What would cause the rear passenger wheel to skid on the pavement?

Tiny
DELANEY_0513
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE
  • 210,000 MILES
Today, I was witness to an accident, so I pulled off the side of the road into sand. When I went to leave the scene of the accident, I realized that the sand was too deep to drive out of in reverse. So I put it in 4WD Lo. I pulled out of the sand with no problem. As I was doing so I was reversing to the right. I got the rear tires out of the sand and continued to back up onto the pavement and I heard a loud clunk. I immediately stopped and put the transmission back into neutral and switched it back to 2WD. I pulled forward and everything seemed ok. As I went to make my next ninety degree turn, it felt as though I had a flat tire. It was sluggish and there was a low clunking noise, which could also be felt in the steering wheel as a back and forth jolt.

I got the Jeep home and tried to visually inspect it for problems. I tried turning in all gear settings, as well as, turning, driving straight, in reverse and forward.

The passenger rear tire seems to be locking up and skidding across the ground, and then it will release and turn with resistance for a short while and then lock up again. It only seems to do so when turning. In both forward and reverse. The sharper the turn, the more resistance to motion it has. To the point that if you fully turn the wheel in either direction, you have to apply about 2500 rpms before it will start to move, as before it would move at idle. (Roughly 700-1000 rpm)

I have read in a few forums that it may be the diffferential or the spider gears slipping or sticking. I've also read that the sticking is suppossed to happen in 4WD, and because of it being on pavement that is causing the clunk noise and the sticking. Problem being, it does it even in 2WD.

If you need more information I will be more thatn willing to give it, to the best of my ability.

Is this something that I should be able to troubleshoot and repair myself?

If so, where should I start?

If not, should I take it to a shop and what should I expect as far as repair cost.

Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Sunday, August 26th, 2012 AT 1:37 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Basics first. Check the hand brake cable for being stuck in the applied position.

Roy
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Sunday, August 26th, 2012 AT 1:41 AM
Tiny
DELANEY_0513
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
And if that isn't it?
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Sunday, August 26th, 2012 AT 1:51 AM
Tiny
DELANEY_0513
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Also, wouldn't that effect movement in all directions (forward, reverse, while turning, etc.)?
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Sunday, August 26th, 2012 AT 1:53 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Yes, it would

Roy
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Sunday, August 26th, 2012 AT 1:54 AM
Tiny
DELANEY_0513
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Well, the sticking only seems to happen while turning. The sharper the turn the more severe the drag. As I said before, I'm curious if it may be the differential, or the spider gears that allow the wheels to turn at variable independent rates while turning. But that is what puzzles me, the 4WD is not engaged.
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Sunday, August 26th, 2012 AT 2:02 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Please check to make sure the brakes are fully released before worrying about the internals of the diff. I doubt you have damaged anything in the diff.

Roy
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Sunday, August 26th, 2012 AT 2:20 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
DO YOU HAVE A LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL?

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, SEE IF THERE IS A TAG, ATTACHED TO A BOLT ON THE DIFF. WRITE DOWN THE INFO AND POST IT BACK ON HERE

WITH MOST (PROBABLY ALL) JEEP VEHICLES PART-TIME W/ 4WD IT IS CRITICAL THAT IT GETS A WORK OUT PERIODICALLY IN 4X4, TO KEEP IT LUBRICATED. CJs ARE SUPPOSED TO MONTHLY, BASICALLY ON A DIRT ROAD OR THE SNOW. NEVER ON PAVEMENT!

A LIMITED SLIP OR POSITIVE TRACTION DIFF REQUIRES SPECIAL CARE AND SPECIAL TYPE LUBRICATION TO KEEP IT IN TIP-TOP SHAPE. USING THE WRONG REAR END JUICE MAKES IT WEAR OUT INTERNALLY AND INEFFECTIVE FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR

ANOTHER NOTE--I HAVE DRUM BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND ON "MR. JEEP". I STAY ON TOP OF ALL OF THEM, MORE THAN THE AVERAGE JOE, MOSTLY BECAUSE, INCONSISTENCIES IN THE FRONT DRUMS, REALLY AFFECTS STEERING WHILE BRAKING. I CHECK AND ADJUST MAYBE EVERY 4 MONTHS. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, MY BRAKE SYSTEM IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL, NOT RUN DOWN

WITH MY EMERGENCY BRAKE "ON", HE CAN BE "FORCED" TO GO IN REVERSE. FORWARD IS A DIFFERENT STORY, WITH THE "FORD TYPE" SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES, HE WILL GO FORWARD PRETTY EZ. THERE IS SOME RESISTANCE, BUT NOTHING LIKE IN REVERSE. I HAVE, ON OCCASION, DRIVEN A 1/4 MILE OR SO, BEFORE I NOTICED THE BRAKE INDICATOR LAMP ON THE DASH BEING ON, THEN RELEASING THE E-BRAKES.

MAYBE YOURS ACTS THE SAME WAY GOING FORWARD?

IF SO, MAYBE THE E-BRAKE ON THAT SIDE IS HUNG UP (MAYBE THE CABLE). IT MIGHT BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE DRUM IF THAT'S THE CASE (IF YOU HAVE REAR DRUMS)

LET US KNOW ABOUT THE TYPE DIFF YOU HAVE AND EXACTLY WHAT SORTA MAINTENANCE IT HAS BEEN GIVEN IN THE PAST

THE MEDIC
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Monday, August 27th, 2012 AT 7:46 PM

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