I own a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.0L full time 4 wheel drive
with 108,000 miles on it. The recent problem I am experiencing is that
when I'm driving the car will sporadically start making a metal on
metal grinding noise that seems to be coming from the front end. It
happens only once and a while and lasts for about 10 - 15 seconds. As
soon as any brake pressure is applied the sound goes away. I have also
noticed that If I make a sharp left turn I will sometimes get a
clicking noise like the Half Shaft is going out, but again this only
happens once in a while. Going from forward to reverse seems to make
the grinding happen more frequently. In the past year I have already
changed the following
-Both Half Shafts
-All Brake pads and Rotors
-A Used Transfer case was installed with a used front drive shaft (This
was done 9 Months ago)
I am thinking that it could be my Front wheel bearings, but I do not
know why the noise is so inconsistent if it is a wheel bearing. There
is only a slight chance I believe ball joints are at fault because of
the noise (there is no clunking). I have also been told it could be the
U Joint, but I have already had one go out on my Jeep, and it is not
making this noise nor does there seem to be play in the joint. I have
checked the dust guards and the are not making contact with the rotors.
There is something wrong and I cannot figure it out, any help would be
appreciated. I have no problem changing the wheel bearings, but at $140
a pop, I don't want to change them if they are still good. Could it
also be a differential problem, my thoughts are that if it was it would
consistently make the noise, which is not my case. Please Help.

 

On 14 Dec 2005 10:48:49 -0800, "blacice1" <blkeye4u@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I own a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.0L full time 4 wheel drive
>with 108,000 miles on it. The recent problem I am experiencing is that
>when I'm driving the car will sporadically start making a metal on
>metal grinding noise that seems to be coming from the front end.

If you've replaced all that you did and its not the brake components,
have your mechanic seriously look at the CV joints. I've had to have
mine replaced on my 96 GCL already to quite that noise (170K). Now,
if I could only get rid of that whining noise from the differential...

B

 

On 14 Dec 2005 10:48:49 -0800, "blacice1" <blkeye4u@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I own a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.0L full time 4 wheel drive
>with 108,000 miles on it. The recent problem I am experiencing is that
>when I'm driving the car will sporadically start making a metal on
>metal grinding noise that seems to be coming from the front end.

If you've replaced all that you did and its not the brake components,
have your mechanic seriously look at the CV joints. I've had to have
mine replaced on my 96 GCL already to quite that noise (170K). Now,
if I could only get rid of that whining noise from the differential...

B

 

On 14 Dec 2005 10:48:49 -0800, "blacice1" <blkeye4u@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I own a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.0L full time 4 wheel drive
>with 108,000 miles on it. The recent problem I am experiencing is that
>when I'm driving the car will sporadically start making a metal on
>metal grinding noise that seems to be coming from the front end.

If you've replaced all that you did and its not the brake components,
have your mechanic seriously look at the CV joints. I've had to have
mine replaced on my 96 GCL already to quite that noise (170K). Now,
if I could only get rid of that whining noise from the differential...

B

 

Over the weekend I was hoping to repair my Jeep so it would no longer
make any noise. I was going to change the front wheel bearings, but
after starting the tear down I noticed that my front brake pads were
severly cracked and there were chunks missing out of them. Theses pads
are relatively new and so are the rotors. They were even the Auto Zone
"upgrade" pads. Needless to say the pads were junk. I figured this was
were the noise was coming from. It was not. Changing the Pads did
nothing to quiet any noise.
Here are my thoughts about the problem.
-Still could be the wheel bearing, however there is zero play in the
wheel when the car is jacked up and everyone I talk to insists that
there must be play in the wheel bearing if it is defective.
-Front differential - could be going out or since I put 2 new tires on
the car and it is full time four wheel drive, the Jeep may not like the
slight difference in tread wear, making the tires slightly different in
size. The reason I do not think it is a front diff is because the niose
is NOT constant and acceleration has no bearing on the noise, sometimes
it makes noise with acceleration, sometimes it doesn't.

