NHTSA Complaint #10359010 — 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

ALL 1999-2002 GRAND CHEROKEE WJ MODELS BUILT THROUGH MAY 10, 2002 CAME EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE CALIPERS MADE BY TEVES. THEY ARE BLACK IN COLOR WITH AN OPEN-SIDED BRACKET DESIGN. DUE TO POOR CALIPER CENTERING, THE TEVES CALIPERS CAUSED THE ROTORS TO WARP, A PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED GRAND CHEROKEES. AT THE VERY END OF THE 2002 MODEL YEAR, JEEP CHANGED TO "FULLY-CLOSED" STYLE CALIPERS DESIGNED BY AKEBONO. TO ADDRESS THE WARPED ROTOR PROBLEM JEEP ISSUED A TSB, #05-003-02. WE BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL DO TO THE MAJOR WHEEL SHAKE TO THE POINT OF THE DRIVER ALMOST LOOSING CONTROL OF THE SUV DO TO THIS VIBRATION. JEEP HAS LONG KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE & WAS SUED IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHICH THEY SETTLED THE PROBLEM IS EXCESSIVE ROTOR THICKNESS VARIATION GENERATED BY POOR CALIPER CENTERING. THIS CAUSES STEERING WHEEL SHAKE. GRAND CHEROKEE BRAKES UP THROUGH MAY 10TH 2002 WERE DESIGNED BY TEVES. SAME BRAKES USED ON BMW & FORD EXPEDITION BUT THE GRAND CHEROKEE WAS THE FIRST TO USE A TWIN PISTON CALIPER DESIGN. CHRYSLER WANTED TWIN PISTONS BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CALIPER SPRING CAUSES THE INBOARD PAD TO DRAG. IT TAKES A LOT OF HEAT (CHERRY RED) TO WARP ROTORS, SO THE MAIN CAUSE OF ROTOR VARIATION IS NOT HEAT BUT UNEVEN WEAR. *TR