Problem with a Jeep Grand Cherokee Xfer

[Torque King Jay]

I need input from the Jeep experts out there... I've got a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a V8 engine. It seems as though there is something wrong with either the front axle or the transfer case. Remember this has the fulltime 4wd so it's always engaged. When you turn a tight corner or turn into a parking space you can hear the front tires squeal. Driving straight down the road everything is fine. Is the front differential binding or locking up or is it a transfer case problem where the front and rear axles are staying locked with each other. I haven't fooled around with these too much but I have friends that have had to replace the front ends at 50k miles because of poor quality parts.



What do you guys think?

 

[budctdca]

From my experience (which is fairly extensive) with full time 4X4, this is completely normal. If you are worried about something breaking, do a normal check on the jeep, ie: u-joints, axle joints, exchange diff and tranfer case fluids, etc.



Luke

 

[Nate]

Not normal. That's a bad viscous coupler in the T Case. They are pretty common to fail. Mine did at around 60,000 miles. I swapped in a 242, and later a 231 after I broke the 242... but that's another story.



What the viscous coupler does is allows the front and rear axles to spin at different speeds (a differential). When it goes bad, it locks up, so they must spin at the same speed.



You can replace it, they aren't too cheap, though sometimes on eBay people are selling them. NP 249 viscous coupler is what your looking for.

 

[jgillott]

Not normal. That's a bad viscous coupler in the T Case.

Yes, the VC is your problem. PLEASE do your self a favor and take care of it before you have another failure somewhere else in the drive line. The VC started to go in my wife's '96 Grand Cherokee and I ignored it for a month or so. Let's just say that what it did to the rear diff wasn't pretty.



Justin

 

[Texas Diesel]

Is it a Quadratrac? If I remember correctly they use a locking visous coupler. It locks when the Quadrac computer senses slip between the front and rear axles.



I think some used a center differential and the Quadratrac used the locking VC setup.



If you need to drive the vehicle, remove the front drive shaft completely. You could operate the Jeep that way indefinately or until you had the dollars to troubleshoot it.

 

[Torque King Jay]

Bad Xfer case

Thanks for all the information guys. You've described it exactly. Stright line not a problem. Turn into a parking space and it makes the front tires chirp.



Is is better to replace the entire case or just fix the existing coupler? What's the cost associated with each?



Any information would be helpful. Thanks Again

 

[jkalchik]

Can't speak to your ZJ problem directly, I'm an XJ kind of guy.



You might want to try the forums over at http://www.nagca.com the North American Grand Cherokee Association.

 

[DPKetchum]

I don't remember cost but replacing the coupler is a LOT cheaper then the whole transfer case. Sold and installed one or two a month on Quada tracks. Worse after there hot. Cold at times they work ok. Only saw them bad on HIGH MILEAGE vehicles.