My Jeep acts as if it has a locker in the front axle when I turn hard left or right while slightly releasing the breaks to creep forward. I know that there isnt a locker I have had all 4 tire off the ground and engaged 4wd and the front tires do not respond as if a locker is installed. So what mite this be caused from? Any ideas would be awesome thanks guys.

 

something binding?

 

I get snap, crackle and pop turning hard in 4WD because the U-Joints in my front axle are shot. I've been putting it off.....I do get a quiet chirp/squeak cruising sometimes, that I might hear passing a wall or guard rail..

OH..and it bucks a little, I can feel something binding.

 

Is it doing it in 4wd or in 2wd? Mine makes what I assume is a similar sound from what your describing and its due to the wheels the PO put on contacting the control arm apparently

 

It does it in 2wd it does it onh the road in 4wd but not off road. The wheels dont contact the lcas. Dont think its binding cuz like i said I'm in 2wd when it does it. It acts as if the front axle is locking.

 

The wheels are 15x7 with stock backspacing.

 

Worn out u-Joints. The grease is dryed out and they are binding.
Ron

 

Mine does that all the time and everything is fine. Get off road and check your tire tracks when turning a steady turn. The problem when turning is the outside front wheel is trying to travel further than the outside rear wheel (wider radius in the turn) and the inside front wheel is traveling further than the inside rear wheel (same), so the front wheels are trying to go further than the rears. The popping is the front axle fighting the rear axle. The same thing will happen in a strait line if you run different size tires in the front and rear.

Do not run 4WD on dry pavement unless you have the transfer case with Selec trac. or Quadra trac.

 

Our XJ's actually have a vacuum locking front diff in the Dana 30. Not like a locker, but more like the limited slip in the D35 rear axle. That's why when we drift in the snow, all 4 tires go. On tighter terrain, the front end will bind and "hop" as some people say. Many 4 wheel drives do this. If this binding happens in 2wd, check everything, take it to a trusted shop, and get it fixed soon. If something is binding and the front end blows apart on the road, you could end up in a tree hanging over a branch wondering what the hell just happened with your XJ sitting under you all smashed up.

 

Ball joints

 

X2 on the ball joints also.

 

That is actually very wrong. The vacuum disconnect is actually a 2 piece axle shaft. It has nothing to do with a limited slip or locker. And that 2 piece axle was only used until the early 90s.

 

Well, multiple sources must have lied to me then. I read a few times that the front axle had a vacuum locking diff. It has to lock up somehow for this to happen right?

 

Its not a vacuum locking diff. Its a vacuum disconnecting axle. The passenger side axle is a 2 piece axle in early years. There is a collar and fork that slide together making that aide a one piece axle when 4wd is engaged.

I guess its a lame attempt at saving gas and tires, but obviously was unnecessary since newer XJs never came with them.

 

How about this...actually climb under your own XJ and check for yourself. See where thr vacuum lines go...its not to the diff. And dont get it confused with the breather tube.


And I have never EVER seen any info stating that our front end is a vacuum locking diff. I think your just misunderstanding the workings...