What good is 4wd with open diffs?

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May 5, 2009 | 06:57 AM
  #1  
I have no idea what Jeep was thinking
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May 5, 2009 | 07:29 AM
  #2  
They are great for street use only, but useless when offroad. I never understood the logic of sending power to the wheel with the least traction. If you get the left front and the right rear off the ground you are just screwed.
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May 5, 2009 | 09:04 AM
  #3  
Well, let's be honest here. When Jeep originally designed and released the XJ Cherokee, they had soccer moms in mind. The OEM 4WD system in them is great for inclimate weather while on road. A few great guys awhile back figured out what a great off road rig can be "BUILT" from a stock Cherokee, we all realized it too and the rest is history. That's the great thing about a very capable XJ. Anybody who sees one tearing it up off road knows the XJ was BUILT not BOUGHT....like say a Rubicon. A trun key Jeep for hardcore off roading wouldn't give me a warm fuzzy. Because we all know where an off road rig breaks. 90 miles from nowhere and knee deep in the crud in a down pour. That is a good time to have built the rig you are in and know how it works so you can fix it quickly.
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May 5, 2009 | 09:12 AM
  #4  
that makes my jeep a lifted soccor moms suv
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May 5, 2009 | 09:30 AM
  #5  
No, Dude, not even. Your rig is sooooooooooooo far from a Soccer Mom rig. Yours was far from it when you bought it. Now, my XJ was tock as a stove. A Soccer Mom could have drove it off the lot just as easy as I did. I built it into the Off road Beast you wheeled with. Your rig is awesome and getting better all the time. I'm glad you're working more hours now but, we really need to get together and go wheeling again soon, Bro.
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May 5, 2009 | 09:38 AM
  #6  
amen to that, i cant wait to go wheelin. im afraid a few hours after this rain were gettin and tahuya will be rivers and lakes haha. i may be getting a stocker though i emailed a guy on cl with a 91 said he was tryin to get rid of it. the reason they stoped driving it was becuase of a knocking sound with he found out was the exhaust coming loose. i told him that i had little to money now( he e mailed me back a few days later after i bought tires) and he said hes shure we can work something out. best part about it is i didnt even realize it was my cusin till last night haha. i fi get it i will build that one right, my 88 is tired haha it pukin more and more oil every day haha. but back on topic it will be a soccor moms ride haha
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May 5, 2009 | 09:42 AM
  #7  
Why, are you planning on becoming a soccer mom?.....LMAO!!!! You are definitely taking a step up going with a 91 XJ. As we all know it was the best year XJ ever made.....LOL.
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May 5, 2009 | 09:44 AM
  #8  
no... i hate soccor, hah it was used to hual 3 screming little brats around though so i think it qualifies. the 91s have the hO right?
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May 5, 2009 | 09:46 AM
  #9  
are you kidding jeep makes one of the best functioning 4x4 right of the shelf
and you could order locker if you wanted
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May 5, 2009 | 09:48 AM
  #10  
Yes, Bud, the 91 definitely has the 4.0 HO. 91 was the 1st year of the HO in XJs.
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May 5, 2009 | 09:50 AM
  #11  
i agree even with open diffs they are very capible for a stock suv. just becouse they dont come out of the box ready for the rubicon trail doesnt mean they suck
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May 5, 2009 | 09:53 AM
  #12  
they do pretty damn well stock. took my stepdad with his 1" BB and 235s on blues over the weekend and it did very well.

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May 5, 2009 | 09:59 AM
  #13  
Quote: I have no idea what Jeep was thinking
the same reason they no longer have locking hubs

MONEY
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May 5, 2009 | 10:25 AM
  #14  
Quote: They are great for street use only, but useless when offroad. I never understood the logic of sending power to the wheel with the least traction. If you get the left front and the right rear off the ground you are just screwed.
Yeah but if you only have one wheel off the ground 4x4 is perfect. And what if you get your rear diff hung up on something and both rear wheels are off the ground, your rear lockers not gunna do much then... why are you guys so down on 4wd?

In any event it seems kind of unfair to compare the two, it kind of like comparing a ratchet to a hammer, I guess you could use both of them as hammers but they're different tools.

But yes it would be awesome if Cherokees came with lockers from the factory.
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May 5, 2009 | 11:05 AM
  #15  
aussie lock the front for $250 and call it a day.
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