Grand Cherokee Laredo Strange Noises!!!

[mike.g]

I am new to Jeep ownership and have recently bough a 4 litre grand cherokee 1997. Its the quadra track permanent 4wd version and all seems well except once you drive for around half an hour its starts knocking from the rear end. This only happens when you slow right down to stop and is fairly loud as you pull away - it smooths out again at about 15 mph. It doesn’t matter if you are going straight or turning it makes the same noise - a loud donk, donk, donk sort of noise. The jeep has done 90,000 but stupidly it did not have any history - I was seduced by its cheap price and good all round condition.

mike.g
near tunbridge wells, kent

[isle of man]

do you believe it to be coming from the rear diff area? only it should have a additive in the oil to stop the noise you describe, if so you can change the oil and buy the additive from a jeep dealer.





peter henry

[Bishops Finger]

Sadly it might mean the rear diff is on its way out.....If IOM's cure doesn't fix it Chris at Surrey off road comes highly rated I believe...

[sardonicus]

I had the same problem on my jeep with less than 80,000 on the clock ,
these models have alimited slip differential ,which wears and doesnt slip as it should when its plates are worn or broken(hence the judder and noise from the rear) .its probably not the centre diff gears .you can try changing the diff oil and putting some additive (from a local stealership)in,this may cure it for a while but best get it sorted soon.
see other postings on jeep diffs.cheaper to repair than to get a second hand axle which may be fkd as well.

[mike.g]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Sardonicus, I see you are in west kent, I am near tunbridge wells, can you recommend anyone closer than surrey off road - there’s enough older jeeps around there must be someone more local??

mike.g

[isle of man]

try here...........


OFF ROAD MDG
 
 73-75 CLARENCE STREET
 
 PORTSMOUTH
 
 HAMPSHIRE
 
 PO1 4AY
 
 TEL 02392 755412
 
 EMAIL: Sales@offroadmdg.com

[sardonicus]

You can try asking local garages but this is quite a specialist job unfortunately.Most reputable small garages willprobably quote you upwards of £800 ! for a ' complete axle rebuild 'or because it will probably take them days to get the axle apart.If someone has got the right tools and knows what they are doing its a half a day job at most.
For Any other job on jeeps, most garages that still have mechanics (not technicians!)can do.
Its a bit of a treck out to dunsfold but they know what they are doing and do a proper job.