rear end sag?

[suprz]

I was just noticing my cherokee's back end (or should i say "my wife's cherokee) seeing how she has taken it over and made me look for a wrangler.... anyways, do the rear end on these cherokees usually sag over time? it isnt really bad, but i noticed it and it did come with a tow hitch so i'n assuming the previous owner used it for towing. ALSO i hav noticed a "bump" from the rear dif when taking off from a stop, no noise, just a bump like there is slack in he gears and when you hit the gas it engages tight and bumps, I have been told the diff's arent the best in the cherokees so am i looking at trouble down the road?

[90XJay]

cherokee leafs sag, it just happens over time (i've changed 3 sets of leafs in 2 out of the 4 xjs i've owned (and possibly going for 3 lol). about the bump... i have no idea, closest thing i had was play in engaging but thats because my driveshaft u joint was going but it made a clank sound.

[Evan463]

specs?

[2000XJSPORT]

I was just noticing my cherokee's back end (or should i say "my wife's cherokee) seeing how she has taken it over and made me look for a wrangler.... anyways, do the rear end on these cherokees usually sag over time? it isnt really bad, but i noticed it and it did come with a tow hitch so i'n assuming the previous owner used it for towing. ALSO i hav noticed a "bump" from the rear dif when taking off from a stop, no noise, just a bump like there is slack in he gears and when you hit the gas it engages tight and bumps, I have been told the diff's arent the best in the cherokees so am i looking at trouble down the road?

The XJ leaf springs do sag over time. On my 2000 XJ when I added a hitch and gas tank skid. I notice that the rear end did drop. Since my XJ came from the factory without the tow pkg. The stock springs were not rated for a hitch. So I replaced my springs with the Up Country set. Not only did it get rid of the sag it added an inch in lift.

[XJoshua]

I have a 1988 Pioneer no tow package, and its arching upwards, but it still looks stock. Front and rear have only sagged 1.5" acording to the hub to fender test. I saw a '99 XJ today and it was sagging bad, maybe a 1" left till the tire rubbed the wheel well. Maybe I have the HD Leaf Packs, but a '99 sagging that bad was outrageous.

[Phager]

For the bump, I'd guess at the U-Joints. You could probably check crawl underneath and check for excessive play in the U-Joints. My Mustang does the something similar, but mine happens when it comes off of load for instance when I disengage the clutch while coming to a stop. Fortunately, for me, I'm taking a power trains class at school this term, so I get to do my clutch and U-joints for the cost of parts and be able to do it on a lift instead of jack stands :D I'm so spoiled!

-Pat

[2000XJSPORT]

I have a 1988 Pioneer no tow package, and its arching upwards, but it still looks stock. Front and rear have only sagged 1.5" acording to the hub to fender test. I saw a '99 XJ today and it was sagging bad, maybe a 1" left till the tire rubbed the wheel well. Maybe I have the HD Leaf Packs, but a '99 sagging that bad was outrageous.

Yeah, I have seen some really bad rear ends on some 98 and 99's. Most of them had added hitches. I really think that adding a hitch and using it on non tow pkg springs. Speeds up the sag. Below is a few pic on my XJ before new springs.

Stock Springs. Rear tire is close to fender. This is not as bad as it got after towing.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/ADSBNSF/Picture068.jpg

With Up Country Set Up. XJ is 1.5 inches taller than when purchased.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/ADSBNSF/Picture091.jpg