Cherokee XJ Noise

[zvm77us]

Hi,
99 cherokee xj 2wd. Recently I noticed that sometimes when making a sharp turn I hear this weird noise coming from the rear. It sounds like I have a bottle of fluid in the trunk compartment that like flipped over and is spilling its content (imagine a bottle of detergent flipped over with no cap spilling out).
The jeep has new shocks as well as springs. Any ideas?
Can it be the tires, differential, exhaust system shaking?

 

[NHGUY]

May not be it,but Jeeps seem to suffer from terrible rear ends.The dreaded Spicer 35.Wrangler Rubicons went to Spicer 44 due to durability issues in their expected off road duty.

 

[tomcat27]

could you have water trapped in the rear quarter? in a door? check your differential fluid. I've had several, I tow ALOT, and dont know any issue inherent to the XJ's. (other than the double cardan joint on the Grands)

 

[Zaedock]

You're going to have to crawl under and shake things. Exhaust, brake cables, etc.

 

[exranger06]

Gas sloshing around in the tank gives that "laundry detergent spilling out" sound you described. If that's what it is, it's normal.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
May not be it,but Jeeps seem to suffer from terrible rear ends.The dreaded Spicer 35.Wrangler Rubicons went to Spicer 44 due to durability issues in their expected off road duty.


The Dana 35 IS much weaker off road, and running it with 33s or larger while being locked won't help anything. They have gone to 400k miles in stock form so I wouldn't call them terrible.

OP did you replace the shocks or did a shop do it? I'd check the top shock mounts. The bolts commonly break and sometimes instead of drilling and tapping for a new bolt a shop will do a shoddy job. Also check your bushings. I had shock bushings that were bad a month after installing new shocks and it made a similar noise.

 

[D189379]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
Gas sloshing around in the tank gives that "laundry detergent spilling out" sound you described. If that's what it is, it's normal.


+1. The tank is right under the trunk, and the sheet metal is very thin there.

 

[zvm77us]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
May not be it,but Jeeps seem to suffer from terrible rear ends.The dreaded Spicer 35.Wrangler Rubicons went to Spicer 44 due to durability issues in their expected off road duty.


The Dana 35 IS much weaker off road, and running it with 33s or larger while being locked won't help anything. They have gone to 400k miles in stock form so I wouldn't call them terrible.

OP did you replace the shocks or did a shop do it? I'd check the top shock mounts. The bolts commonly break and sometimes instead of drilling and tapping for a new bolt a shop will do a shoddy job. Also check your bushings. I had shock bushings that were bad a month after installing new shocks and it made a similar noise.


Everything is stock. I did the suspension myself (with a buddy) like 2 months ago. Your right we had to tap new threads for the shocks, I think it was a good thread, bolts went in nicely. I went through the suspension and looks good.

Originally Posted By: D189379
Originally Posted By: exranger06
Gas sloshing around in the tank gives that "laundry detergent spilling out" sound you described. If that's what it is, it's normal.


+1. The tank is right under the trunk, and the sheet metal is very thin there.


I like the assumption on the sloshing.

 

[wings&wheels]

once you rule out normal fuel sound, check the 2 cavities under side cargo area windows for water. if i remember mine, there are drains into and out of them which can get dislodged or plugged.

w

 

[zvm77us]

Originally Posted By: wings&wheels
once you rule out normal fuel sound, check the 2 cavities under side cargo area windows for water. if i remember mine, there are drains into and out of them which can get dislodged or plugged.

w


where do you check, under the car?

 

[wings&wheels]

Behind the interior side trim panels.

I had one side of the rear lights go out and was chasing the wiring when i found evidence of some water there on mine...this was a few years ago. The problem was a loose plug on the little grey box that monitors for bulb failures. check the connections if yiu are in there.

w

 

[mechtech2]

Try filling the gas tank ans see if that makes a difference.
Make sure any drain holes are free and clear - body and doors.