Warped front brake rotors.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited is comfortable and a very nice looking vehicle! My only issue is with the brakes. In two instances with my Jeep the dealer has been responsible for the warping problem. The first instance was at 15,000 miles when I had the Jeep dealer rotate the tires and when I got the vehicle back the steering wheel was nearly jerked from my hands. The second instance was recently when I purchased a new set of Goodyear tires for my Jeep @38,000 miles. I got my Jeep back and again it just about jerked the steering wheel out of my hands at stops (or slowing down) on the interstate. Both of these problems occurred after the Jeep dealers' removed and re-in-stalled the wheels. Possibly an over torque problem? Neither dealer would admit it was their fault! Maybe it was just a coincidence. (Yeah, Right!)
I had the same problem with my 99' G.C.Laredo. I found out that Jeep Dealerships offer a calliper upgrade for $150-$160, and includes new pads. These callipers are actually the same as the 2003 model that resolves the issues. They just never did a Recall. This resolved all problems of warping rotors. Don't waste your time listening to the techs say it's a rotor problem.
Here is a phone number to launch a complaint against Chrysler about the rotor brakes on the Jeep that keeps going bad. If everyone calls in and complains they will do an investigation on this problem and get to the bottom of it for us. Please call!! I already did. Here is the number 1-888-327-4236. Give then your complaint and lets get Chrysler to finally fess up that there is a problem and they need to be held responsible for it and they need to pay for this mistake.
I have a 2000 Grand Cherokee and the rotors have warped, according to the Jeep service adviser. It has only been about 10k miles since the rotors and pads were replaced.
I drive very conservatively on paved, flat town and freeway roadways. Although the pads still look like new, the local Jeep dealer recommends upgraded calipers with pads, and slotted or drilled rotors for the best chances of preventing the problem from reoccuring. The total cost is about $600 - certainly a lot of money for brakes that were done recently only 10k miles ago and still look like new.
I was surprised to see how many other Grand Cherokee owners are having the same problem - repeatedly.
It would seem if Chrysler has a Technical Service Bulletin acknowledging the problem, and recommends upgrading their factory engineered system to resolve it, that it should be a recall - especially since it would seem to be a safety related (braking) issue.
I bought a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee in 01 and am on my 3rd set of rotors. I have also tried the premium rotors and $200 ceramic brake pads. I received no help from jeep for this problem. My jeep now has 70,000 miles and has a violent shake when stopping. I have also lost the rear end twice due to faulty ring and pinion set up (I think it is in the factory rear end housing). I had always wanted a nice jeep for the family, but am convinced by all the other problems going around along with my own that I will never own another.
I have a 2002 Grand Cherokee and the disks were replaced at 33000 miles (1000 miles past the warranty so I had to pay) by my local dealer. I have just had them replaced again at 44000 due to the fact they warped after a few thousand miles. Needless to say I have used a independent dealer who has saved my money and hopefully having to replace them again in the near future!!
Ah, the ever-popular warping brake rotors. I assume the problem with my 2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo was the same as most (front rotors). Being an engineer, I realized that if it was going to happen that early in the life of the vehicle (~30k miles) I realized that it must be an undersized rotor. As such, I took the initiative to replace the rotors with drilled/cross-cut aftermarket units ($250 pair) from Tire Rack, and got some new Raybestos pads. Since then, no problems at all and I am at 112,000+ miles. Don't mess with the calipers, they are just fine. Good luck!
Badhop9@charter.net.
I had the same problem with my 2002 Grand Cherokee. I fixed the problem by installing some cross drilled rotors on all wheels. Pretty cheap on Ebay, and it lasts forever!
So what does Daimler-Chrysler claim is the problem with the rotors? Is it a metallurgical problem? Did this problem start in 1999 and continue 'till now? Have they remedied this problem?
