So the temp really dropped and we got about a foot of snow today. It's the first time I've had this particular Cherokee out in this kind of weather. I had a noise today while braking that I've never heard before. I was braking hard to see if I had ABS or not. It seems I don't as my wheels locked up and I stared sliding. When I tried again going slower and hit my brakes hard is when I heard the noise. It's not a squealing or popping or metal grinding noise. It's sounds more like an aluminum garage door opening and closing but louder. I don't mean the sound of the electric motor whirring, it's the reverberating sound through the door itself. Like a really loud creaking. If I really slam on the brakes, it doesn't make the noise until I'm about stopped. If I ease onto the brakes it doesn't do it at all. Any Ideas???? I've done some Google searching and can't find any references to any noises like mine.
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Google is a wonderful search tool, tho not yet fully capable of actually raising and supporting a vehicle then removing the wheels to see whats happening.

 

That's it. Close down the forum!! We're not allowed to ask any questions anymore. Thanks for the attempt at help. Just thought I'd ask before I went and laid in a foot of snow in mid teen weather and started tearing things apart.

 

Sometimes that's the only option when it comes to strange things like this. Going around slamming on the brakes is not the way too really diagnose whats going on.. Time to get your noggin down there and look around,,good luck.

 

Sometimes?

ALL the time. Nothing beats Noggin' Pokin'.

Also, a quick look under the hood, and at the wheels, would have told you if you have ABS or not. Again, Noggin' Pokin' FTW

 

Yes sometimes that's the only option..

The other is have someone else do it

 

LOL

 

Alright I get it. None of you know the answer. You could have just said that. I would have already had it fixed if I had the slightest idea where to start. So maybe someone could answer me this. How do I replicate the situation of hard braking while I'm laying under the vehicle so I can hear the noise to at least narrow down where to start. Already checked pads and rotors last week when I had the wheels off doing some other work.

 

you can't look when your driving and trying to brake either.

I'm not really sure how to diagnose your problem based on your description of the sound. An aluminum garage door closing? interesting. maybe block the jeep and then try braking while you look.

 

Just LOOK around at the front suspension.

 

I wish I had a better description of the sound. It is definitely not a squealing like the brake pad wear indicator, or a grinding/scraping of brake pad rivets wearing on a rotor. The sound reverberates through the cab of the jeep. And it only does it under certain conditions. Other wise the brakes work great. Never heard the noise until last night. Not sure if the cold and snow was affecting something.
Thanks for the help. It will have to wait until this weekend before I get a chance to get under it.

 

check your rotors. Does the jeep shake under these circumstances? This will require some noggin pokin..... if your up for it

 

This.

A good thorough inspection of all your front end components is in order. Also, don't just look at it, grab your control arms/tie rod/trackbar/etc and try to wiggle them to check for play, use a pry bar under a lifted tire to check for play in the joints, etc...just looking at it, may not reveal anything. Have a helper cycle the steering back and forth several times, lock to lock, while you look at all the joints. Check your dust boots for tears. Double check tightness on all bolts and nuts. Bottom line here is YOU need to get out and do it, we can't reach through the screen and fix it for you...

 

Jumpalot, Does it ever make the noise when the vehicle is NOT moving? Or does it require the wheels to be rotating to produce the noise?

If it ever happens when the vehicle is NOT moving, then I would suspect something going on with the Brake Booster / Master Cylinder, which sits right in front of the driver on the other side of the firewall. Which could explain why you are getting noise throughout the cabin.

Typically, brake rotor/pad/etc noises are fairly local to the brakes, and don't resonate in the cabin all that much.

If it ONLY produces the noise when the wheels are still rotating, then I would think that something closer/connected to the axle is suspect. (pads, rotors, axle u-joints, control arms, driveshaft, probably in that order). Based on you stating that you get a lot of noise through the body of the vehicle.

 

When ya don't feel like noggin pokin', that means it must be a job for our good friend......