I'm looking at taking a 90 Cherokee Laredo off of my buddy. It's been sitting in his yard for about two years. We started it yesterday, ran fine, shifted fine.

Now the problems;

The 4WD club is hard as hard can be to pull, it will go to the 4WD setting, but I feel like I'm going to break it when I pull it. Before I even tried the club though, when I was driving it, it feels like it's stuck in 4WD and I tried going in reverse etc etc but it wont come out. My fear is something in the case is broken.

The brakes are new all around from when he parked it, when you first hit the peddle it feels like it's good, but then ya have to push it right to the floor to get them to work, I'm thinking it's either air in the lines or the master cylinder.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

check the fluid in the t case.

 

I had thought about that, but even though it's stuck in 4WD, it's quiet while driving. 4WD works fantastic actually. lol

 

Were you shifting it while moving. That isd the way to get it into and out of 4WD. 5-10 mph is the speed and just as you let your foot off the gas then mover the lever. If you are in 4WD then the front tires will scrub in a turn. If you don't have a burnt bulb then you should also have a dash light indicating you are in 4WD too.

 

The light is operated by the position of the club. The club is in 2WD but, the light does come on when I move the club to 4WD, but then when I put it back in 2WD it stays in 4WD and the light goes out.

 

try going in reverse real slow while shifting out of 4wd

 

Be sure that the air pressure in all 4 tires is equal.

Getting out of 4WD is sometimes affected with unequal air pressure. I have seen it more than a few times.

As mentioned, check and possibly replace transfer case fluid (ATF). Then exercise it a bit and it might start working more smoothly. Many 4wd vehicles don't get put into 4wd very much....

 

Should I use just regular Dexron III/Mercon or Dexron IV do you think? Or use the Chrysler ATF?

 

The transfer case isn't as fussy as a transmission as there are no clutches, etc.

I go with the FSM recommendation, which I believe is Dex/Merc.

 

Getting it to shift can be a little tricky. I try not to move at all when shifting except 4lo, but you can according to the manual. I have an AW4 and I just stop the vehicle, and shift between Drive and Reverse. I make sure it shifts into each gear before shifting into the next. When your going back to pavement, drive slow and check to make sure the lever hasn't popped back up to 4 part time or you'll chirp tires, bind u joints and hear bad noises. Sometime rolling back and forth can help to. Shift it into 4wd every couple months and it will be easier on the TC and you.

I can't remember exactly, but I think Dex/Merc III is the one to use. Theres a couple threads regarding the right fluid and the correct way to change it on this forum.