HELP - Grinding/Whirring in Jeep

[je551ca]

Hi everyone, I'm in desperate need of some help...
I have a 200 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with 97k.

Today while driving (going abt. 40-45mph & with the AC on), it started making an awful grinding sound & seemed to be driving differently -- almost felt like I blew out a tire. I turned off the AC & radio to hear it better. It sounded like it was coming from the front... but it was hard to tell. It sounded awful.

I pulled over & all tires were intact. I started driving again & the sound continued.

Then, about 1-2 min. later, it stopped, felt like it was steering/driving normally again, but the engine sounded like it was whirring/whining/whistling (?). The faster I went, higher the whir/whine/whistle.

It's an automatic & was shifting fine. I got it home abt. 10 min later & looked under the vehicle. There was a slow drip of water (which was hot) coming from the front passenger area. I opened the hood & everything looks intact -- no antifreeze spray, etc. I didn't seem to be overheating. Oil pressure never changed. Water pump? Ideas?? I'm clueless...

Thanks, Jessica

[KansasZj09]

I would think the water drips is from your AC being on, and maybe since the weather is hot out, the condensation on the AC lines is turning hot plus from the motor being hot too, thats where the drips I would think be coming from, however I aint 100% sure. As for the noise, maybe a U-Joint is bad? Have someone look at it, could be a drive shaft U-Joint or maybe one of the U-joints in one of the front wheels.

[fredjacksonsan]

Since you had your AC on, try driving without it and see if the noise goes away. AC condensers can make a lot of noise.

What engine do you have?