4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
06-17-2004, 07:44 PM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
>From what I've read, it seemed like maybe a late 90s Cherokee sport
>with the Select-Tract drivetrain (which apparently has a selectable
>full-time AWD option or something similar) would be an ideal choice
>for my needs. I would appreciate any thoughts others might have on
>the matter though—esp. any known "good" or "bad" years for Cherokee,
>features to look for/avoid, etc.
Cherokees were viewed as "budget" vehicles in later years, so they tend
not to be as "loaded" as other SUVs. You may not care about lighted
vanity mirrors, but AWD (Select-Trak) and limited slip differentials
(Trak-Lock) seem to be fairly uncommon. After about '97, the interior
got a lot more ergonomic and refined, but other parts of the vehicle
were cheapened, like plastic instead of metal bumpers, and a metal
instead of fiberglass liftgate.
You really do want the 4.0 liter engine. Sport trim and above always had
it, base or SE didn't necessarily. Problems endemic to Jeeps include the
exhaust manifold and fluid leaks (most of them, except the rear main
seal, fairly cheap to fix). The A/C and cooling are passible, but
nothing to right home about. Look out for rust in the channel above the
windows and at the bottom of the doors. Strong points are the
engine/tranny and off-road capability.
--
Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
Bloomington, MN <<to email, remove the "q" from address>>
>with the Select-Tract drivetrain (which apparently has a selectable
>full-time AWD option or something similar) would be an ideal choice
>for my needs. I would appreciate any thoughts others might have on
>the matter though—esp. any known "good" or "bad" years for Cherokee,
>features to look for/avoid, etc.
Cherokees were viewed as "budget" vehicles in later years, so they tend
not to be as "loaded" as other SUVs. You may not care about lighted
vanity mirrors, but AWD (Select-Trak) and limited slip differentials
(Trak-Lock) seem to be fairly uncommon. After about '97, the interior
got a lot more ergonomic and refined, but other parts of the vehicle
were cheapened, like plastic instead of metal bumpers, and a metal
instead of fiberglass liftgate.
You really do want the 4.0 liter engine. Sport trim and above always had
it, base or SE didn't necessarily. Problems endemic to Jeeps include the
exhaust manifold and fluid leaks (most of them, except the rear main
seal, fairly cheap to fix). The A/C and cooling are passible, but
nothing to right home about. Look out for rust in the channel above the
windows and at the bottom of the doors. Strong points are the
engine/tranny and off-road capability.
--
Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
Bloomington, MN <<to email, remove the "q" from address>>
06-17-2004, 07:44 PM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
>From what I've read, it seemed like maybe a late 90s Cherokee sport
>with the Select-Tract drivetrain (which apparently has a selectable
>full-time AWD option or something similar) would be an ideal choice
>for my needs. I would appreciate any thoughts others might have on
>the matter though—esp. any known "good" or "bad" years for Cherokee,
>features to look for/avoid, etc.
Cherokees were viewed as "budget" vehicles in later years, so they tend
not to be as "loaded" as other SUVs. You may not care about lighted
vanity mirrors, but AWD (Select-Trak) and limited slip differentials
(Trak-Lock) seem to be fairly uncommon. After about '97, the interior
got a lot more ergonomic and refined, but other parts of the vehicle
were cheapened, like plastic instead of metal bumpers, and a metal
instead of fiberglass liftgate.
You really do want the 4.0 liter engine. Sport trim and above always had
it, base or SE didn't necessarily. Problems endemic to Jeeps include the
exhaust manifold and fluid leaks (most of them, except the rear main
seal, fairly cheap to fix). The A/C and cooling are passible, but
nothing to right home about. Look out for rust in the channel above the
windows and at the bottom of the doors. Strong points are the
engine/tranny and off-road capability.
--
Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
Bloomington, MN <<to email, remove the "q" from address>>
>with the Select-Tract drivetrain (which apparently has a selectable
>full-time AWD option or something similar) would be an ideal choice
>for my needs. I would appreciate any thoughts others might have on
>the matter though—esp. any known "good" or "bad" years for Cherokee,
>features to look for/avoid, etc.
