Yo folks,

I just noticed this today on my drive from Calgary to Edmonton. My Jeep was making a squealing noise, but it didn't sound like it was coming from the engine. It would only happen when the Jeep was moving, and depending on how fast I was moving, it would either increase in pitch or decrease in pitch, it's kinda hard to describe (bane of my existence when trying to explain these kinds of things).

I tightened the bolts on my upper control arms yesterday (redid them awhile back and was making sure they were still good), but I can't see how that would make the noise. Front and rear ujoints are new as of last summer. It doesn't sound like belt squeal to me, I'm fairly sure.

98 Cherokee, 4.0L, 5 speed stick.

 

front disc pad wear indicators?

 

Front pads are 2 months old. Didn't do rotors (I know I know, should have done them, but they didn't look too bad). Pads squeak a bit, but I've been hearing that since I put them on.

 

If it's a noise that follows engine RPM, check the belt and pulleys.

 

Nope. You can be sitting and revving the engine and you won't hear anything. Only happens if it's moving.

 

sounds like either the anti rattle clips are not seated correctly or the pads are installed backwards...the are left and right side idiosyncratic.

 

Lube all brake parts.
Pay attention to the upper & lower portion of each C (the part of the C the pads ride on).

 

I don't know if that's the best recommendation, I mean it's OK if you want the ride of your (soon to be shortened) life...
I think it's time for the OP to do some noggin poking.

 

Thing is I didn't notice this at all until yesterday, but I only noticed it because the radio was turned down.
Only thing I can think of is brakes, wheel bearings, or front driveshaft.

It doesn't sound like a wheel bearing; I've heard what those sound like when they're going, this is a much higher pitched squeal. So its either front driveshaft or brakes.

Front driveshaft ujoints were done around 6 months ago, and I've put about 10 to 15 thousand klicks on them since then. Could be shot already?

Pads were done fairly recently, and they've squeaked when I've been braking. It's entirely possible that it's them, cause I never noticed this until I turned the radio down and then I heard it.

 

Is it definitely a squeal or could it be more of a whine? Does it only happen when you're on the throttle or at all times as long as you're moving?

How does the fluid in your front diff look of its a whine?

 

It's hard to describe. As the jeep increases in speed, the whine seem to get faster, like it increases in pitch. I haven't checked the dif fluid.

 

I ask because pinion bearings tend to whine under any throttle, obviously louder for hard acceleration. And will get louder and possibly higher pitched at higher speeds. The noise will usually go away or become less noticeable as you coast. My rear pinion bearing is yelling at me as we speak but I just don't have the time. When you get a chance just pop the plug off the front diff and make sure your fluid is at the right level. You won't be able to tell the condition of it too much, unless there's metal flakes everywhere. Just trying to help eliminate all possible causes of a driveline noise

 

Ok, so I finally got the time to pull it into the shop and check things. Pulled the front wheel off, checked the front calipers, pads, rotors. Rotors could probably be replaced, but apart from that, they looked ok. Minor scratches on them. When I grabbed the hub and turned the wheel, you could hear the pads squeak when they would go over the scratched bits.

Cleaned everything as best I could, put it back together, took it for a drive. Thought I fixed it for a bit - couldn't hear it for the first 5-10 minutes I was driving, but when I pulled back into the farm, it came back.

This makes me think that it's the pads or the rotors.

 

Scratch that. Pulled it in again, got it jacked up. Had my brother spin the tire while I was under listening. The squeal is definitely coming from where the front driveshaft connects to the transfer case, and it only seems to squeal when under load (ie, we could only get it to squeal a little bit when we were turning the tire, but as soon as you took it for a drive, it happened immediately).

 

what did this end up being, I'm having the same issues