Front end jeep 99 GC howl/whine..... HELP!!!!

[beemermeup]

I would like to start by saying this site is awhsome and ant help is very appereciated.......Ill even sweeten it up with a $25 gift cert to your choice!!!

Here we go...Just bought a 99 jeep grand cherokee limited V8 4x4 w/ quadra track awd last night with 143K. Stole it for $1900. The story I got, which I believe is it just started making this weird noise from the front end a couple days ago. Its a very, very loud almost like when you need power steering fluid but louder. Also it only happens when moving. If you are in park and rev and or turn steering wheel--nothing. Only when the vehicle is moving and I mean in anyway. I even got on the top put the tranfer case and trans in N and pushed free wheeled it with no power to the wheels and it still made the noise. Upon return from the test drive I looked under it and noticed the front drive shaft was missing so all of the clever N pushing it down the hill I beleived proved nothing. It sounded like it was comming from the drivers side but its really hard to tell. Also from the inside of the vehicle it was loud however the people standing in the drive as we left/retured didnt hear it as i would have though. Anouther thing I may mention is it does have the shifting problem that im almost sure just needs to be reprogramed (flashed) from what ive read. I dont thing that has anything to do with this though as it sounds like it comming from the front of the vehicle. Let the games begain...... THANK YOU!!!!

[Goldfishy]

My bet is that the front wheel bearings are worn out and shot to heck. The wheel bearings are incorporated in the wheel hub, so it will cost about $99 per wheel assembly and a job you can easily do yourself. If they start to get a grinding sound, better replace them asap!! You can get the items at most local auto stores. Autzone has them with the Timken bearings, maybe the others do too.

Good luck.....

[beemermeup]

great thanks. this site is awesome. i will jack it up tomorrow and see. thanks again for all of the help.

[Goldfishy]

I wanted to clarify that if you buy the item, it's a whole new wheel hub assembly with the bearings already sealed in them, that's the way Jeep does it and with some of its aftermarket items. Good luck....

[beemermeup]

i lifted the front end up a spun the wheels. i noticed the tie rd on the left side was about to almost fall off. buy typicly when you have a bad wheel bearing and your driving and put more load on one side by swerving it would make more noise on one side than the other? after looking under the truck the boots on the cv joints and the diff fluid was really low will quit a few metal shavings stuck to the megnetic plug i think it may just be more cost effective to swap out the whole front end. my next question is how much should that cost and could i use a quadra track when the vehicle is quadra drive? thanks for your help and all of your advice.