Horrendous clacking noise while braking

[FromAnOldsmobile4]

Ok, so I think I've got a unique one here. I search the forums here and at Jeepforums and I haven't seen anything mentioned like this.

Bought this Jeep(2001 Cherokee Sport) 2 weeks ago in New Jersey, then promptly decided I need a little sunshine in my life and drove it to San Diego where I now live. Along the way I figured I'd see what this whole 4WD thing is all about and drove over the Black Hills, the Bighorn Mountains, through Yellowstone/Tetons/Utah, then through the desert while taking every opportunity to drive off the road up the side of cliffs.
Jeep was perfect. Beautiful. I'm hooked.

So anyways, the only problem I encountered was that when I had to come to a hard stop from a decent speed(usually above 40) there was a VERY pronounced clicking/clacking noise coming from what sounded like RIGHT BENEATH my feet.
I'm pretty adept at picking out brake noises but I've never heard anything like this. I thought maybe this was something ABS did since I've never owned an ABS-equipped vehicle before, but upon further reflection it makes no sense that ABS should sound like your car is falling apart.

So, anybody got any clues? It literally sounds like it's coming from the pedal itself, and that something is getting hung up like sticking a metal rod into bicycle spokes or something.


Help!

[dave92cherokee]

I recently experienced something like that in my 92. First has your jeep been lifted any or is it still stock height. If it's been lifted then you might have a problem with the slip yoke if they were still used in that year not sure. My problem turned out after flushing tranny fluid and changing filter, flushing xfer case fluid, front and rear diff fluid I found that the u joint on the front of the rear drive shaft was severly worn down and the needle bearings inside it were completely gone on one end allowing it to move freely inside the cup. After replacing both u joints on the drive shaft noise was gone. Should give you somewhere to start checking.

[FromAnOldsmobile4]

Hey thanks man.

I'll give it a shot. Apparnetly a lot of Jeep problems stem from the U-Joints so I might as well have a look at em, since I've never laid eyes on one in my life.


Appreciate it.

[dave92cherokee]

NP if you need help in how to replace the u joints or recommendations to models let us know I'm sure alot of people on here could help with that.