I have a 1998 5.9L Grand Cherokee. I installed "Power-Slot performance rotors" and Hawk HPS pads. Love 'em. Summit racing has the rotors for around $100 each and the pads for $68 front or rear. Somebody else had mentioned their factory shocks crapped out on them... I have Edelbrock IAS Shocks on my Jeep and love them too.
Www.summitracing.com/ I HIGHLY recommend them. They are professional and knowledgeable. Regardless of how large your order they only charge $8.95 total for handling and ship very quickly. Summit 1-800-230-3030 or 1-330-630-3030
I am not affiliated with any of these companies, but I am a satisfied customer, so here is an excerpt of their ads...
Power Slot Performance Brake Rotors Improve stopping power!
These Power Slot performance brake rotors are designed to improve your stopping power and eliminate brake fade. They feature a Vac-U-Slot design that sheds heat and gaskets faster, while maintaining a clean pad surface, significantly reducing brake fade. Only the finest castings are used for optimum rotor wear, balance, and reliability, and silver cadmium plating provides superior corrosion resistance and helps retain that new look. These rotors are a terrific choice to replace your OE rotors.
These Hawk Performance HPS brake pads are designed to ensure performance, safety, and quality on the street. Hawk Performance HPS compound provides advanced braking characteristics to enhance your driving experience. This unique compound combines the safety and quality of aerospace design with the braking technology of motorsports.
Features include:
* Extremely low dust
* High friction/torque, hot or cold
* Gentle on rotor
* Virtually noise-free
* Greatly improved braking over OE
* Extended pad life.
Edelbrock Performer IAS Mono-Tube ShocksThe world's smartest shock.
Edelbrock Performer IAS Mono-Tube shocks use a patented inertia-activated valve that instantly adjusts to driving conditions. It's simple enough: On smooth terrain, the valve closes to give you a firm ride, excellent cornering, and reduced body sway. Under rough conditions, the valve opens to make the shocks softer and more responsive. So your wheels follow the contour of the driving surface, for a smoother off-road ride. These shocks use polyurethane bushings for added responsiveness, and their high-pressure mono-tube design eliminates oil foaming and dissipates heat more effectively. Other features include nitro-steel piston rods, heavy-duty welds, and an attractive red powdercoated finish.
Good luck, Jeeps are really great (most of them), it is a d*mn shame that Chrysler has let the same problem infest the vehicles and tarnish the Jeep reputation.
In 2004 I purchased a 02 JGC with 48,000 miles on it. Within 3,000 miles my brakes were locking up to the point where the whole front end was smoking and looked like my car was on fire. I had to leave it on the side of the road on my way back to the dealer. They were going to charge me $500 to fix it right after I just paid $15,000 for the vehicle. We raised some caine and they replaced the pads, rotors and calipers at no cost to me. Now I'm having another problem, the brakes seem to be losing pressure and the pedal goes all the way to the floor before it starts slowing down. I wonder how much this will cost me.
I am on my FOURTH set of rotors on my 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The dealer replaced the calipers/rotors/pads after 10,000 miles because they warped. I have since tried rotors from china, Canada and the US - they ALL warped too! I got 15,000 miles out of my last set of rotors (10,000 before they were machined again) think I will try drilled rotors next, what else can we do???
Chrysler - you ought to FIX this defective design with a recall. Who would buy another Jeep after having problems like this??? NOT ME.
I own a 2004 Grand Cherokee Limited with 32000 miles and need to have the front rotors replaced due to wear and being warped. It appears Chrysler has not fixed the issue by the '04 model year. Dealer said they have a lot of problems with warped rotors on Jeeps. Having a new set of high performance rotors put on. Will see how they work out. I also owned a '80 Chrysler mini van that warped the rotors also. It appears some things never change.
Shame on Daimler Chrysler
I own an '03 GC
Warped rotors replaced under warranty at 10k.
Warped rotors replaced under warranty at 22k.
Warped rotors replaced by myself at 38k.
