swap a 242.

 

Assuming you have an open differential on your front axle I see no reason why you just couldn't take off the rear driveshaft and run it in 4 hi.
The reason you don't run in 4 hi with both drive shafts on dry pavement is the 231 transfer case treats the 2 axles like a locker, dividing equal torque to both axles. If you're only running the front axle and it's an open then you don't run into those problems.
I know they're going to come out of the woodwork telling me I'm a nut job, but the theory is sound. Done it many times myself. Never had a problem.
On a 242 in 4 hi full time the transfer case treats the division of torque like an open differential. It transfers the most torque (in theory) to the axle with the most grip. Much harder to hurt it on dry pavement.
However it doesn't alleviate the scenario you're talking about.

As an aside my wife is looking at getting a Patriot Limited. She has a friend at work that has one and loves it.
They are FRONT WHEEL DRIVE if you get the 4x2. I'm checking if it's still front wheel in the default 2 wheel on the 4X4.
I've always thought the Patriot looked more like a Cherokee than the Liberty did.

 

NP242 sounds like what you need. As well as figuring out what's wrong with your tires. People have been living with slippery and RWD for deades.

And I don't mean this in a harsh way, but if you're that nervous about your GF when the weather is near freezing, she needs to learn how to drive before going out in that weather at all. If she has serious problems in mildly slippery conditions it doesn't sound like she'd know how to handle a vehicle when an emergency actually calls for it (leading to a roll, crash, etc). I don't know what I'd do if my fiancee was hurt in an accident because she couldn't come out of a slide.

 

Nah. Everyone on here with an SYE or busted U joint straps has done that!


You must have never seen a KK then

 

Have to agree very much with you here.
I remember learning how to handle slippery roads with my Dad in an empty parking lot.
He was a Military Driving Instructor. He said " How are you expected to drive out of an out of control situation if you've never been out of control."
They also teach you in pilot training here in Canada to get out of a spin by actually putting you into a spin. Terrifying the first time I did that!

 

What's a KK? I feel like I'm trying to decipher a text message from my step-daughter some days!

 

torque steer

 

Pulling the rear shaft doesn't magically make the XJ a great front drive car. I've driven home in 4wd without a rear shaft and it sucks *****. It's not instantly a Camry.

 

Isn't that a problem with any front wheel car?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Liberty

 

not really. Some have it, but they are designed to be safely driven. Some fwd cars don't make enough power for it to be apparent, and the higher power cars are designed to not have it. Equal length axle shafts, third axle supports, thicker shafts, suspension designed to handle it, etc.

Theres a reason theres no front wheel drive, solid axle trucks.

A 3 foot axle shaft is going to transmit power a lot more differently than a one foot axle shaft.

I have driven home in front wheel drive before, its generally all over the road, and not a fun experience. gotta accelerate carefully.

 

This. The new Focus ST has a hydro assist specifically for torque steer. I had to drive 45 min on the interstate with 3.55's and 35" swampers, it was awful. I wouldn't want any solid axle vehicle to be front wheel drive.

 

No hyrdo assist, and its only the RS.. the american ST doesnt have it. The RevoKnuckle is just designed differently to give a lower scrub radius, and combine that with the LSD and other electrical nannies, yea, torque steer is almost eliminated.

 

I just re read the article and you're right, its an electric assist. My buddy has a supercharged cobalt ss and in first and second it damn near pulls you off the road when you hammer it. My buddy's talked me into putting an FSWerks turbo on my 04 ZTS when I had it. Worst 5 grand I've ever spent. When it made boost it was all over the road and it broke motor mounts constantly.

 

Anyone care to tell my why people are afraid to run there xj in 4hi on the road durring the winter? Me, along with every other xj owner I'v known have never had an issue running 4hi.





If you cant keep your vehicle in control in RWD, put it in 4hi and keep going. Problem solved.