Harleynana

My boyfriend has a 2001 Grand Cherokee Limited. While we are driving there is a horrible constant squeaking noise coming from the back, tailgate area. It squeaks while driving down a fairly straight road with or without bumps in the road. But, when turning a curve, the squeak stops. Any ideas? Has anyone else experienced this and what was the cure? Thank you, Tracy

dave1123

Rear brake pads dragging the rotor. It gets louder after they get hot?

jon-d

could be many things. on mine the sway bar was causing some of it (sprayed a bunch of lube and took care of that one), i also had some screws missing on the rear inside hatch and after installing some new ones that helps. i still have some more to find/fix. try crawling back there next time and see if you can trace it to inside or outside and narrow down where it may be coming from.

jon-d

good one dave, never thought of that.

dave1123

I'm constantly battling this on my WJ. I'm told the pads only clear the rotor by about .002" when released and if the rotor run-out is close to that, they will just touch it and cause a squeak. Also, sometimes the pad backing shim rotates and drags on the rotor hub. That's on the inner pad.

For a long time, I thought the squeak was coming from the front until my friend was standing nearby when I was just creeping and he told me it was coming from the rear. The problem is these are still Teves single piston calipers in the rear. They cured this problem in the front with the Akebono calipers.

jon-d

on occasions I hear squeaking coming from the passenger seat also. the best way I found to cure that noise is to stop at the mall, a restaurant, or a clothing store and it goes away for a bit.

CrisostamoSH90

Turning up the radio helps to.

How far in the back is the noise? Does it seem to be over the axle or possibly the tailgate rattling around?

Harleynana

For sure the tailgate

QUOTE=CrisostamoSH90;3286375]Turning up the radio helps to.

How far in the back is the noise? Does it seem to be over the axle or possibly the tailgate rattling around?[/QUOTE]

CrisostamoSH90

[/QUOTE]

If it's possible, drive with the tailgate up and your boyfriend sitting in the way back. Be easy on the throttle, unless he's done something to **** you off that day. See if the rattle goes away with it up. Then have him shut it and see if he can hear it better back there.

dave1123

There are 2 latches on the tailgate, one on each side. On the stricker plates, there are spring loaded shoes that take up the slack in the latches. If they get stuck, they will allow the hatch to rattle. Make sure they aren't stuck or their springs broken. If the latches weren't latching, the overhead console would tell you so. DO NOT ride around with the hatch open! You can spring the hinges and suck exhaust in. The hatch is the only thing keeping the body square.