88xj

I'm looking getting a grand cherokee that needs a front drive shaft. It has the quadratrac and i was wondering is it fine to drive for a while? The owner says it drives fine but the front drive shaft knocks while you drive it. Also anybody know how difficult the labor is to put one in?

jamaicanmecrazy

Why don't you just unbolt it and take it out?
I have my front out on my 93 and it's fine.

Hell I broke the rear in my 78 one day and drove 3 days on just the front.

muddeprived

im no grand expert but if im correct, theres only 8 little bolts holding the shaft on. pop it off till you get a new one. it could give out one day and put a hole in your floor. seen that happen before and not fun. theres really no labor involved unless u call unscrewing little bolts as labor.

88xj

I thought about doing that but I heard that because of quadratec it could mess somthing up. Anymore info appreciated.

nick_n_ii

quadratec is the all wheel drive right? If that's the case NO you can't just take it out, you hurt the T-case. Also remember there are 3 different length front drive shafts for the ZJ. The All Wheel Drive one is the longest. You can use the front drive shafts from a XJ with no problem. And there a cake walk to remove, 4 bolts axle side(2 u-straps) and 4 bolts T-case side...

88xj

Yes it's the 4wd system. I wouldn't bother getting it but it's a deal. A 97 limited looks to be mint but, has 220 thou on it with upgrades. Would it be safe to drive while messed up(not removed) untill I get the money to fix it? It's only $800 bucks.

nick_n_ii

How bad is it "popping"? if you have to I wouldn't want to go over 45mph to be safe.. Like I said you can use a XJ shaft..

muddeprived

Excuse my stupidness. i was thinking "quadratec" not "quadratrac"...oops.

88xj

Ill ask and let you know next time i talk to him.

88xj

I always mess up with it 2 lol

88xj

Alright I was told it knocks around pretty good because the cup that the shaft sits in is broken and it shifts around.

nick_n_ii

Than I would not drive it....

jamaicanmecrazy

How does a transfer case with NO load get damaged?
Can some of the "experts" chime in.
Please state actual written facts so I can be re-educated.

Mucho Thanks

nick_n_ii

The all wheel drive T-case (249) has a viscopler(sp) in it, basically a internal diff like thing. If you do not have a front shaft in it will slip till it locks up (welds it self locked) and kills the T-case. Don't be leave me go test it and waste a T-case. I had this T-case in my ZJ read alot about it. And mine was killed by that very thing.

Go here.. www.nagca.com and here www.mallcrawlin.com read and learn. I've done the research and don't need to post a link for you to see the facts.

jamaicanmecrazy

<SP>Viscous
I have 231's and 232's and your right IF he has a 249 I'd throw it away and use a 231 (Just check the spline count for the match, there was 2)

Yeah the 247/ 249 was a P.O.S and was not a real unit.

Still no reason for damage running it under no load. Look at the internals.