This noise has no consistancy, the only thing that is consistant is
that if I hit the brakes, every single time the niose goes away. Please
offer an advice if you have some, I am getting frustrated and If it is
not the wheel bearings or front diff, I have no clue what it could be.

 

Over the weekend I was hoping to repair my Jeep so it would no longer
make any noise. I was going to change the front wheel bearings, but
after starting the tear down I noticed that my front brake pads were
severly cracked and there were chunks missing out of them. Theses pads
are relatively new and so are the rotors. They were even the Auto Zone
"upgrade" pads. Needless to say the pads were junk. I figured this was
were the noise was coming from. It was not. Changing the Pads did
nothing to quiet any noise.
Here are my thoughts about the problem.
-Still could be the wheel bearing, however there is zero play in the
wheel when the car is jacked up and everyone I talk to insists that
there must be play in the wheel bearing if it is defective.
-Front differential - could be going out or since I put 2 new tires on
the car and it is full time four wheel drive, the Jeep may not like the
slight difference in tread wear, making the tires slightly different in
size. The reason I do not think it is a front diff is because the niose
is NOT constant and acceleration has no bearing on the noise, sometimes
it makes noise with acceleration, sometimes it doesn't.

This noise has no consistancy, the only thing that is consistant is
that if I hit the brakes, every single time the niose goes away. Please
offer an advice if you have some, I am getting frustrated and If it is
not the wheel bearings or front diff, I have no clue what it could be.

 

Over the weekend I was hoping to repair my Jeep so it would no longer
make any noise. I was going to change the front wheel bearings, but
after starting the tear down I noticed that my front brake pads were
severly cracked and there were chunks missing out of them. Theses pads
are relatively new and so are the rotors. They were even the Auto Zone
"upgrade" pads. Needless to say the pads were junk. I figured this was
were the noise was coming from. It was not. Changing the Pads did
nothing to quiet any noise.
Here are my thoughts about the problem.
-Still could be the wheel bearing, however there is zero play in the
wheel when the car is jacked up and everyone I talk to insists that
there must be play in the wheel bearing if it is defective.
-Front differential - could be going out or since I put 2 new tires on
the car and it is full time four wheel drive, the Jeep may not like the
slight difference in tread wear, making the tires slightly different in
size. The reason I do not think it is a front diff is because the niose
is NOT constant and acceleration has no bearing on the noise, sometimes
it makes noise with acceleration, sometimes it doesn't.

This noise has no consistancy, the only thing that is consistant is
that if I hit the brakes, every single time the niose goes away. Please
offer an advice if you have some, I am getting frustrated and If it is
not the wheel bearings or front diff, I have no clue what it could be.

 

Is there noise in the wheel bearings when you rotate them? Is there any
dragging of brake components? (disks, dust shields, wear sensors, calipers,
etc)

I'm not a mechanic but it seems it the noise goes away as you apply the
brakes then the brakes/wheel/hub has to be involved.

--
Billy_Ray@fuseSPAM.net (Remove the SPAM)
2002 WJ Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Helping is why we are all here on RAMJ+W, or should be.
..
"blacice1" <blkeye4u@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1135008550.894381.136590@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Over the weekend I was hoping to repair my Jeep so it would no longer
> make any noise. I was going to change the front wheel bearings, but
> after starting the tear down I noticed that my front brake pads were
> severly cracked and there were chunks missing out of them. Theses pads
> are relatively new and so are the rotors. They were even the Auto Zone
> "upgrade" pads. Needless to say the pads were junk. I figured this was
> were the noise was coming from. It was not. Changing the Pads did
> nothing to quiet any noise.
> Here are my thoughts about the problem.
> -Still could be the wheel bearing, however there is zero play in the
> wheel when the car is jacked up and everyone I talk to insists that
> there must be play in the wheel bearing if it is defective.
> -Front differential - could be going out or since I put 2 new tires on
> the car and it is full time four wheel drive, the Jeep may not like the
> slight difference in tread wear, making the tires slightly different in
> size. The reason I do not think it is a front diff is because the niose
> is NOT constant and acceleration has no bearing on the noise, sometimes
> it makes noise with acceleration, sometimes it doesn't.
>
> This noise has no consistancy, the only thing that is consistant is
> that if I hit the brakes, every single time the niose goes away. Please
> offer an advice if you have some, I am getting frustrated and If it is
> not the wheel bearings or front diff, I have no clue what it could be.
>

