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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Front wheels "crimp" when I make a sharp turn

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Expert: - 5/23/2004


Question
I have a '94 Grand Cherokee with quadrotrac all wheel drive and 4.0 L I6.  After driving for more than 30 minutes, the front wheels "crimp" (thump) when I make a sharp turn (left or righ) to park.  This problem doesn't appear when the car is cold and hasn't been driven.  I had a mechanic look at it and he checked the front axle and the limited slip differential.  He couldn't find a problem with either.  Do you have any suggestion as what might be the problem. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.  Thx.

Art

Answer
Art,

This could be caused by several failing components.  If you do have a limited slip differential in the front (which is not real common), the clutches may be binding after the gear oil gets warm.  A bad cv/universal on a front axle may cause this.  To a lesser degree, your transfer case may be having some problems, after warming up, and locking in the front end when it's not needed.  I would take the Jeep to another shop that specializes in 4 wheel drives, and get another opinion.  Make sure that the Jeep is warm, and that you can duplicate the problem.  Take the mechanic with you, and show him the problem first hand.

  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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