I've owned 11 different vehicles and driven all to high mileage. I've never had to replace warped rotors. My brake pads usually last 35-40k. I don't believe it is my driving habits.
Kind of makes you think about buying a different type of vehicle.
CJR.
I own a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the brakes performed flawlessly for about 110,000 miles. I took it in to have the brakes inspected because one of the pads started squeaking the night before. All of the rotors were worn too thin, and needed to be replaced. None were warped. All of the rotors and pads were replaced for about $900 (at Goodyear). I consider that to be phenomenal performance for a braking system, and reasonable in cost.
The only concern that I have regarding Jeep brakes, is that they don't produce a warning "chirp" to let driver's know when the brake pads are wearing thin.
The only vehicle on which I have ever had brake trouble was a 1989 Thunderbird (which was otherwise flawless), due to OEM rotors that were apparently too thin to resist warping. In my experience, this has definitely not been the case with the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
I love my Jeep. Proper maintenance and adult driving habits will give you a reliable performer for as long as you want to own it.
I own a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hemi Limited in JUNE of 05
Paid $43K before taxes and interest for this big hunk of junk.
I recently had a leak problem from the sunroof which I needed to get fixed at the dealer under warranty, but the real problem is:
THE BRAKES! THE BRAKES!
If anyone is considering buying these things, please be aware that the rotors WILL warp, or in my case BURN.
I bought that ripoff maintenance "Hassle free" plan for $4k and have ONLY taken my jeep to the dealer for service.
I had to replace my first set of front rotors at 12K/ 14 months after hearing loud squeaking, Along with front brakepads. Seemed highly unusual to need a change after only 1 year of driving, but I did it and paid for it, as wear and tear isn't covered under warranty. The squeaking never actually stopped unfortunately, just got progressively worse. Then 2k miles/ 2 months later, I had to replace my back rotors as well. Despite a huge uproar and multiple different levels of management, I had to pay out of pocket. So after a couple of days of driving, more loud obnoxious squeaking! This actually became a daily part of my life, as the weather ( in NY) got hotter during the spring and I had to drive with the windows down the squeaking got so bad that I'd be forced to up the windows and use AC, forget about the embarrassment of everyone staring at red lights when my truck comes to a screeching halt, I could only compare the noise to that of a city bus.
I brought the car in to the Westbury NY dealer 3 more times trying to get it fixed, the first time they gave me a disclaimer from Chrysler about METALLIC BRAKES. The second time they told me I need to turn the rear rotors, which I paid for, the third time they did nothing at all.
So that brings us to present day, five months after that, I've had enough of the squawking coming from my brakes so I bring it back in today and guess what, my front rotors are burned " blue" they tell me, due to aggressive driving. Now only I know that's just BS, I dont race my car around, I actually try to drive conservatively to save gas ( It gets 8/9 mpg city). I just had them replaced 7 months ago DEC 06, less than 7K miles too! So here I am again, I but this time I'm taking my car to an aftermarket dealer and I'm going to try some of those cross drilled rotors that I'm hearing about.
BTW, I spoke with a couple of the mechanics at the dealer " off the record" and they eluded to the fact that the tremendous weight that my truck puts down on the front rotors when I brake can't be handled by the factory rotors, and theres nothing I can do about, but go and get a different set of brakes elsewhere. Jeep has really made a fool out of us, how can they get away with this crap? And the Dealers looking at us like we're the crazy ones!?
PS
That last poster must work for Jeep or something.
I have 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I bought it used after it was turned in on a 36 month lease. As soon as I purchased it in 2003, I installed new rotors and pads and have had to do the same thing every 12 months since I've owned it. The last set of rotors were the high performance slotted/drilled type. I maybe got an extra 3 months out of the rotors, and now they are warped. I wouldn't waste your money on the extra expense of a slotted/drilled rotor because they won't last much longer than ordinary rotors. I need a new set of rotors right now and am trying to research the problem on the Internet. It doesn't look like there's any suitable resolution out there.