 

Is there noise in the wheel bearings when you rotate them? Is there any
dragging of brake components? (disks, dust shields, wear sensors, calipers,
etc)

I'm not a mechanic but it seems it the noise goes away as you apply the
brakes then the brakes/wheel/hub has to be involved.

--
Billy_Ray@fuseSPAM.net (Remove the SPAM)
2002 WJ Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Helping is why we are all here on RAMJ+W, or should be.
..
"blacice1" <blkeye4u@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1135008550.894381.136590@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Over the weekend I was hoping to repair my Jeep so it would no longer
> make any noise. I was going to change the front wheel bearings, but
> after starting the tear down I noticed that my front brake pads were
> severly cracked and there were chunks missing out of them. Theses pads
> are relatively new and so are the rotors. They were even the Auto Zone
> "upgrade" pads. Needless to say the pads were junk. I figured this was
> were the noise was coming from. It was not. Changing the Pads did
> nothing to quiet any noise.
> Here are my thoughts about the problem.
> -Still could be the wheel bearing, however there is zero play in the
> wheel when the car is jacked up and everyone I talk to insists that
> there must be play in the wheel bearing if it is defective.
> -Front differential - could be going out or since I put 2 new tires on
> the car and it is full time four wheel drive, the Jeep may not like the
> slight difference in tread wear, making the tires slightly different in
> size. The reason I do not think it is a front diff is because the niose
> is NOT constant and acceleration has no bearing on the noise, sometimes
> it makes noise with acceleration, sometimes it doesn't.
>
> This noise has no consistancy, the only thing that is consistant is
> that if I hit the brakes, every single time the niose goes away. Please
> offer an advice if you have some, I am getting frustrated and If it is
> not the wheel bearings or front diff, I have no clue what it could be.
>

 

Is there noise in the wheel bearings when you rotate them? Is there any
dragging of brake components? (disks, dust shields, wear sensors, calipers,
etc)

I'm not a mechanic but it seems it the noise goes away as you apply the
brakes then the brakes/wheel/hub has to be involved.

--
Billy_Ray@fuseSPAM.net (Remove the SPAM)
2002 WJ Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Helping is why we are all here on RAMJ+W, or should be.
..
"blacice1" <blkeye4u@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1135008550.894381.136590@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Over the weekend I was hoping to repair my Jeep so it would no longer
> make any noise. I was going to change the front wheel bearings, but
> after starting the tear down I noticed that my front brake pads were
> severly cracked and there were chunks missing out of them. Theses pads
> are relatively new and so are the rotors. They were even the Auto Zone
> "upgrade" pads. Needless to say the pads were junk. I figured this was
> were the noise was coming from. It was not. Changing the Pads did
> nothing to quiet any noise.
> Here are my thoughts about the problem.
> -Still could be the wheel bearing, however there is zero play in the
> wheel when the car is jacked up and everyone I talk to insists that
> there must be play in the wheel bearing if it is defective.
> -Front differential - could be going out or since I put 2 new tires on
> the car and it is full time four wheel drive, the Jeep may not like the
> slight difference in tread wear, making the tires slightly different in
> size. The reason I do not think it is a front diff is because the niose
> is NOT constant and acceleration has no bearing on the noise, sometimes
> it makes noise with acceleration, sometimes it doesn't.
>
> This noise has no consistancy, the only thing that is consistant is
> that if I hit the brakes, every single time the niose goes away. Please
> offer an advice if you have some, I am getting frustrated and If it is
> not the wheel bearings or front diff, I have no clue what it could be.
>