Topic: Cherokee, Back end keeps loosing grip (Read 11066 times)

Taranis · « **on:** December 26, 2007, 02:30:50 AM »

Hi there Jeep Cherokee 1999 2.5TD Sport, LOVE IT BUT...

Back end very poor / twitchy, any suggestions what could be wrong or am I just driving too fast. I have driven 90 and 110 Landy's at the same speeds on the same roads with no problems ??

Actually lost grip all together once 20mph on a corner on icy lane, and on wet road roundabout 30mph, both recovered comp rally driving paid off

I can feel it going at very low speeds, is this normal

? I had the thought that the rear diff may be banjaxed

Can anybody offer any suggestions other than drive even slower...

Best Regards

Andy

tag · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2007, 02:52:37 AM »

Hi, i have a similar problem wheel spinning pulling out at junctions etc. started when i fitted 31 mt's think it's because there's less tread gripping the road. http://www.birtydastardsjeepclub.com/fo ... ic_id=1464

greggmo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 26, 2007, 08:40:45 AM »

an intro would be nice mate. as for your problem i would sway towards fooked rear springs. what tyres do you have on?

Dave69 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2007, 10:11:55 AM »

Quote from: "Taranis"

Actually lost grip all together once 20mph on a corner on icy lane, and on wet road roundabout 30mph, both recovered comp rally driving paid off

Andy

Hi and welcom to birty's

the rear springs might have an effect but i would take a look at the condition of your tyres.

20mph on ice you are going to slide no matter what you drive, and on a wet roundabout if there is a diesel contamination (almost guaranteed with some lorry drivers cant be arsed to put the fuel cap back on) you will slide at 30 or even less.

if you have rally driving experience then it is not a real problem as you know what to do.

Jeeps in themselves handle very well for what they are, i have a mk1 4ltr which i can slide in the wet depending on how much right foot i use.

you know if the rear axle/diff is knackered as it will clunk and judder from drive off.
drive the same as normal but reduce the amount of right foot as you exit a wet corner or island

Mort · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2007, 11:11:51 AM »

The obvious answer is that your 2,5 TD is 2wd only when on-road, due to the 231 Transfer Case, whereas the Landies had permanent 4x4. That would give exactly the symptoms you've described in itself - you'd get the same effect if you drove the same 4.0L XJ down the same road in Full-Time 4x4, and then tried it at the same speed in 2WD.

The cheapest solution is to make sure you have decent tyres to mitigate the bad handling. A more expensive and better solution is to fit a 242 Transfer Case from a 4.0L which will give you permanent 4x4. Those of us with Wranglers have to live with this problem too (same Transfer Case) - but MTs and a shorter wheelbase makes it worse.

dtooth · « **Reply #5 on:** December 26, 2007, 01:45:19 PM »

Theres always a change in driving style

Miss Daisy or Drift King

Taranis · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2007, 12:08:53 AM »

Thanks very much for all your help with this.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Brief Introduction,

My name is Andy Butterfield, Live on the A5 Near Snowdon.

Had A host of Land Rover's in the past, first Jeep and liking it so far. Have to say it flies compared to the Landys, im getting 28-30 mpg at 70-80 mph

and 25-28 on lanes etc.

Off Road experience, Landcraft - Bala with Dave Mitchell, courses and driving days, about 4yrs ago. I also use 4x4 for work which is security of sites and at large events all over UK. So do see some off road work every now and then, hence new jeep.

Am off to an off road day either Sunday 13th or Sunday 27th at Bala, to try it out.

My Motor - Green Cherokee Sport 2.5TD 1999 46900 miles one previous owner full History.

Recent Previous motors D5 Volvo and Volvo T5, yes I know.... I need to slow down

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tyres are v good on tread and are

Continental Vanco 225/70 r15c 112/110r, I would say they look 4-6mths old (2000 miles??)

Tyre Pressures were 18psi on rear :shock:

, now 34 all round, feels better

Springs

Have copper slip on the leaves, maybe the previous owner had tried to grease the knackered springs, I will check them out asap, it does sound like they may be fubard.

Once again guys thanks for your help, do you guys do events in Wales ??

Cheers Andy

daggie · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2007, 08:27:28 AM »

Welcome Andy
are yer rear springs flat :lol:

Mike Pavelin · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2007, 09:01:42 AM »

The grease was probably to stop them creaking.

greggmo · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2007, 10:31:20 AM »

welcome andy. we have done some lanes in wales and some of us have been tough terains and such. we were gonna look at some events in wales this year even pay n plays.

wazza · « **Reply #10 on:** December 27, 2007, 10:06:53 PM »

clue number 1 - Continental Vanco (crap an quite a tough rubber) you'll get loads of miles on them tho

clue number 2 - 34psi (light back end, pumped up tough tyres.)

the vanco's are van tyres hence the name vanco, they're a tough rubber to get the miles which conties always have been but if you look they'll also be atleast a 6 ply on the sidewalls as they're made to carry the weight.

welcome to the forum

Taranis · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2008, 02:22:50 AM »

Hi just logged in,

my m8 who's well into off roading said exactly the same thing today guys, the springs although they have passed the mot yesterday are slightly towards being flat - I have been told they are not that bad tho for a few more months. I will look at fitting the standard replacement ones as the lift springs may make it worse on the road?

And

The tyres are VAN tyres with 6 ply sidewalls, so no give... also they are 225 70 r15c and should be 75 I think ??

What can I say, thanks guys.

Will be posting a string on New Tyres on tech....

