Jeep problems, anyone want to take a crack at it?

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USAFVET98

USAFVET98

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Joined
Aug 5, 2008
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1,282
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Hawley, Pennsylvania
Alright everyone, my jeep is on the fritz!
I noticed clunking yesterday when driving slow and breaking. Today, my girlfriend tried to take my son out for a little while and as she started to back up, the rear drivers side wheel jumped! So, I had her back up a little more and with every revolution it jumped with a loud pop.

I was thinking maybe rear wheel bearing, but then someone suggested CV joint.

Any idea's?

It is a 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 4x4.
 
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I don't think the rear wheels have cv joints on your model of Jeep. I would suspect either a wheel bearing or something with the brakes.

What do you mean when you say it jumps? That almost makes me think it is a brake problem.

Is it a deep grinding poping noise?

Does it make the same noise going forward?
 
I dont see or hear any grinding and the brakes and rotors are about a month old. Forward is fine, it only happens in reverse. When I look at it moving in reverse, it appears that the wheel in a way pops. Picture hitting a wheel that is not mounted with a dead blow hammer. It sort of jumps. I cant really explain it.
 
Does it only do it when you are applying the brakes while backing?

If you do not have any problem with it going forward, I definitely suspect a brake problem. There is an "automatic adjuster" inside the rear brake drums that "trys" to adjust your brakes when backing up and applying the brakes. Normally it is silent, but if you have something broken or not put together properly, it could make noise.
 
My rear brakes are rotors and pads, not drums?

foneman said:
Does it only do it when you are applying the brakes while backing?

If you do not have any problem with it going forward, I definitely suspect a brake problem. There is an "automatic adjuster" inside the rear brake drums that "trys" to adjust your brakes when backing up and applying the brakes. Normally it is silent, but if you have something broken or not put together properly, it could make noise.
Click to expand...
 
If you have a solid rear axle then you wont have CV joints. Even though you don't have drum brakes, you still have the emergency brake system that may be causing problems. If that is ok!!! then it is time to check the wheel bearings. If that is ok then I would Guess that you may have rear end problems like a carrier bearing or spider gears. But either way pull the wheel and start checking for loose bolts on the calipers and slack in the axle, look for oil seepage (gear or brake). On a side note I just did brakes last night on the LOML's 75 mail jeep and they are drum.
 
Sorry to hear about your car problems. I have an 01 Jeep GC. It has been far and away the most expensive car to maintain that I've ever owned.
 
I had the same clunking problem (and a little jump) on my Jeep, however it was a 1968 Jeep J-2000. It was my rear axle. I needed all new gears. With out seeing it (and it has been about 8 years since I was ASE certified) I would venture that it could be either your transmission (but that would make more than just one wheel jump), the axle like I mentioned above, or the most likely is a wheel bearing, it doesn't have to be bad but it could have been improperly installed or greased when you got your breaks done.
 
Gotta Agree with Ty, most likely areas are the rear bearing or the axle itself.

Luckily if it is the axle, they are pretty cheap since the Grand Cherokee is a common rear end.
 
Sounds to me like the brake caliper is not releasing all the way. Typically it is more noticeable when backing up. It is sometimes caused by a loose or missing mounting bolt or a binding brake hose.
 
Brian , if you didn't have this problem a month ago when you had pads put on , it could be the lug nuts didn't get tightened . Have seen it happen . Just a guess .
 
Sounds like the brake caliper isn't releasing properly. I would bring it back to whoever did the brakes and have them take a look. That may be the cheapest way to start, after that you start getting into rear end disassembly issues.
 
Yes, I would agree. Start small first. Check your lugnuts. If you can jack up the rear end at home, chock the front wheels and put it in neutral. See if you can find where it is catching. Take the tire off and look at the brakes. You should be able to see if anything is out of place. Call the place you had the brakes done and ask them to come take a look (or get it towed but if it's not the brakes they did then that's on you). Then get into wheel bearings, which should have been either serviced our replaced depending on their condition when you got your brakes done.
 
I would start with the lug nuts, I've had it happen twice. My first thought when reading your description was CV joint until I read it was the rear end. I still think CV if your Jeep has them on the rear. CV joints have a tell tale ticking noise when turning though. Maybe Break problem, since they where just worked on it could be something was not right when the work ended. It is at least worth the time to give it a looking over. New does not mean fixed.
 
If there is popping as you state, definately look at the wheel bearing. Jack up bad side, place tiretool or prybar under tire and slowly lift tire. If there is enough play in the bearing you will feel it. Jeep axle bearings are pressed on the axle like the old Fords were.
 
Unfortunately, I did the brakes to save money. I have it at the shop now, and I told the guy it might be a caliper problem as I noticed it only happens in reverse when the breaks are applied. Thanks for all of the hellp everyone.
 
Update to Jeep problem!!

Well,
Im a dumb-ass! I took it to the shop and the mechanic charged me $25.00 to repair it. He said a bolt was missing from the caliper! Doh!!!:eek:

Anyway, I did save a bunch of money today by switching to Gieco!:bananen_smilies051:
 
I'm glad I didn't hit you with the other option I was thinking of. That one was the cracked pinion gear causing the jumping you described. Big $$$$
You did okay though, not bad for a guy with one leg.:biggrin: (inside joke..don't freak out)
 
check the e-brake. check e-brake shoes in rear rotors.
if the brakes where just done it is possible that e-brake shoes need readjusted. going in reverse the shoes would hang up and possibly cause the jumping you are speaking about.
 
Which is what one of the problems with my old Jeep was Neil. Glad I had a lot of friends in the auto industry at that time. I remember opening up the axle cover and all sorts of stuff falling out. I couldn't identify what went wear and I don't think a champion jig saw puzzler could have sorted it out!
 
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