year make model?
I can guess at those but It may not help you
has to be an older cherokee since the new ones are regulated from the tank. But what you are describing makes no sense. The fuel reg on 4.0 is on the front of the fuel rail, there is no piece that goes into the regulator, the fuel line and return line snap in opposite the reg, and a vacuum line goes in the back of the reg. the reg is a round piece held in by a horseshoe shaped strap, it has some o-rings on it. If it is an o-ring leaking you could probably pick those up at a parts store
if it is a new model cherokee, the reg is attached to the pump in the tank, so you might as well replace both while you are in there
Sorry if I sound trite but I wanted to make sure we start off on the same page