When I turn my '97 Cherokee Sport hard left, the left wheel makes a grinding sound as does the right side when turning hard right. Is this just a Jeep thing or what. I jacked up the front and turned the front wheels and could hear the grinding noise only when they were cranked (it's not a tire rubbing sound allthough they rub too).

 

Did you check your steering stops?
or have someone crank the wheels(no jack) and take a look to see if anything is rubbing.
Also, could it be your power steering pump making that noise?

 

Nothing is rubbing and it's not the steering pump. I don't know what the steering stops are. It only makes the noise when turned all the way left (sound on left wheel only) or all the way right (sound on right wheel only).

 

ok.steering stops or bump stops as they are sometimes called are either bolt like "stoppers" or "nubs" to prevent you from cranking the wheel either way too far to prevent damage.They sometimes can make a noise when the wheels are turned to the limit of their travel.this may be caused by a broken/worn tie rod end or other steering components.
check your tie rods,drag link,sway bar,sway bar links,ball joints...etc..basically all the components of your front end.The noise is only when turning so it's pretty much limited to front end parts.
Just give it a good check and you should be able to find what's making that noise.
A partner turning the wheels back and forth will help immensely.

 

Cool. Thanks for the detailed suggestions to check on.

 

Just checking to see if you found anything wrong.....so? any news?let me know ;)

 

I turned the wheels and watched but nothing seemed to cause the noise, it just did it when cranked all the way. The tire rubbed (different sound) but that's all I noticed. I've heard other people with cherokees 93, 94's say their Jeeps do a similar thing. So maybe it's a Jeep thing? The only way to know is maybe to take it all apart, but just not turning all the way will work for me now.

 

Grab the top of the tire with both hands and try to "shake" it, do it at the front and rear of the tire to. If you get any noticable movement of the wheel or some axle noise your wheel bearing/ hub may be wearing.

 

The wheels don't move and I just got the left wheel bearing replaced. I also got the other side checked and nothing.

 

Just guessing here but if you've changed the diff fluid lately did you put any/ enough friction modifier in?