95 gr. cherokee steering problem

[novagard]

Have a 1995 gr. cherokee laredo with 230,000 miles (4W Drive). Recently have an problem with LOW speed steering; almost always on dry pavement (garages) when making a sharp turn into parking space. Feels and sounds like a loud thumping/tire skipping usually on a left hand turn. Tie rods & linkages are less than 2 years old. New CV joints/drive axles. Origonal ball joints; but no obvious damage or looseness. Have car up on blocks now trying to figure out what's bad. What am I missing?

[jlynx]

Originally Posted by novagard

Have a 1995 gr. cherokee laredo with 230,000 miles (4W Drive). Recently have an problem with LOW speed steering; almost always on dry pavement (garages) when making a sharp turn into parking space. Feels and sounds like a loud thumping/tire skipping usually on a left hand turn. Tie rods & linkages are less than 2 years old. New CV joints/drive axles. Origonal ball joints; but no obvious damage or looseness. Have car up on blocks now trying to figure out what's bad. What am I missing?

If it is in the front end I would check the strut bushings, and the front end rubber bushings. If it is coming from the rear you might have a problem with your differential. Or you might have a locker in the rear end that locks when you make a sharp turn to keep all the tires in sink for off roading. If this doesn't help let me know and what is going on still. I will call a friend of mine, he has a jeep and he's a machanic also. I hope this helps?

[novagard]

Thanks for the fast reply. Thumping/skipping is from right front. Spring & shock are A-OK. One mechanic told me it might be transfer case...but that makes no sense to me. My only other thought was that maybe axle nut was not to proper torque. Bearing appears OK; but how do you tell for sure.

[jlynx]

Originally Posted by novagard

Thanks for the fast reply. Thumping/skipping is from right front. Spring & shock are A-OK. One mechanic told me it might be transfer case...but that makes no sense to me. My only other thought was that maybe axle nut was not to proper torque. Bearing appears OK; but how do you tell for sure.

To see if the axle nut is ok or the bearing?

[hardisk_c]

If you have the 249 transfer case with all-time 4wd (you'll only have 4hi-n-4lo oon the range selector) your mechanic is on when he says it may be the transfer case. The viscous coupler (search for that or 'VC') is notorious for going out on those, and when it does, it locks up the front and causes it to make the noises described. A little scuffing at low speeds is normal because of the way the system is built, but mine on my '94 got so bad that once warm, just holding the wheel over while stopped would cause a knocking noise and a pulsing feel from up front. . . . . my

[novagard]

Thanks, I guess.......I was hoping he was wrong. I don't want to put that kind of money into the vehicle at this point. Is this a problem that just gets progressively worse? or will it crap-out all of a sudden? I don't suppose there are any cheap fixes or magic additives that would allow me to limp through the summer?

[novagard]

Pulled the bearing and hub out to see if that was bad