught up or something.Took the starter out bench tested it to make sure it wasn't catching flywheel and it seems to be working ok. I can hear it a little bit in the other gears now and then but not nearly as bad. Any ideas are appreciated, can't seem to find much info on this specific problem. Jeep is a 97.

 

Remove the rear driveshaft and try it in 4H. Try that first, then drain your transmission fluid through a rag if it still makes that sound. Bad U-joints can cause weird issues just like this, but it it's not a U-joint then it's probably something inside the transmission.

 

Ok ill do that. I changed the transmission fluid but haven't had a chance to screen it. Had the transmission rebuilt a couple years ago and hadn't put many miles on it since then so I'm hopin it's not that. I'll definitely check the u joints though thank you.

 

The fluid looks OK. Idk if this is related or not but the jeep is running kind of rough now. Almost like it's missing.

 

Pilot bushing/bearing gone bad?

It's hard to diagnose a bad pilot, but they can definitely make noises in the bell housing area and make the thing feel... grabby? Is that a word? Makes it feel like it tries to grab and pull forward when you're in gear, but otherwise fine when in neutral and the clutch is engaged (off the pedal). And reverse will sound awful.

Go ahead and check those U-joints, but I really think it could be a bad pilot bearing at this point.

You wouldn't happen to have a 91/older transmission in there would you? I ask because I just went through this with a Novak adapter pilot bushing.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/nov...months-262763/

 

The shop did the clutch when they did the transmission awhile back but I'm not sure if they changed the pilot bearing or not. No it's the original ax15 I believe. I changed the cps awhile ago and just used a cheap sensor. Wondering if that could have anything to do with it. After doing some searching probably should have sucked it up and went the oem Mopar. Definitely gonna check the u joints next and try to get a video of this awful noise. Thank you for the help!

 

Check the bellhousing is bolted up tight to the engine. There have been several folks with similar issues where it turned out to be loose bolts, causing strange noises and stalling when the crank sensor gets misaligned. Typically sometime after having had the trans out.

 

Took out the rear driveline. Still getting that terrible noise from the bellhousing area in reverse. Sounds like the clutch or flywheel is either hitting something or sticking and not wanting to let go. It also started running pretty rough like it's misfiring. Gonna take out the cps and see if it might have came in contact with the flywheel by chance. Gonna check the bellhousing bolts as well. If I have no luck there think it might be time to pull the Trans and get a look at the clutch.

 

Well guys I've tried everything I can think of without pulling the transmission. Gonna pull that out and inspect the clutch.