Let me tell you what I've got going on and you tell me if what the dealership is telling me makes any sense.

1999 Cherokee Limited

Put new tires on last fall, replaced the "touring" type tread GoodYears with some BFG TA/KO's. Same OD, stock size was something like 225/70 and I replaced with 215/75.

Things seemed fairly normal over the winter, but not so much as we have gotten into spring.

Jeep feels like the front axle is not releasing out of 4WD. When turning a sharp corner fair amount of jerking in the front end coming up through the stearing wheel. The "feel" is about the same as when it actually is in 4WD, but it isn't.

Gas mileage also has TANKED this spring, usually gets low 20's but now seems like 16 is about as good as it gets, which is making me think the thing is not releasing out of 4WD.

Took it to dealership. They tell me the front axle is releasing out of 4WD just fine. He agree's there is something going on. Thinks it "might" be the universal joints on the outer ends of the axles. Can't say for sure without some major dis-assembly to inspect them, and by the time they've got it that far torn apart you might as well replace them anyway.

Does this diagnosis sound probable, or should I be looking for something else?

 

The diag is plausible but they should be able to determine without any disasembly......jack up the front end and turn the wheels all the way to the left(or right) rotate the tire...it should turn freely. If it doesn't turn then it is stuck in 4wd. If it turns with a drag then your front brakes are hanging on. If it turns really hard or goes easy,hard easy,hard this is a good indication of a siezed axle u joint.
Good luck!

 

What he said to a tee

 

Well what did u find?????