Liberty KJ 3.7 Rear right wheel lock up, metal sound.

[Danihound]

Hello.

After a long trip, my Jeep Liberty stopped abruptly while going 15 mph on a downhill slope. When I tried to accelerate, the engine's RPMs would go up, but it wouldn't move. I was only able to move it in reverse. After moving it in reverse, I managed to get it to move forward in 'D' (Drive), but the rear end emits a very loud metallic banging sound. I have not driven it since. I thought the rear upper control arm had been damaged, but that is not the case. During the trip, I noticed that at various times when trying to accelerate, the RPMs would rise but without sending power."

What could it be? Differential plus parking brake ? Or something else.

Thanks

 

[seafish]

Time to jack up the rear axle and re move the rear wheels to inspect condition of the brake pads, calipers and rotors.

if all the brake components look ok then you’ll need to pull the cover off the rear differential to check the condition of the ring and pinion gear.

All thst said if while driving you noticed the engine rpm increasing without power to the ground and loud banging from the rear axle, it sounds as if your rear differential is severely damaged.

When was the last time you checked or changed the the rear axle lube and inspected the condition of the ring and pinion?

 

[Danihound]

Time to jack up the rear axle and re move the rear wheels to inspect condition of the brake pads, calipers and rotors.

if all the brake components look ok then you’ll need to pull the cover off the rear differential to check the condition of the ring and pinion gear.

All thst said if while driving you noticed the engine rpm increasing without power to the ground and loud banging from the rear axle, it sounds as if your rear differential is severely damaged.

When was the last time you checked or changed the the rear axle lube and inspected the condition of the ring and pinion?

I’m going to be honest

Never since I bought it used, so it’s probably busted, I’ll probably need to change all the internal parts right ?

 

[CheddarGau]

Pull the cover and see whats going on. Could have had the spider (the middle part of the diff with 4 gears) grenade, which happens. If nothing else damaged, replace and carry on.

 

[cas123]

Hello.

After a long trip, my Jeep Liberty stopped abruptly while going 15 mph on a downhill slope. When I tried to accelerate, the engine's RPMs would go up, but it wouldn't move. I was only able to move it in reverse. After moving it in reverse, I managed to get it to move forward in 'D' (Drive), but the rear end emits a very loud metallic banging sound. I have not driven it since. I thought the rear upper control arm had been damaged, but that is not the case. During the trip, I noticed that at various times when trying to accelerate, the RPMs would rise but without sending power."

What could it be? Differential plus parking brake ? Or something else.

Thanks

The parking brake design on these is awful. But mine was jammed and wore away and never slowed or stopped me. We changed the axle shafts and bearings this past summer and it was not a hard job. Hope you did not damage the diff- happened to me in my last vehicle when I curbed it. If you are not seeing anything out of place you need to jack it up and turn the wheels by hand to locate the sound. When my diff was damaged it made scraping noises. Have you been hearing any kind of scraping before this happened?

 

[Danihound]

The parking brake design on these is awful. But mine was jammed and wore away and never slowed or stopped me. We changed the axle shafts and bearings this past summer and it was not a hard job. Hope you did not damage the diff- happened to me in my last vehicle when I curbed it. If you are not seeing anything out of place you need to jack it up and turn the wheels by hand to locate the sound. When my diff was damaged it made scraping noises. Have you been hearing any kind of scraping before this happened?

Hello, well I did a small jack up to see before moving it to a mechanic shop, and when you turn the left rear wheel forward it makes the rear driveshaft where it connects to the diff sounds like two metals are banging.

So I guess it’s not brake related.

Before this no, just the rear upper control breaking every year and some transmission slips that I thought were related to the automatic transmission being old.

I made some videos (sorry for the Spanish).

15c876d4-5aa1-4ff7-b04e-1f5afd39fd72.mp4

drive.google.com

82d7748c-fd6d-4558-b016-6393fba9fcd0.mp4

drive.google.com

 

[cas123]

Wow. You can see it. What a pain. I guess just wait and see. Mine is in the shop too because all our tools are in storage due to having a new garage built. We can only do a few things now. Do you ride on some rough roads? Off-road? Is that why the same issues every year? Usually with these it seems to be ball joints. Cheers! Hope we both do not have to spend too much to get back on the road.

 

[Danihound]

Wow. You can see it. What a pain. I guess just wait and see. Mine is in the shop too because all our tools are in storage due to having a new garage built. We can only do a few things now. Do you ride on some rough roads? Off-road? Is that why the same issues every year? Usually with these it seems to be ball joints. Cheers! Hope we both do not have to spend too much to get back on the road.

rough roads mostly, I dont do off-road.


After this I am thinking about buying the Rear A Arm from IronRock

 

[Danihound]

Some updates, the diff internal parts are all bad beyond imagination, I changed the differential carrier that had the bolt broken, but i still need to change the other parts, it looks like this jeep has a Dana 44 Diff, I am going to upload some pictures, should i buy yukon replacement parts?

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[seafish]

So how much lube drained out with the metal pieces?

 

[Danihound]

So how much lube drained out with the metal pieces?

all of it, i changed it all, until i find the other pieces.

 

[cas123]

Guess we know now what was happening. I am surprised that is so chewed up. Hard to say what replacement would be best. Yukon is supposed to be reliable but I hear they have quality issues anymore. But if you bought it used who knows what it went through before. See what they warranty is maybe with some better brands?

 

[Danihound]

Guess we know now what was happening. I am surprised that is so chewed up. Hard to say what replacement would be best. Yukon is supposed to be reliable but I hear they have quality issues anymore. But if you bought it used who knows what it went through before. See what they warranty is maybe with some better brands?

It did surprise me too since it was not making any grinding sound before, but well time to change it all also the axel shaft bearings are bad, so I’m going to change them too.