tuxster

Hi,
I have a 2012 Rubicon lined up for purchase today but have reconsidered remembering past days. I placed the purchase on hold until I can get some answers.
I have a Jeep liberty 4x4 and last summer we went to the collingwood fair. The parking was out back in a muddy field. At the time I had just installed toyo open country II tires.
When I tried to get out of the park, I was slipping and sliding all over, but the more gas I put into it the slower I was going. The mud was deep and I did not want to loose momentum so I threw it into 4wd. Still the more I gunned it the slower I felt I was going but did eventually get out of there without getting stuck.

Was this the ESP slowing me down otherwise known as Braking limited slip.

Today I was reading that the rubicon has open diff's and can only lock the diff in 4wd lo. In this park situation I don't think I would have felt the need to stop, put into 4-lo, lock diffs and then go.
So then would the rubicon have don't the same thing as my liberty trying to get out of the park?

trigger

why not? 4LO is meant for those very circumstances where traction is severely limited... you said the mud was deep and the more you gassed it, the slower you went...sounds like you were spinning the tires too fast to gain any real traction...

just how deep was the mud??

tuxster

Field was rutted due to drivers trying to get through, I would have to say ruts were 6-8 in deep and squishy as it was not fully raining, but a drizzly all day.

I remember my last chevy truck had limited slip and 4wd, just had to put into 4wd and punch it. Never once did I slow down or even remotely look like I was going to get stuck.

I just don't like that braking s--t. Am I the only one who does not like that? Is the brake limited slip really that much better? I guess I am old school.

trigger

have you considered maybe going with an ARB air locker? a little pricey, but makes it on demand

tuxster

Can you put an arb into a rubicon, replace the stock electronic locking diffs?
What would that do to the ECM ? Stock lock switches?

If I was to go that route, would it make more sense to go with a lower model?
I'm posing these questions as there are a lot of people who have been down this road and have the experience I'm looking for.

We want a summer vehicle so we can join a 4x4 club, do some mudding, some northern trails etc and drive to work in summer months. I would like to see 35 in dura-tracs on it.

CrazyWJ242

yes, you can put a ARB into a stock rubi... But if your going to put in some serious lockers i would suggest not getting the rubicon unless the 4:1 transfercase is important to you... (if your not tackling massive rocks and such you wont need it and the 2.71:1 ratio should be fine) the other option that you would not get with a sahara or sport is the electronic swaybar disconnect (can be purchased from quadratec for $1500) for maximum articulation when in 4 low...

i believe there is a bypass relay that can engage the e-lockers while in high mode, but does require adding to the system... and if you forget it on can do some serious damage to the drivetrain...

Airdale

I don't know what the Liberty has for 4wd but get the Rubicon. Get some good knobby tires, put it 4 wheel and go climb a tree!
For what you want it for, the Rubicon and the right tires will take you just about anywhere!
If you are doing serious rock climbing or a few feet of mud, you might need more.
But a little offroad and then highway driving,
The right tires and driving know how and I think the Rube will be fine
Little comparison between a Liberty and a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon!
JMO.

JTPhoto JK

What you experienced is the throttle being controlled by the ECU. It senses wheel spin and backs off throttle to regain traction. Turn off ESP and it works better for that situation. Most of us would not have thought twice about this, just drop it in 4Hi and giver. 2wd just wears out back tires..

There is absolutely no comparison here between a Liberty and any Wrangler. If you don't need the lockers why buy a Rubi? Just get a Sport or Sahara with factory rear Trax-Loc LSD.

tuxster

I was in 4 Hi.
And I would purchase a rubicon over a sahara due to resale. Rubicons always hold their value above the Sahara or sport.

I thought wranglers also have this ESP s__t ?

Is traction control the same as ESP?

AutoJunkieMan

ESC is not the same as Traction Control. Traction Control will only pulse your tires to stop them from spinning, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) will actually try and help you from spinning out completely by breaking on side of the vehicle to stop it from rotating. But it will not try and correct it and bring it back, I found this out when i was doing a low speed 180 degree turn in a snow covered parking lot (no throttle just coasting) in 2WD and it locked up my front left tire and if the parking lot wasn't empty I would have hit something because it forced me to go straight even though the wheels were cranked over all the way.

For a 2012 and 2013 (i think) models you can turn on ESC if you put it into 4WD and with the ESC light off, click and hold the ESC button (the light will come on when you press it) hold it for 7 seconds without moving the vehicle it'll DING and ESC will turn off completely. As soon as you turn it into 2WD it'll turn back on (sorry no doughnuts)

Now if I remember for the older models there was something about having the wheel straight hold ESC for 10 seconds, wheels to the left hold for 10 seconds wheels to the right hold for 10 seconds and wheels straight hold for 10 seconds. Some nonsense like that, not entirely sure.

But as far as I know, 4L will turn off all ESC functions entirely also