Also with regards the off roading in North Wales, check out Landcraft in Bala, the guy who runs it is called Dave Mitchell he is highly regarded in the Landrover world and is a really nice guy. Dave runs a variety of off road events for all makes. Last time I was there he was teaching a guy with a 4.0 Cherokee the basics, so he's obviously familiar with other makes. He used to do tuition days as well if anybody's interested, very reasonable on £ as well.

We may be able to do one of his Safari Drives or Adventure Drives, which are usually on a Sunday and are about £40

Theres also usually a lot of Landrovers there so we can see what comes out on top

Many thanks everyone.....talk soon Andy

keeko · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2008, 06:09:26 PM »

Cherokee back end losing grip? Thats part of the reason i bought one! RWD and wet roundabouts, reminds me of my 280 capri

xjlee · « **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2008, 06:18:06 PM »

I agree, steer from rear yehaaaaaa!!!!!!!! :twisted:

brian reid · « **Reply #14 on:** November 06, 2009, 07:47:30 PM »

i had this happen as well,fitted 235/15 kinpin all terrains,back end never kicked out after that,i bet you have the standard road tyes on,get a good chunky tred AT type tyre.

regards

wildrover · « **Reply #15 on:** November 06, 2009, 08:09:57 PM »

I too have a Jeep Cherokee , not had it that long , and i had a similar scarey experiance with my Jeep on a wet roundabout at low speed the first day i drove it after buying it....

Like you i have had Landrovers , Rangerovers and stuff , and thankfully twenty odd years on the race track , otherwise i could have wound up on a pedestrian covered pavement with my Jeep...

I thought the problem could have been diesal on the roundabout , but then again it could have been the worn out front suspension , and worn out anti roll bar bushes on the front end which we discovered when checking it over....Since replacing them it handles fine , and i have not had any other scarey moments with it....

prophet · « **Reply #16 on:** November 08, 2009, 08:27:07 PM »

Evening all, my 4.0l facelift cherokee has pretty flat looking rear springs. Can somebody without a 'saggy arse' measure from the centre of the wheel to the wheel arch and post a measurement? I've not really noticed the slidey back end, but before I had the AT2's fitted I could feel the sidewalls flexing on the front tyres, causing alarming understeer. The chereokee has done 155k, so I guess it may be time to invest in a bum lift.

Any idea of prices to change the leaf springs.

Cheers chaps.

Dave69 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 08, 2009, 08:32:49 PM »

std height from the wheel centre going vertical to the centre of the wheel arch is 17"s

sprintagogo · « **Reply #18 on:** November 08, 2009, 08:45:26 PM »

Quote from: keeko on January 05, 2008, 06:09:26 PM

Cherokee back end losing grip? Thats part of the reason i bought one! RWD and wet roundabouts, reminds me of my 280 capri <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="" title="cool" />

Yeah baby, my 4ltr with 5" lift at the rear, limited slip diff, no anti roll bars and BFG MT's means big grin tail happy handling and I love it. Makes me feel young again.

The Conti Vanco is factory fit on the Merc Sprinter (look at my user name) and will give mega mileage of upto 70k even on a hard worked van and rotated regularly but........ on the light tail end of a cherokee they aint' going to work well if you want any comfort or grip. In fact, I think that is the sprinter size!

scotty · « **Reply #19 on:** November 08, 2009, 10:54:58 PM »

tis in deed the sprinter size and they do it to my one when its empty too!! if you think its fun in a jeep try it in a long van in the wet!! once they start to go theres a lot of pendulum effect!!

dam goo fun though!

scotty

JamesH · « **Reply #20 on:** November 09, 2009, 10:14:04 AM »

2WD with a Detroit Locker in the rear, great fun

I'd agree with everyone above, good tyres (probably some ATs) and knowing when not to put your foot down is all you can do really. To be really efficient you can make sure the springs and anti-roll bar bushes are all A-okay(F&R).

sprintagogo · « **Reply #21 on:** November 09, 2009, 11:17:01 AM »

Quote from: scotty on November 08, 2009, 10:54:58 PM

tis in deed the sprinter size and they do it to my one when its empty too!! if you think its fun in a jeep try it in a long van in the wet!! once they start to go theres a lot of pendulum effect!! dam goo fun though!

scotty

I had this until the end of 2007

It scares the s**t out of other drivers when it comes round a roundabout sideways taking up two lanes but it is great fun and the length makes it so controllable. A short car will swap ends in the blink of an eye but the LWB Sprinter just gracefully drifts as you apply the power to the rear wheels (316 CDI, 156hp + 30hp superchip upgrade

) if you switch off the traction control.

Bulldog67 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 09, 2009, 05:13:31 PM »

hooligans

Panic mechanic! · « **Reply #23 on:** November 09, 2009, 05:41:28 PM »

I can beat that I got 37'9'' long bus sideways on an wet island, great fun but the cars waiting to come onto it shat themselves........bus was a leyland lynx very powerfull flat 12 boxer diesel,

scotty · « **Reply #24 on:** November 09, 2009, 08:03:56 PM »

Quote from: Panic mechanic! on November 09, 2009, 05:41:28 PM

I can beat that I got 37'9'' long bus sideways on an wet island, great fun but the cars waiting to come onto it shat themselves........bus was a leyland lynx very powerfull flat 12 boxer diesel,

Author Topic: Cherokee, Back end keeps loosing grip (Read 11066 times)

Taranis

tag

Mort

dtooth

Taranis

Mike Pavelin

wazza

Taranis

keeko

xjlee

brian reid

wildrover

prophet

sprintagogo

scotty

sprintagogo

Panic mechanic!

scotty