I just purchased a stock 2001 Sport with 59,000 miles on it. I'm not very experienced with 4X4 Jeeps. My last one was a 1977 Wagoneer, about 20 years ago. My Cherokee cruises at 70 like it's on rails but there seems to be some slack in the drive train when I accelerate and decelerate and even on braking, sometimes an annoying "clunk". Is this normal? A quick check didn't show any loose U-joints but there is a little oil on the back of transfer case.

 

The noise you are hearing is probbaly the slip yoke on the drive shaft going into the transfer case, there is'nt anyway of lubing it except for dropping the drive shaft out. You can use a good heavy grease or some people use anti-seize on the splines and then put it back together. Just use a heavy zip tie on the rubber boot that covers the drive shaft when you put it back together.

 

Without looking at it, my mechanic says it's probably the rear axle. Says he's fixed a lot of them?

 

I would try lubing the slip yoke first, all thats going to cost you is a little time and grease.

 

I'd check the CV joints too.. they 'clunk' pretty good when they're bad. (or U-joints if no CV joints) On the axles

 

My 2001 does the same thing. Look up stop bump TSB and will tell you. Basically all you need to do is pull the driveshaft and grease up the splines gong into the transfer case and should fix it. I haven't done mine yet but will be shortly. Mine only does it when I come a stop or excelerate from a stop.

 

My mechanic basically had to rebuild the rear axle (someone had been in it before) and he is lubing the slip joint for me too. The front axle was leaking at the pinion so he replaced that seal. Is it unusual to need this much work on a vehicle with only 59,000 miles on it? This Jeep has obviously not been abused. The body and interior are like new.