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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/1997 Grand Cherokee-clunking sound

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Expert: - 5/4/2004


Question
I have a 1997 jeep grand cherokee with 130K. It makes a clunking sound when you turn left or right.  It happens at slow/fast speeds.  Tires have been replaced, stabilizer bar replaced, front end aligned.  The clunking is coming from the front driver side, sound like behind the wheel.  You can feel a vibration on the floorboard when you hear the sound.  Any ideas?
Thanks!

Answer
Terri,

Sounds like a universal/CV joint on the end of the front axle going bad.  Another possibility, is a front bearing.  I would take it to another front end shop, and if possible, one that specializes in 4 wheel drives.  A front end alignment may not find this problem, if they are not used to working on 4x4's.  If there is a 4 wheel drive club in your area, try to contact them, and check with some of the members to see if they can recommend a reputable shop.

  Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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