Hi

Just curious on what the symptoms of a bad 4x4 system would be. I'm talking part time, but full time would be interesting to learn about too.

I drove an XJ the other day and put it into 4WDhi and it felt extremely rough moving only in a straight line. Every couple of seconds it felt like like I was hitting a speed bump on smooth ground and something was grinding. Is this the chain being loose?

 

Were you on drive pavement when you engaged 4WD?

 

tried both on and off pavement, though I understand that on pavement is not ideal. I was just moving straight to test out how it rode and it felt really rough.

 

I have done the dry pavement thing, did you go over like 20 while doing this?
Also don't be so quick to say transfer case, a broken tooth or two on the front axle has the same effect.
Full time works from the diff in the T-case so it is allowed to slip.

 

Check all your fluids, front/rear diff, t-case, trans before going too far, had a surprising amount of empty/near-empty t-cases. Check all the u-joints, if its been a while since she's been in 4-anything they might be seized up and need replacing as well. Usually you can bust them loose if they are really seized but the feelings might stay and really they need to be replaced, had some nasty nasty twisted rusted in pins in some before, no good.

Wouldn't really do much dry pavement any more, try and avoid it, needs to be a slip surface.