Grand Cherokee-can a suspension problem stop me reversing?!

[anonymous-user]

Hi guys,

I have a small problem, got a 2000 Grand Cherokee 4.7 and started the day fine, small amount of knocking from under the car which I put down to a wobbly exhaust.....over the course of the day it got worse and worse ( especially in reverse) until I thought it prudent to have a look.....

Peering underneath saw nothing too obvious but as the missus reversed the car the whole of the front axle was juddering, with the front wheels skipping across the tarmac, I assumed it was a control arm bush failure that allowed excessive movement of the front axle.....

Later on the car simply wouldnt go backwards, clunking and banging severely and requiring a decent prod of throttle to overcome whatever is causing the problem, my question is could something as simple as a bush cause this?

Cheers guys

Simon

[Spare tyre]

Calliper problem?

[BrownBottle]

Sounds more like a transmission problem, prop/diff/gbox or possibly brake shoes/handbrake shoes detached and jamming up.

[jay140285]

Sounds to me like it needs a diff / axle rebuild.

Having got 2 jeeps on the drive and owned a few more if it hasnt been serviced with the correct additive in the diff it will be goosed.

Where about are you?

[scrwright]

take off the front prop (just 8mm bolts & a 15min job) & try driving it (won't cause issues running without it) I had a propshaft CV fail that only appeared reversing. Sounds more serious than that though. I'd be looking at the transfer case or front axle first

[jesta1865]

scrwright said:

take off the front prop (just 8mm bolts & a 15min job) & try driving it (won't cause issues running without it) I had a propshaft CV fail that only appeared reversing. Sounds more serious than that though. I'd be looking at the transfer case or front axle first

do this first, it will at least help narrow down where the problem is. it should only take an hour and cost you nothing to try and work out what is happening. check bolts and bushes etc next, thas way you may find the cause and save money / time having a gearbox looked at

i had a mate with a similar issue, it turned out to be just bushes that had split and were allowing too much movement of the front axle when he reversed, where fine going forward.

[anonymous-user]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the thoughts, I got the missus to reverse the car while I peered underneath and here is massive amounts of movement in the upper control arms, will replace the bushes on saturday and of this doesnt work I will pop the driveshaft out as recommended.

Thanks again!

[scrwright]

get the bushes in the freezer for a good few hours & have a blow lamp handy to heat the axle, the bush in the diff pumpkin can be a bh to get in. Is your front prop a CV one or a UJ one?