Jeep Cherokee (XJ): Description and operation

Suspension components

The front suspension is a link/coil design (Fig. 1).

This suspension is use on Left Hand Drive (LHD) and Right Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles. The suspension is comprised of:

•  Drive axle (4WD), tube axle (2WD)
•  Dual-action shock absorbers
•  Coil springs
•  Upper and lower suspension arms
•  Stabilizer bar
•  Track bar
•  Jounce bumpers

CAUTION: Components attached with a nut and cotter pin must be torqued to specification. Then if the slot in the nut does not line up with the cotter pin hole, tighten nut until it is aligned. Never loosen the nut to align the cotter pin hole.

CAUTION: Suspension components with rubber/ urethane bushings (except stabilizer bar) should be tightened with the vehicle at normal ride height. It is important to have the springs supporting the weight of the vehicle when the fasteners are torqued. If springs are not at their normal ride position, vehicle ride comfort could be affected and premature bushing wear may occur.

NOTE: Periodic lubrication of the front suspension/ steering system components may be required. Rubber bushings must never be lubricated. Refer to Group 0, Lubrication And Maintenance for the recommended maintenance schedule.

Shock absorbers

DESCRIPTION

The top of the shock absorbers are bolted to a frame bracket. The bottom of the shocks are bolted to the axle brackets.

OPERATION

The shock absorbers dampen jounce and rebound motion of the vehicle over various road conditions and limit suspension rebound travel.

Jounce bumper

DESCRIPTION

The jounce bumpers are mounted under the frame rail inside of the coil spring.

OPERATION

The jounce bumpers are used to limit suspension travel in compression.

Fig. 1 Suspension Components (LHD)

1 - LINKS
2 - SHOCK ABSORBER
3 - UPPER SUSPENSION ARM
4 - STABILIZER BAR
5 - COIL SPRING
6 - JOUNCE BUMPER
7 - LOWER SUSPENSION ARM
8 - TRACK BAR
9 - AXLE

Coil springs and isolators

DESCRIPTION

The coil springs mount up in the wheelhouse which is part of the unitized body bracket. A rubber doughnut isolator is located between the top of the spring and the bracket. The bottom of the spring seats on a axle pad and retained with a clip.

OPERATION

The coil springs control ride quality and maintain proper ride height. The isolators provide road noise isolation.

Lower suspension arms and bushings

DESCRIPTION

The lower suspension arms are steel and use bushings at one end of the arm. The arms mount to the frame rail bracket and the axle brackets.

OPERATION

The arm and bushings provide location and react to loads from the axle. The bushings provide isolation from the axle. The lower suspension arms can be used to adjust caster and pinion angle, through the use of shims at the frame rail bracket.

Upper suspension arms and bushings

DESCRIPTION

The upper suspension arms are steel and use rubber bushings at each end of the arm. The arms mount to the frame rail bracket and the axle brackets.

OPERATION

The arm and bushings provide location and react to loads from the axle. The bushings provide isolation from the axle.

Stabilizer bar

DESCRIPTION

The spring steel bar extends across the underside of the chassis frame rails. Links are connected from the bar to the axle brackets. The stabilizer bar and links are isolated by rubber bushings.

OPERATION

The stabilizer bar is used to control vehicle body roll during turns. The bar helps to control the vehicle body in relationship to the suspension.

Track bar

DESCRIPTION

The bar is attached to a frame rail bracket with a ball stud and an axle bracket with a bushing. The bar is forged and has non replaceable isolator bushing and ball stud.

OPERATION

The track bar is used to control front axle lateral movement and provides cross car location of the axle assembly.

Hub/bearing

DESCRIPTION

The bearing used on the front hub of this vehicle is the combined hub and bearing unit type assembly.

This unit assembly combines the front wheel mounting hub (flange) and the front wheel bearing into a one piece unit. The wheel mounting studs are the only replaceable component of the hub/bearing assembly.

OPERATION

The hub/bearing assembly is mounted to the steering knuckle and is retained by three mounting bolts accessible from the back of the steering knuckle. The hub/bearing unit is not serviceable and must be replaced as an assembly if the bearing or the hub is determined to be defective.