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[TC]

Hi all,
Just joined the forum after picking up a 2004 2.7 Grand Cherokee yesterday.
On the whole it seems pretty good if not as smooth as the 4.0 Cherokee I had a few years back but I expected that.
Anyway, reason I'm on here is I've noticed that when driving along the motorway, if you accelerate and then back off, the Jeep seems to twist and try to move to the right, you have to correct it if you don't want to move into the next lane.
I don't remember this 'feature' on my old Jeep and was thinking it could indicate something like worn engine mounts or maybe something worn in the steering ?
Any ideas ?

[bgbazz]

Or something worn/broken on the LH rear.

[Fizz]

Check all your bushes. Commom for rear a frame and arms to wear.

[TC]

Thanks for the quick responses 
All the brake pads have just been replaced and I've just been out in it and can smell what I'm guessing is hot brakes, so I'm beginning to think one of the calipers may be sticking, would that cause it ?

[eastryjeep]

A siezed caliper would cause the pong you mention and a continual drag to that side of the car.
If you bought it from a garage, go and ask them to kindly fix it under the sale of goods act (not fit for purpose), or if you got it from a private sale and he had the brakes done by a garage ask the PO very nicely if he will reject it back to the garage for you. After all, he doesn't have to tell them he's sold it does he? Or if you had them changed that makes things even simpler.
All that said, those pads are probably toast now and the disk may have warped, but if you're really lucky all you'll find is that the handbrake cable is too tight. Meaning a little adjustment and a fresh set of pads will see it right. But don't play with it now or you'll find the hot bits damn quick!

Oh yeah, 'welcome to Birties', and happy Jeepin'.

[TC]

Took it out for another run earlier.
I think the brakes are actually OK, the smell is I suspect just from the crap on the discs, calipers etc where they were working on them.
The car goes in a straight line on a constant throttle, doesn't pull to one side under braking and rolls back slightly on the drive when I park so they don't seem to be binding.
I've got to drive to Kent tomorrow, which is about 100 miles or so, and should get a better idea of what's going on as I get used to it (It's a slight change after a Skoda (Anyone want a cheap Fabia shed ? )) and it give a chance for the crap to burn itself off.
I bought it from a dealer and it's covered by a full warranty (as well as SOG), I just wanted to get an idea of what it might be first myself before taking it in.........

But if you should hear of the M25 being shut tomorrow because a Jeep's brakes caught fire, you'll know what it was 

[Dutch]

(Anyone want a cheap Fabia shed ? ))

Yes please, specs, pics, condition, mileage etc. - I will Pm you my email address.

It's for youngest muppet so has to be semi decent and good enough to do Truro <-> Newcastle and back after the summer.

Where are you based ?

Cheers

[TC]

I'm near Reading Berks.
It's a 1.9TD, 133,000 miles with just under a years MOT and some tax.
Dead reliable, just got a few ancilliary faults that don't stop it running (and I ignore) and one bodywork amendment from a cyclist.
I'll reply to your PM with some more details

[TC]

After the Kent trip, the brakes seems to have stopped smelling and still work OK.
I'm pretty sure it's something to do with the steering/anti roll bars, it's going back to the dealers on Saturday.

[JamesH]

It will be the bushes on the a-arm or control arms - fairly common I think.

As you apply power or come off the torque shift will twist and wibbly wobbly the rear axle (very technical I know  )

[bgbazz]

Not too sure how your model is set up, but the A arm on the KJ has a balljoint coupling joining it to the diff...easy to change and not expensive. If it's similar, do them all at the same time (two bushes and the ball joint)..in fact, while you are under there, do the lower ones as well. You'll need access to a press to fit the bushings, but the whole job should take an afternoon and cost around 120 quid, including parts.  I got everything from Jeepey Mart (Mike).

[Dutch]

Anyone want a cheap Fabia shed ?

Chaps, one Fabia winging it's way to Kernow in a fortnight.

One very happy muppet standing by 

Thanks TC, see you soon.

[gazjeep]

Excellent 

[bgbazz]

 

[TC]

Good doing business with you, see you soon Dutch 

[Brynjaminjones]

Awesome 

[TC]

Popped it over to the dealer today, he took it for a spin round the block.
It's the steering box, they're replacing it next week.

[TC]

Been thinking further about this, would a knackered steering box actually cause the Jeep to go left/right under acceleration/deceleration ?
I can see it would make the actual steering bad i.e constatntly having to correct it etc but not sure it would cause this ?

[bgbazz]

I have to agree with TC...seems a bit strange to me.

[TC]

It's booked for Monday, so we'll see what happens.
The passenger seat belt's also being looked at as it keeps locking up.....

[TC]

Well it ended up going to the dealers on Tuesday, we'll see what it's like when I get it back.
The delay meant I found a few other bits.

They ended up with a list of faults.
Steering
Locking seat belt
handbrake occasionaly misses the ratchet and comes straight up.
Brake pedal goes down if you keep your foot on it (they had replaced all the pads to cure it but it appears it might be the master cylinder at fault)
And there's a smell of hot oil or diesel from time to time mainly after motorway trips.

I had a go about the tyre pressures on two tyres being half what they should have been when I picked it up and also that if they had inspected the Jeep before handing it over, how come I found 1/2 kilo of squirrell nuts in the airbox......
Hopefully it'll come back all sorted out
They've given me an Audi Quattro Allroad to play with while they fix it.

[jay140285]

Fingers crossed for you.

[bgbazz]

 ...Good luck mate.

[TC]

Well, after having the Jeep for 2 weeks, they've decided it's not the steering box but the rear A Frame bushes that are knackered.
I'm not filled with confidence at this point.

I suspect that, other than warranty claims, I won't be using this workshop again in a hurry 
Trouble is the local Jeep main dealer in Maidenhead has shut and the next nearest specialist, who was miles away in Bicester now doesn't do Jeeps anyway.
Hopefully my van mechanic will be able to service it......

[bgbazz]

Well, after having the Jeep for 2 weeks, they've decided it's not the steering box but the rear A Frame bushes that are knackered.
I'm not filled with confidence at this point.

I suspect that, other than warranty claims, I won't be using this workshop again in a hurry 
Trouble is the local Jeep main dealer in Maidenhead has shut and the next nearest specialist, who was miles away in Bicester now doesn't do Jeeps anyway.
Hopefully my van mechanic will be able to service it......

The rear A frame was what I thought to be the problem, way back in the beginning. It's really easy to fix and not all that expensive!