So my new 96 Cherokee chirps/creaks when the four wheel drive is engaged while turning. Is this normal or is it on it's way out? Thanks! BTW sorry if this is a dumb question!

 

is this an all wheel drive, quadra-trac set-up? if so, it shouldn't be doing this.

if it's not, you shouldn't be using 4wd on dry pavement, or it will squak a bit, and maybe damage something.

 

Nope, not a quadra-trac.

I actually just took it around the block and put in 4wd. I made like two left turns and turned it off.

....just pretty much checking to see what it was like. :0

 

you might have an alignment problem, or a bad bearing or ball joint, but you'd probably feel that.

 

The tires I have on it are absolutely shot........

I just did plugs, wires and an oil change. I've also replaced the catalytic converter and the muffler. Tires will probably be next paycheck! Hopefully that will help alleviate the problem!

 

Also, for tires thinking about General Grabber All Terrain 2's........

 

http://www.treadepot.com/shoppingcar...vjnajdYkYelmjc

Pull the tires/rims off the truck, and bring them to a walfart tire lube...
Absolutely the cheapest retail place to get them taken care of... And, it's pretty hard to eff up a tire switchover...

Or, www.treadwright.com
...retreads... But I had a great experiance last winter with their tires. Got the walnut shell stuff for the rubber too, absolutly unstoppable geo tracker...

~Nate

 

Would a bad u joint make that kind of noise?

 

Not really, a bad U joint usually make a clunk or clacking noise when faulty. Like mentioned you should never use 4x4 on dry pavement or cement even. Well unless you have Quad Trac or full time 4x4. This will not only cause unwanted wear to the tires, but to the front end components also. So if it is making these noise all the time 4x4 or not. You are most likely dealing with an alignment issue

 

That's actually kind of what it sounds like......With the 4WD engaged, it makes the above described noise ONLY while making left turns. It's absolutely quiet if making a right turn!

 

OK well if it is infact the U joint, it should do it in 4 or 2 wheel usually. lay down on you back under the front of the jeep, grab the axle on the side your hearing the noise on. You will easily see the U joint. grab it and twist, there she be very very little play. If it's really sloppy... you found your problem most likely.

 

That's the thing, it only does it with the 4WD engaged making left turns. (4WD engaged, right turns are OK.) When it's in two wheel high, no noise at all left or right!

 

Well like I mentioned, it time to get under the Jeep and do the wiggle test on the axle and see how much play there is.

 

Which position is your Transfer case selector in when this happens? Do you hace Trac Loc LSD axels? Is this the tires squeeking and chirping, or the axel? LSD can squeek when it slips. Could also be clutch in the TC.

Bad Ujoint is going to a grabbing, hopping feel, but should be checked.

 

If he has a stock 96 grand and it's not quadra trac(247) then it's select trac(242) if you put your 242 in 4PT and drive on dry pavement it's gonna do/make all kinds of weird things/noises because the driveshafts are locked together splitting the torque almost equally,unlike the 247 that distributes torque to the front as needed. No front track-lock on zj's(again,assuming it's stock) so you can rule that out.

As recommended,give the front end parts a checking out but it is not unusal to experience that if you were in PT.