My XJ is all stock. I want to lift it, but i've gotta fix the four-wheel drive first. When i put it in 4hi, up under the front end, something pops and kind of grinds. and it shakes the whole jeep. i nixed out the transfer case as an option. because it's up front. i pulled out the front driveshaft and drove it. put it in 4 wheel. and it still did the same thing. what could be happening in four wheel that's not in two, without the 4 wheel drive even being connected? it also feels more when i turn the wheel. it pops and shakes.

please leave your ideas. this is driving me crazy and i've been working on it for days now. i am out of idea.

 

When you put it in 4wd, back up about twenty feet before going forward. See if it still does it.

Do the same thing when you're going back to 2wd. Mine does that every time I pull it out of 4wd and go forward, but never when I back up to take it out.

 

Alright i will definitely give that a try!

 

The issue seems exagerated when your attempting to turn?

Sounds like an axleshaft ujoint. This can be verified by removing the axleshaft and checking for slop.

 

If you have the same front axle in your 89 as I have in my 90, then you have the vacuum operated disconnect between the diff and the pass side front wheel. With the driveshaft disconnected, this will still engage when you shift into 4WD. Try disconnecting the vacuum line and see if still pops.

 

Those are both good ideas. Thank you very much for your help guya! Ill check those out in the morning and let you know

 

Let us know it this gets it. I am interested to find out what the pop was. Also, only test 4 WD on a soft surface. On pavement, the front and rear axles will fight each other and it will be worse if the tire diameters or axle ratios are different front to rear.

 

Well i discovered something. It makes a popping sound when i turn sharp. and the jeep kinda jumps a little. but when in 4wheel, it does it a lot worse, and withought even having to turn the wheel.

 

Check u-joints on the front axle. Sounds like one is bad.

 

Just a question... how do they go bad? Just they seize up inside? Sorry I h

 

Just a question... how do they go bad? Just they seize up inside? Sorry I am new with U joints and not much experience