1998 cherokee rear end noise.

zoom63

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2007
Location
Kannapolis, N.C.
Cherokee making a growling noise when I slow down for a stoplight. Pulled rearend cover off and i cant see anything wrong. The axles have a little bit of play in them up and down, also in and out. Going to do bearings today but dont think that is the problem. If I put it in neutral coasting to a stop the noise isnt there. Any ideas would be appreciated. 8.25 rear. Brakes are all good.
 
outer bearings are shot, pull axles out and their on the axles or on the housing, fairly easy to change but easier if you have whiz wheel to cut off old one then carefully beat on new one. its rare that it would be your carrier bearings: almost always the outer axle bearings. could be pinion bearing but put rear up on jacks and front to be safer, and put it in drive and listen to outside of tires for noise or put screw driver on housing at the edges and at pinion and you'll know immediately if its bearings or pinion. good luck, happy jeepin.
 
88jeepster said:
outer bearings are shot, pull axles out and their on the axles or on the housing, fairly easy to change but easier if you have whiz wheel to cut off old one then carefully beat on new one. its rare that it would be your carrier bearings: almost always the outer axle bearings. could be pinion bearing but put rear up on jacks and front to be safer, and put it in drive and listen to outside of tires for noise or put screw driver on housing at the edges and at pinion and you'll know immediately if its bearings or pinion. good luck, happy jeepin.
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How can placing the tranny in neutral make the failed axle bearing cure themselves?
To the OP, is the Jeep lifted? Maybe you are hearing driveline vibes and placing the tranny in neutral lessens the pinion angle enough to make the noise go away.
Let's start with that information and see what we can come up with.
 
yo my bad, i totally missed the whole neutral thing..duhh, Jody's right, if lifted has to be driveline vibes
 
I was thinking pinion bearings as a possibility. Seems it would make noise any time on decel, not just slowing to a stop if that was the case...
Need more info for sure
 
I will guess muffler bearing, when off the throttle and in neutral the exhaust pressures are lowered and the bearing can "loosen" while spinning, creating the noise.
or any of the above, I lean toward the pinion bearing. Can you her anything on the throttle our is the Jeep loud and drowning out the noise?
 
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