I thought my power steering was going bad but found the problem to be a bad front axle U joint (felt like it was in 4 wheel drive when turning) That problem fixed I had put it in 4x4 on the hard road to see the difference and noticed a moaning while driving in 4x4 on the hard road ( did not go over 20 mph and noise got louder from stop to 20 mph) when I put it in neutral and coast to a stop (while in 4x4) the jeep came to a stop as if a brake was hanging up but that cant be the problem as it does not do this in 2 wheel drive. Could this be the transfer case or the shaft to the transfer case? The jeep has 262000 miles on it. Thanks, Dale

 

Here's how the factory suggests you shift the transfer case and I've been doing this since these things were new and I worked at the dealership. Quoted from the owner's manual. The suggestions in CAPS are mine.

"To engage, shift the transfer case lever from 2H to 4H while the vehicle is moving at any legal speed". I LET OFF THE GAS, THROW THE LEVER, TAP THE GAS AND LET OFF.

4L position: " To engage, slow the vehicle to 2-3 MPH , shift the transmission to Neutral, then shift the transfer lever to the right and pull firmly rearward to 4L".

TO SHIFT OUT OF 4L, SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED, SHIFT THE TRANSFER CASE LEVER TO 2H, THEN THE TRANS TO D IF YOU HAVE AN AUTOMATIC, OR INTO FIRST GEAR WITH A MANUAL, AND CONTINUE ON.

Revised 11/20/2014



Ever checked the transfer case fluid level?

 

Just changed the transfer case fluid a year or so ago but have not checked it since but I just did and it was fine.

 

Good to know. They hold so little fluid, there's not a lot of room for loss.

Do you have all the same brand and size tires running the same air pressure?

 

Same size tires though one on the back is a different make but that has been that way for awhile. Just wonder why it seems to stop so hard in 4x4 while letting it coast to a stop

 

Shift it as it was designed to be shifted then.

 

So you are saying if I shift it wrong that is what causes it to do this? I am no mechanic but I cannot see how that would affect it even the slightest bit.

 

Yup. I am a mechanic and worked as a Service Manager and Shop Foreman at a Jeep dealer for 12 years.

 

Still does the same thing while shifting like you said. seems very tight and comes to a stop when you let off the gas, almost like the brakes are being applied. could it be the shaft or the differential?

 

After shifting to 2 high?

 

Yes. I have to back the jeep up to get it to go back to 2 wheel drive

 

Actually after shifting to 2 high it runs normal. Just feels like you have the E brake on or something while its in 4 wheel drive. I wonder if its a U joint on the shaft from the T case?

 

Good plan.