Is there a limiting speed when the XJ is in 4wd? Reason I ask is that the Jeep does not have a rear drive shaft currently thus would only have front wheel drive by putting the transfer case in 4wd.

 

Chain driven tcase dont like to operate at high speeds for extended periods of time, seen a few blow up by people who didnt know they had 4x4 lol kinda cool to see a tcase ripped in half.

I would say no faster than 35-45mph

 

Where I live I run in 4x4 most of the winter pulling trailers in the snow on highways past 60mph no problem. But thats in the cold temperature way below 0 degrees celcius.

 

I've heard 55, but have also heard higher.
If you need 4x4 engaged you shouldn't be going over 55 anyways.
Also might be different for a 242 T-case when in Full-time.

 

55 is correct to my knowledge for a 231 TC..... I absolutely love my 242!!! Love the feeling of being able to throw it in 4wheel while cruisin down the icy highway at 60 cause ya feel the rearend start to slip off the road!!! But I KNOW, I KNOW..... ya shouldn't be flyin down the icy highway at 60 to begin with!!! If ya look at your speedo u'll c that 55mph should be red if ya have a 231 TC

 

from my understanding, You should not be using the the 4 wheel drive while at highway speed with out ur rear drive shaft. All the load of the xj will only be on the transfer, causing detination.

 

With a 242 you can shift into 4FT at any speed UP to 55mph, on pavement. You can drive it as fast as you want. On both the 231 and 242 you can shift into 4PT or 4HI at any speed up to 55, when on loose surface ONLY, no max speed. 4 low should be shifted at a stop and used at speeds below 25mph.

 

Of course if you have a slip yoke drive shaft all the fluid will get thrown out so then I would say you can only drive it until you run out of fluid.

If you have a fixed yoke you should be fine up to any legal speed.

The vehicle will handle differently in FWD so keep that in mind.

Not that it was anything close to the same t-case but I drove from Moab to Salt lake without a rear drive shaft in an 87 bronco with a d-60 up front with a lockrite on 37 inch tires, t-case was a np203/205... (actually had a spare rear drive shaft, but I broke the yoke on the rear axle) a lockrite in FWD makes things really interesting at 55 mph on mountain roads...

Nathan