Hi folks,

Well my wife's 92 Cherokee Laredo, 6.0L, Auto Transmission has a "Clanging" noise coming from below. Almost sounds like tapping on the drive shaft with a small hammer. Sometimes it does it, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes when I shift into gear (forward or reverse) you will hear it (had my son shift it forward & reverse while I had my head down there but couldn't really tell where it was coming from).

On a short test drive, it did it once when at low speed, and got more rapid as I accelerated, then it went away after letting off the gas and driving around the block.

Any ideas? I kind of suspect the U-Joints at either end of the drive shaft (may never have been changed), but I am not sure.

Thanks in advance,

I think you are on the right track with u-joints. They are easy to check, just try to wiggle or shake them back and forth by hand and you can usually see the bad one move in the bearing cup. It's also pretty easy to drop the drive shaft for a closer look.

I agree with JeepMe. It is probably the u-joints. If it is 4WD make sure you check the front driveshaft also.

I agree with JeepMe. It is probably the u-joints. If it is 4WD make sure you check the front driveshaft also.
Yep - We were ALL right :grinyes:

I also felt a slight vibration when driving it over to the shop this morning.

When I took it to my mechanic and did a "5 foot test drive" (shifting into reverse then drive), he said "That's the U-Joint."

About $200 (parts & labor) to replace & I'm glad I let them do it. My buddy that runs the shop said he heard the guy muttering and talking to it while he was trying to get it loose. He ended up having to "press it out" because it was so tight.

Had some other stuff done (SMOG Test & Oil Change) so we didn't get it back until mid-afternoon, but all is well again. No more noise or vibration. Wife is happy & back on the road. :wink:

Thanks to everyone for confirming the diagnosis.

Take Care,

Well it could have cost you as little as $75 and about 15 minuts of time.

i bent my drive shaft and also inverted my leaf spring while off roading once. it cost $75 for the drive shaft from a junk yard and it had good ujoints too. it was as easy as a couple small bolts to get it on and off. the drive shaft took about 15 min including clceaning it and re greasing it. the hardest part of the job was serprisongly the shocks. apparntly the previous owners just welded them on after cutting the old shock off by the bolt instead of drilling the rusted bolt off. That was fun to say the least. I had to break and grind the welds and then drill the then welded and rusted on bolts.

Also u joints only cost like $10 new so it looks like they charged you up the *ss for the labor.

Well it could have cost you as little as $75 and about 15 minuts of time.:evillol:

i bent my drive shaft and also inverted my leaf spring while off roading once. it cost $75 for the drive shaft from a junk yard and it had good ujoints too. it was as easy as a couple small bolts to get it on and off. the drive shaft took about 15 min including clceaning it and re greasing it. the hardest part of the job was serprisongly the shocks. apparntly the previous owners just welded them on after cutting the old shock off by the bolt instead of drilling the rusted bolt off.:nono: That was fun to say the least.:disappoin :crying: I had to break and grind the welds and then drill the then welded and rusted on bolts. :banghead:

Also u joints only cost like $10 new so it looks like they charged you up the *ss for the labor.:screwy: :screwy: :screwy: :screwy: :screwy: :screwy: :screwy: :screwy: :screwy: :screwy: