97 with turning issues any advise?

[Andy943100]

Hey fellows, Just getting into a 97 grand cherokee 5.2 AWD as a family car. This thing is real ruff to park (any sharper turn). I origionally thought it was just because of the AWD as I have driven an older manual 4x4 truck in the past, but I dont think someone in their right mind would pull something like this out of the dealer. I think what it is doing is called crow hopping. The front tires are skipping jumping squeeling (wearing the crap out of them) any time I take a sharp turn. Forward or reverse. I really have to give it extra gass to keep it moving.

Already had the bearings and differential taken care of in the front. I read other threads that said something like this could be caused by a faulty transfer case. I dont know much about transfer cases???? Almost feels to me like if it were a two wheel dirve car the rear differential is locked (like a dragster) and not letting it turn.

The jeep only has 83000 miles on it. This seemingly good deal is turning into something else. Any advise is helpful

Thank you
Andy

[rattler02]

Andy check your PM

[kahjdh]

Check the CV boots and see if they are ripped.

[hardisk_c]

I think the '97's still had the 249 transfer case. . . if so, it could be symptoms of the viscous coupler failure.

[Andy943100]

So the consensus is that it is a faulty viscous coupler. This looks like around a $500 job done my self. Will swaping out the viscous coupler completely solve the turning issues? Thinking back the mechanic that did the front end work said that there is a slight noise comming from the transfer case. He said that he thought there was no problem with it though.
Is there any possiblity that there is another cultprit?
Besides the wear on the tires, how bad is it to run my jeep in this condition?

Thanks again
Andy

[breeaad]

You can also just take out the front drive shaft, which will cure your turning issues. I did this for about a year, before I rebuilt the t-case.

[bullscricker]

I had the same problems with my 95 Laredo AWD. I had no idea what was causing it until I snapped a sway bar link and after replacing both, which is recomended when one goes bad, the jumping and jerking has stopped completely. Hope this helps. BTW, I think they are only about 15-20 dollars each.

[Andy943100]

Alright, Im ebayin a repair manual. (for reference Also it looks like for another few hundred dollars I can swap the entire transfer case for a rebuilt one. This seems to be a better option??? because I need this thing reliable for the next 5 or so years.

Is this swap really as simple as it seems, or am I fooling myself?

Also it will probably be next weekend before I get a chance to mess with it at all. ***I will pull the front drive shaft and take it for a ride. If it seems to steer "normal", will this be the way I should expect it to dive with a proprely functioning transfer case???***

Thanks for the help so far. Any more advise before I get my hands dirty is great. Thanks Andy

[Cam7]

Replacing the same kind of transfer case is fairly simple, it shouldnt be a problem for you.

[Steburd]

I have the same problem on my 97. I brought it to the mechanic and they said that everything checked out, and they can't find the reason for the hard park.

[rattler02]

Originally Posted by Cam7

Replacing the same kind of transfer case is fairly simple, it shouldnt be a problem for you.

Just remember they are heavy

[docbugs]

I had/have the same problem with my 97. When I took it in I was told "Thats just the way the are".

[Steburd]

Hi all,

I actually printed out this thread, and brought it to my mechanic, and made him check everything liste in the thread. According to him, they were all ok. Also, while he drive it, there was no indication of any hard turns.

After a full check up he decided to just park it and tell me that, it was just the way the car is. But, as he parked the car, he couldn't turn the wheel!!!

So he figured out that it was the power steering pump. He changed it, and the car turns much better!!

Good luck!

[Andy943100]

I have had power steering pumps go out in the past. This is way different from my previous experience.

My car has mostly been sitting, but i had to drive it down the expressway yesterday and that transfercase is making a nasty hum.

Should have a full rebuilt t-case comming around thanksgiving(next long weekend I get a chance for anything). I will dig this thread up and post the results (hopefully improvements) once it finally gets done.

[abregar]

If it won't idle through a turn then the vc in the t-case is headed south. From the research that I have done they are only good for about 70000 miles. I currently have this problem with my 95 Laredo.