4 Wheel Drive/SUVs: 1996 Jeep GC road noise, jeep grand cherokee laredo, jeep grand cherokee

Question
Hello Carl,
I have a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. It has the six cyl. eng. and is 2WD. When I am on the interstate (60 mph + ), I hear a buzzing type sound and after a few minutes, it becomes more of a light clunking. Where would this noise be coming from? The car has 134K miles and I have owned it about 6 months. Thanks.

Answer
Bill,

I would suggest that you have someone ride with you, and have them try to locate the general area of the sound.  Do this with the windows closed, and with them open.  Just a guess, would be a wheel bearing, rear end, or a possible transmission problem.  I have, even, seen a tire make this sort of noise.  Tires can get a bubble of air between the side wall cores that can do something like this.  If the bubble is on the inside of the tire, it can be hard  to see.  With that many miles on it, it is due for new wheel bearings.  If you can't seem to isolate the area the sound is coming from, I would see if I could find a reputable shop, and get one of the mechanics to ride with you so that you can point out the sound to them.  If you have any vibration in the steering wheel, or the brake pedal, this could be an indication of where the problem is.

I know this is pretty general, but without driving, or riding in the Jeep, it's pretty hard to guess what the sound is, or where it's coming from.

Carl