PalmTree7

Hello all,

i have a 2001 2wd XJ sport, 89,000 miles with the automatic, its all stock.

Ive had a metal grinding sound that may have started a year ago/ 5,000 miles ago. The very first symptom was while going from 10mph, foot off the gas, i heard 3, half second long drags sounds. The jeep felt like there was something slowing it down. I think its gotten worse since then. Initially thought it was brake related. I noticed the brake fluid reservoir was overfilled and corrected that.

i never bothered to shift into 1/2, or 3 up until a few weeks ago. 1st gear, 2nd gear and reverse make a grinding sound, or brake drag sound while moving. While the transmission is in O/D its not very noticeable. When the transmission is shifted into 1/2, it sounds like a airplane skidding against concrete while i have my foot on the gas. the sound is somewhat different but just as bad when i let off the gas. Basically sounds like a diesel truck using an engine break when my foot is off the pedal while still in 1/2. While shifted into 3, sounds great. Again, sound or grinding is hardly noticeable in O/D.

I did have an issue where the E brake adjusting bar in my passenger brake drum fell out of place. I think there is some minor brake sound but i dont think this is a brake issue.

So far ive;
-drain and fill tranny fluid, install new filter
-un overfill brake fluid resevoir (it was over)
-replace rear diff fluid
-replace rear, outside axle bearings and seals
-new rear drums, hardware
-new rear E brake adjusting bar
-other small maintenance things i dont think relate to this.
-*just adjusted throttle cable and that may have helped a little. Had some slack. Tranny was “hunting” for RPMs recently

Any ideas would be a huge help. This XJ is a mall crawler - i dont abuse it. It shouldn’t have been abused as it was a government vehicle for about 18 years. Its rust free - not sure if that helps.

EZEARL

Maybe a long shot but has the slip yoke on the drive shaft been greased lately?

PalmTree7

I have not touched the driveshaft or transmission at all. I did have a transmission fluid leak there about a year ago that was fixed. I think it was the output seal.


Only paid about 90-100$ for it. Is there a bearing in there that might be the problem? Or maybe the u joints?

i *now* have the skills and tools to do basic maintenance on this XJ. When i first got it i didn’t. Thanks for the reply i can look into it.

cruiser54

Look around here:

PalmTree7

im not a muffler expert, but it looks like there is a dent on the exhaust pipe, and obviously both parts are very dark. I tried to move the exhaust pipe and it didn’t seem to move much. If this is infact the culprit, should i get a new exhaust hanger?

Roler

The dent is standard
If its not moving or loose, I don't think you'd need a new hanger at this stage.

PalmTree7

Could my issue be caused if there was ATF+4 in my transmission? I know i put in DexMerc 3, but when the shop refilled my transmission they could have used ATF+4.

i have an old jug of Valvoline Dex/Merc ATF, would that be a good transmission fluid to top it off (if i do a simple drain and fill)?

cruiser54

excellent idea.