ditkadg2005GC

Hey all!

I am new here and this is my problem:

I own a 2005 GC Limited 4.7 V8, non limited slip rear end and I am getting some pretty bad howling noise coming from the rear end especially at 45 mph. The crazy thing is that the noise gets better over 45 mph and it seems like that on certain roads the noise is better. I had a shop take a drive with me and the guy was supposedly a drivetrain specialist, but he said it sounded most likely like a passenger side rear axle bearing that is the casue of my noise. He said that as good as Jeeps are, for some reason the rear ends have common failures, one of which are the rear axle bearings. He said without getting on a lift and tearing it down though he couldn't say what else may be wrong or in need of replacement. The vehicle has 99,000 miles on it and the previous owner did every speck of maintence at the local Jeep dealership but I know the 100k powertrain warranty didn't start until '06 model year so I am screwed there. Anyone have any similiar experiences or can offer any advice on cost or maybe better non-oem bearings, etc. I am guessing this will probably run me $500.00 or more to fix, but again any advice or cost estimates would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

spietrzak_pee*pee

I am having the same issue in my 03. Not to insult or anything but starters check the rearend fluid mine was a little low and it made it seem quieter. But i am thing its a bearing still just dont know which side. Mine starts around 30 mph and stays about the same noise regardless of speed. Ive put 7000 miles and it hasnt done anything wrong.

ditkadg2005GC

Yeah, the fluid level is fine and was just replaced with Mobil 1 synthetic 75w140 about 6 months ago.

I'll probably take it back in. The guy said he should really be able to get me a better idea if her puts it up on a lift and uses a stethoscope to listen at various points along the axle with the wheels turning. Not too excited about spending money on it right now but I cannot do anything bearing realted as I don't have the proper equipment or time for that matter.

Greybush

For starters whens the last time you changed the rear end fluid? Do you have any sort of lift on your jeep? If so it could be the drive shafts angle. If not I would go with bearings if those are not the problem i would go to u joints on drive shaft.

2005GranCheroHemi_CA

Hey Ditkadg,

If it is an 05' man, then sadly it aint your fluid!

First off - so you know I am not your average bear - I am a 28 year journeyman motorcycle mechanic and on 4 wheels an avid off roader and Audi man. And, know, that when encountering issues with your 05' Grand, you are not alone. Our odd mix of electronic and transfer case/transmission issues were to my wife's never off-roaded 05' Grand Hemi with all options, and that it is a babied ride, and in perfect condition (other than these issues). My wife loves the car (and so did I until all of this) despite my warning her of first model rev's (05' is a total redesign and a much-much better one . . but yet untested for long term), and that American car manufacturers all too often rely on warranty expirations to avoid quality responsibilities as much as possible -- losing all but the blindly faithful. This our 3rd Grand (from this same local dealership no less), has us so upset at the handling of the situation (dealer changed hands from the family that owned it) by local and mothership (Jeep/Chrysler in Detroit) after gladly taking our $44k we paid off.

At around 99k miles (months after payoff ironically %$#! ) our 05' decided to have a loud and jolting clunk when changing gears, and it was soon accompanied by a grinding lag felt across the entire drivetrain at all speeds, but worse when at slow speeds up to about 45mph, then faster you simply are not noticing it "as much" (if at all) due to the speed things are goin, etc.

If you search the Net, we are not at all alone. When we take it into our dealership (in San Jose CA on Stevens Creek Blvd), they actually said, "that's normal for Jeeps". A misstatement of mechanical ineptitude and carelessness I have never encountered at our dealership before (or any other for that matter)! Any grease monkey of any caliber would know that barring fluid and/or metal chips/flakes/chunks in the fluid checks, that the issue is the one thousand pound gorilla underneath the middle of the car -- you know the one that has to convert 300hp HEMI power to the gears, etc.

In our gentle but regular use of the (er um let's say "new" or "1st try" design for Jeep) automatic quick shfft + - , we have had it steadily get rougher and clunkier from 98kmi-thru to the 101k miles on the car now.

We are working arduously with our dealership and Chrysler-Jeep (CJ) to have this diagnosed, and covered. I opened a ticket with CJ, and they force us to renew the ticket every 30days, with the threat if we don't they will opt out of covering or compensating us for anything.

I will post this ongoing issue, as we are going to take the car in "yet again", and then do the gladiator battle for a rental, etc. Sadly, despite now owning a company for over 12 years, I am learning a new lesson (one I did not want to learn!), one that is the very basis of why I will not longer buy American cars for myself -- and not for not having the; patriotism, loyalty, and love - but instead the comparison of Audi's commitment to stand by their work, never have me stranded or with a free rental, and to ALWAYS err on the side of the customer, and not put you through a trial, time, costs, and a hundred nagging phone calls in order to force them to do right by the money spent. They simply do it with the pride of their product. Sadly going into the "by and by" here in the stars and stripes land of the free and "Made in USA".

Will keep you posted as we navigate this nightmare Jeep refuses to admit . . . more to come . . . . .


[do a Google search under " 2005 Grand Cherokee transfer case " if you want to see all our Jeep expats]