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Re: 96 Cherokee w/ Suspension Issues - Help
Hi -
Well this sounds familiar to me, so here goes. Firstly, I am a long time Jeep enthusiast, NOT a professional mechanic. I too have a 1996 Cherokee (4.0 HO Straight Six) that I revamped the suspension on last year. After almost 200,000 miles, the old boy was getting a bit shaky, although you could never tell by the outward appearance. I keep it very well maintained, but the suspension on Cherokees takes a real beating prior to the redesign in 1997. I went to the dealer that originally sold the car (luckily, a Chrysler 5 star service center as well), and had a new set of rear leaf springs installed - got a stock set with one extra leaf, that only raised the body about 1 inch over stock - not noticable at all. The extra strength will keep it sitting righ for the rest of its life though. The job, parts & labor, ran me about $750 - money well spent. I then installed a set (2) of HD coil springs (also from Jeep) on the front - that ran about $400. I installed 4 Monroe Sensa-Truck (truck version of sensa-track) gas charged, load leveling shocks. These perform as well as the bilsteins, but have a better ride on the road. Here's something NOT to forget - The Steering Stabilizer - I used the Monroe HD Sensa-Truck part for that as well. If you don't replace that, the thing will still change lanes on you when you hit railraod tracks! That's due to the "true truck" front ends on the Cherokee prior to 1997. After they put a more "car-like" suspension on the front end, it is more sedate about such things, but not as tough in the long run. The Monroe Steering Stabilizer will run about $60 - I change mine every other year, and people are always asking me how a Jeep with 200,000 miles rides so tight! It will keep the ball joints from premature wear, and just keep al the bushings in better shape for much longer, since they don't have to absorb the shock. Which brings me to the bushings - replace all that you can with urethane instead of rubber - you won't believe the difference a $10 bushing makes! In short - this Jeep outperforms any 96 - even new off the lot. If you keep your Jeep in good shape, and can justify the expense, it's about $2000 to get the equivilent of a new car! I don't know how your engine & drive train are, but the last Cherokee I sold, was a 1989 - with over 350,000 on it! I swear by monthly oil changes - full synthetic with Lucas stabilizer - always. And 4oz of Marvel Mystery oil to each full tank of gas - upper cylinder lubrication will get you mileage like a diesel. Also - Techron once a month - you'll never replace an injector if you do that from the start. Use the Lucas stabilizer in the transmission & trnsfer case as well - and do a full change every other year at very least - I do mine yearly, and it's tight & quiet, and all stock! We get a lot of snow up here, and this old guy powers right through it year after year. By the way - best tires I have found to date - Cooper Discoverer A/T - the are a perfect blend for street & snow - with a little dirt on weekends! Hope at least some of this helps, good luck & keep on Jeepin!
TM
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03-23-2004, 10:16 PM
