ny_driver

Will it hurt anything to drive around while I get the front driveshaft rebuilt?

Someone told me it will eventually destroy the transfer case. Just wanted to get a second opinion, thanks.

Gee oh Dee

It shouldn't unless the fluid leaks out.

jronald

I have also been told it will wipe out the Transfer Case.
I do know there is a "slipping" coupler inside the case. It requires drag or tension on both sides, or one side turns freely while the other side does all the work. Think about a rear end with 1 broken axle...same difference. The good axle will still work, sort of.
Ron

ol"blue

When you don't have a 2WD position for the t-case shifter, driving in 4WD with the front drive-shaft removed can/will damage the t-case. How long does this take? I don't know.
It also presents a safety issue because park will no longer prevent the vehicle from rolling.

razor02097

You could put it 4lo when parking it... On a quadratrac system The full time operation has a kind of limited slip diff in the T case it will burn up because it will try to send power to the front drive shaft...

ol"blue

Putting it in 4LO when parking won't make any difference. Since the front drive-shaft is removed that will allow the t-case's front yoke to spin, and let the vehicle roll even though it's in park, or in gear if a manual trans.

ny_driver

Could I swap out the T-case with one that has a 2WD position, because that would be preferable eventually.

ol"blue

Yes you can, there's lot of info out there about this. Here's one link on it. Click->->DELTA 4X4 CLUB TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT - 249 TO 242 TRANSFER CASE SWAP

ny_driver

That's very good to hear.

I would like to get it driving correctly first though, because money is tight these days. Whatever is the most cost effective solution is what I need, but if it's not much more to do what I want then obviously that's what I'll do.

blackjack12982

Alot of misinformation in this thread. Yes you can run it without the front DS, it will eventually destroy the "Viscous Coupling" that causes power to be distributed to the front and rear. The mileage that it takes varies wildly, though honestly with it being a 93, and the cost that it costs to replace you'd assume it would be the OEM VC, and probably shot anyway. They run around $400 for the VC, and $3-400 in labor alone.

Yes the ZJ will roll if the front DS is out, and you do not have the parking brake engaged, ask me how I know. Make sure you're parking brake works, and continue on.

Yes you can swap the T-cases, I've done it twice on my ZJ. This is the best link I've found for the T-case swap-
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/t...-np242-685644/

ny_driver

I guess I'll drive it while I hunt for the right T-case. I need one with a .750" 23 spline input shaft.

242 or 231 though? Not sure I understand the difference?

blackjack12982

NP231 provides the options for 2H, 4H, 4L, and neutral.

NP242 offers an AWD/4H option that can be run on pavement.

The NP231 is the much stronger case.

ny_driver

Very good, thank you. What are the limitations of 4 HIGH on the 231? Could I go 50mph on snowy roads hauling my sled in 4 HIGH?

I might better get the 242 because I need to be able to haul my sled safely and I want AWD/4WD for that. It's only 60 miles each way, but if the 231 won't handle being run in 4WD then I can' get that.

blackjack12982

Good luck going 50 mph with a 231 in 4H. The real question is why you're going 50 mph towing a sled on snowy enough roads to need 4WD, but we'll leave for that for another time.

BTW, most people who swap 242's into their ZJ's for the AWD option, end up never using the AWD, and resenting the strength lost over a 231 TC.

ny_driver

The roads where I go snowmobiling are always bad enough to appreciate the fact that it's in 4WD. Plus I just like being in 4WD when it's snowy. Plus plus the sled will feel much heavier behind the Jeep than it did behind my ex-quad cab. Glad I realized this now.

The Jeep is really going to be more of a utility vehicle and DD than anything. Still going to put 31s or so on it and get it muddy I don't want to go so big I lose a lot of gas mileage.