As some of you know I have been looking for a TJ for awhile now, plenty of reasons as to why I haven't found one yet. I did find one today and drove it, I will probably buy it if I can get you guys to chime in as to what might be wrong with this jeep.
first the jeep;
2001 Sahara, 160k miles, Automatic Transmission, pretty much all stock, no lift, 29" or 30" tires
Tie Rod ends, ball joints, and steering box, changed out about 2500 miles ago, according to the owner.
Looked around underneath, no sign of any rust on the frame, every thing looks good as far as the frame is concerned.
The drive; Drove it on a country road, my top speed was 70mph, pretty darn smooth, no noise, no pulling, straight as an arrow. Not a panic stop but from about 65 to stopped was smooth and straight not pulling in either direction, stopped Very good.
Two things bothered me, I did a U turn, I thought I could feel a grind/catching no noise to speak of, it was a momentary little catch, just barely perceptible. The next thing, when pulling in the driveway, I could hear what I call a rotating grinding, very pronounced, a grinding/groaning sound, sounding as it came from some rotation, wheel/rearend/wheel bearing/ujoint.
When driving straight mostly under acceleration it seem like the rear of the jeep was fish tailing, or swaying from the rear of the jeep, and then as the speed increased it went away.
My gut says U joints, but that is just a guess, maybe a bad wheel bearing, I could not pin point which side the noise came from but it seemed to be from the rear.
Owner says he things its springs moaning and grinding, just doesn't ring right to me. I am not an expert so it could be about any thing.
Ok so what do you guys say, I gave you the best description I could come up with.
Thanks
first the jeep;
2001 Sahara, 160k miles, Automatic Transmission, pretty much all stock, no lift, 29" or 30" tires
Tie Rod ends, ball joints, and steering box, changed out about 2500 miles ago, according to the owner.
Looked around underneath, no sign of any rust on the frame, every thing looks good as far as the frame is concerned.
The drive; Drove it on a country road, my top speed was 70mph, pretty darn smooth, no noise, no pulling, straight as an arrow. Not a panic stop but from about 65 to stopped was smooth and straight not pulling in either direction, stopped Very good.
Two things bothered me, I did a U turn, I thought I could feel a grind/catching no noise to speak of, it was a momentary little catch, just barely perceptible. The next thing, when pulling in the driveway, I could hear what I call a rotating grinding, very pronounced, a grinding/groaning sound, sounding as it came from some rotation, wheel/rearend/wheel bearing/ujoint.
When driving straight mostly under acceleration it seem like the rear of the jeep was fish tailing, or swaying from the rear of the jeep, and then as the speed increased it went away.
My gut says U joints, but that is just a guess, maybe a bad wheel bearing, I could not pin point which side the noise came from but it seemed to be from the rear.
Owner says he things its springs moaning and grinding, just doesn't ring right to me. I am not an expert so it could be about any thing.
Ok so what do you guys say, I gave you the best description I could come up with.
Thanks
