Grand Cherokee driveline vibration problems

59Willys

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Joined
May 9, 2005
Location
SPENCER
Wife has a 2003 Grand Cherokee with quadradrive and the 4.7 V8.

Great vehicle, but when she drives it at highway speed, there is a definite driveline-type vibration. Not really noticable until you hit around 55 or so, then you can really just feel it in the gas pedal more than in the steering. Makes interstate driving unpleasant.

Anybody have any suggestions about what to check first? Tires are new, seems to be in alignment as well. (We bought it used in Oct 07) Just put a new steering stabilizer on it, but everything else is bone stock.

Thanks in advance for any tips
 
i would check you universal joints. do you take off road. if so is your drive shaft warped
 
You don't mention how many miles you have on this vehicle.

3 weeks ago I rebuilt the T-case in a 99 GC w/4.7 and quadratrac2.

At 55mph and higher, it would jerk and shutter. Owner was sure it was the transmission. after much investigation it was found that the chain in the T-case was actually jumping teeth at speed. the chain was strecthed.

I replaced the chain and the viscious coupler ($450 worth of parts) and refilled witht he porper fluid from Mopar.

owner is now happy, GC drives as well as wanything with 170k on the od can.
 
It has about 78k on it now. There is no jerking and shuddering, just vibration (about enought to make your foot go numb after a while) at highway speeds

I would be willing to bet it has never been offroad, although it was from Michigan so 4wd was probably used.
 
Doesn't sound like the issue, but be aware of this just the same.

I believe you have tthe NP249 T-case. the part that makes it all wheel drive in the T-case is the Viscous Coupler (VC) When those go bad they will start with a vibe, then eventually get down right violent to drive. to the point it feels like someone strapped a brick to your driveshaft.

Easy diagnosis and fix, remove front Driveshaft. and keep driving it. Expensive fix, replace T-case or even just the $700 VC. When it works, that 249 works good, but when it goes bad, it goes bad in a hurry.

But check, rotors, CV's and U-joints before condemning the VC.
 
IF by chance it happens to be an NP247 case in that GC, and it is infact the chain/viscious coupling, I found the kit on Ebay for $450, includes new chain, new viscious coupler and all seals needed. http://tinyurl.com/22tw6w

they may have something for a NP249, I haven't looked or asked them.

The job took about 2.5hrs start to finish with helping hand to lower and lift and using air tools.

I am in no way connected with the company that sell this, nor do I have any interest in it, merely expressing my experiance with said problem and product and where I found the parts to cure the problem a friend was having.

Was cheaper than a used T-case, and probably way more reliable.

As a suggestion, you may also want to get 2qts of the T-case fluid from the dealer ( ~$10 per) and change fliud, that my help , or could make it worse, at least then you will know.
 
I know this sounds stupid

My buddy had a similar problem. After checking the drive shaft, u-joints, drive shaft angle, rear pinion, t-case etc. turns out it was one spark plug that would start missing at about 55 mph. Some how it intorduced a vibration that felt like it was in the drive line. Its worth a try anyway. it worked for him.
 
CV joint on the front driveshaft locked up - replaced it and runs like a new one
 
I've had new tires that weren't balanced properly - all were off by about an ounce. Not noticible until 55 or higher.
 
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