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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/94 jeep grand cherokee

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Expert: - 5/4/2005


Question
i have a 94 grand cherokee with 180,000 miles that is making a clicking sound from the front end at slow turns. the sound does not speed up when i speed up.  i am thinking my cv joints are shot, but i am not sure.  a mechanic said that i may need a new front axel (from our over the phone conversation) because the jeep has all wheel drive.  

Answer
Jason,

Most mechanics wouldn't try to answer your question without driving, or listening to the sound.  The problem I have with it being a bearing, or axle problem, is that you said that the sound does not change when you speed up.  

The speed of the drive train components, such as axle bearings, differentials, or the axles themselves will change with the speed of the vehicle which should make a noticeable difference in the sound of a worn component.  Axles are not real prone to failure, but bearings, and cv joints are.

I would take the Jeep to a reputable front end shop, and have them do a front end alignment, and check all of the steering components, and axle bearings, along with the cv joints.

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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