JFugazzi

Hi Everyone

I'm selling a 1998 Cherokee Limited for a friend. It has the 5.2 V8 and Full Time 4WD. I took the car for a drive and it's fine on the open road but when making slow sharp turns like pulling into a parking spot or backing out of the driveway into the street it feels like there's some resistance in the drivetrain. Is this normal for this 4WD system or is an indicator that there is something wrong?

Thanks

Joe

721

It's not in 4lo is it? I'm assuming it's not or you would have grenaded the transfercase by now, but the tugging, jerking or binding you feel is exaggerated in 4lo, it's there while in 4hi as well in that kind of vehicle, it's just not as prominent.

As long as it's not in 4lo and it's not making a bunch of horrible sounds you should be ok, I've only driven around in 4hi on concrete for a few miles and I remember it jerking and tugging around slow corners (I have the Select-Trac).

blackjack12982

The VC (Viscous Coupling) is fried in the transfer case. This is why people swap in 231/242 cases. The VC is a $3-400 part alone. A used TC can cost anywhere from free to $800 for an eBay case. Or, you can just drive it and wear the tires oddly.

721

He's probably right.

blackjack12982

I am! I'm way too involved with ZJ's, and know way more about them than any normal person should know...

Below Zero

I have a 1995 jeep cherokee limited, all time awd. The tires grabes when i go around slow corners. Mine is not in 4 low and there is nothing wrong with my tranfer case. It is normal.

blackjack12982

The tires grabbing and "hopping" are the signs that the viscous coupling are bad in your TC as mentioned above...

gs69350

So... not to hijack this thread but...

I have a 92 Cherokee Laredo (XJ) with a 242 and the worst rod knock you've ever heard.... Today I picked up a nice 98 ZJ with 4.0 and Quadra Trac.... I'm not a huge fan of quadra track and just curious if I can swap in the Selec-Trac transfer case from the 92 without major mods or issues...?

Thanks in Advance!

Dan

721

Pretty sure you can, same exact engines.

shooter135

I have a similar issue. I have a 98 cherokee limited and last year when it was full time 4wd it did not hop or bind like it does now.

How do I test to make sure it is the viscous coupling before I order a 400 part. Is it possible I just need maintenance (fluid change) on the xfer cases?

country_boy454

Then you should know that the VC was a totally different design from 93-95 and 96-98. Typically the VC doesnt go bad on the newer 249 case. Not saying it doesnt happen but they are a much better design.

I would say what the OP stated is normal. If the tires arent hopping or skipping there will be some resistance. It is still four wheel drive albeit most of the power is transfered to the rear tires.

To the others asking about swapping tcases, yes it can be done. Sometimes it goes easy and smooth other times it doesnt. Pay attention to the length of the output shaft. There were 3 different lengths. I cannot recall what they are off the top of my head.

dpshoup

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/t...-np242-685644/ This should tell you all you want to know about the TC swap... and in my experience, the phenomenon of the drivetrain feeling like it's binding on tight, slow-speed turns is normal for a 4wd vehicle. to check the VC, find a big parking lot and do tight figure-8's if it hops and chirps, then the VC is bad.