Cherokees were viewed as "budget" vehicles in later years, so they tend
not to be as "loaded" as other SUVs. You may not care about lighted
vanity mirrors, but AWD (Select-Trak) and limited slip differentials
(Trak-Lock) seem to be fairly uncommon. After about '97, the interior
got a lot more ergonomic and refined, but other parts of the vehicle
were cheapened, like plastic instead of metal bumpers, and a metal
instead of fiberglass liftgate.
You really do want the 4.0 liter engine. Sport trim and above always had
it, base or SE didn't necessarily. Problems endemic to Jeeps include the
exhaust manifold and fluid leaks (most of them, except the rear main
seal, fairly cheap to fix). The A/C and cooling are passible, but
nothing to right home about. Look out for rust in the channel above the
windows and at the bottom of the doors. Strong points are the
engine/tranny and off-road capability.
--
Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
Bloomington, MN <<to email, remove the "q" from address>>
06-17-2004, 07:44 PM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
>From what I've read, it seemed like maybe a late 90s Cherokee sport
>with the Select-Tract drivetrain (which apparently has a selectable
>full-time AWD option or something similar) would be an ideal choice
>for my needs. I would appreciate any thoughts others might have on
>the matter though—esp. any known "good" or "bad" years for Cherokee,
>features to look for/avoid, etc.
Cherokees were viewed as "budget" vehicles in later years, so they tend
not to be as "loaded" as other SUVs. You may not care about lighted
vanity mirrors, but AWD (Select-Trak) and limited slip differentials
(Trak-Lock) seem to be fairly uncommon. After about '97, the interior
got a lot more ergonomic and refined, but other parts of the vehicle
were cheapened, like plastic instead of metal bumpers, and a metal
instead of fiberglass liftgate.
You really do want the 4.0 liter engine. Sport trim and above always had
it, base or SE didn't necessarily. Problems endemic to Jeeps include the
exhaust manifold and fluid leaks (most of them, except the rear main
seal, fairly cheap to fix). The A/C and cooling are passible, but
nothing to right home about. Look out for rust in the channel above the
windows and at the bottom of the doors. Strong points are the
engine/tranny and off-road capability.
--
Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
Bloomington, MN <<to email, remove the "q" from address>>
>with the Select-Tract drivetrain (which apparently has a selectable
>full-time AWD option or something similar) would be an ideal choice
>for my needs. I would appreciate any thoughts others might have on
>the matter though—esp. any known "good" or "bad" years for Cherokee,
>features to look for/avoid, etc.
Cherokees were viewed as "budget" vehicles in later years, so they tend
not to be as "loaded" as other SUVs. You may not care about lighted
vanity mirrors, but AWD (Select-Trak) and limited slip differentials
(Trak-Lock) seem to be fairly uncommon. After about '97, the interior
got a lot more ergonomic and refined, but other parts of the vehicle
were cheapened, like plastic instead of metal bumpers, and a metal
instead of fiberglass liftgate.
You really do want the 4.0 liter engine. Sport trim and above always had
it, base or SE didn't necessarily. Problems endemic to Jeeps include the
exhaust manifold and fluid leaks (most of them, except the rear main
seal, fairly cheap to fix). The A/C and cooling are passible, but
nothing to right home about. Look out for rust in the channel above the
windows and at the bottom of the doors. Strong points are the
engine/tranny and off-road capability.
--
Monte Castleman, <<Spamfilter in Use>>
Bloomington, MN <<to email, remove the "q" from address>>
06-17-2004, 07:52 PM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
"Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:JEmAc.60171$Np3.2720864@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
> problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
> Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
06-17-2004, 07:52 PM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
"Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:JEmAc.60171$Np3.2720864@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
> problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
> Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
06-17-2004, 07:52 PM
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
"Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:JEmAc.60171$Np3.2720864@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
> problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
> Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
06-17-2004, 07:52 PM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
"Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:JEmAc.60171$Np3.2720864@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
> problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
> Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
06-17-2004, 09:37 PM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
Matt Macchiarolo wrote:
> "Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote
>
>>Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
>>problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
>>Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
> My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
> with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
Thanks. I stand corrected. I had assumed the Dana 30 disco was used
until the mid-95 switch from 5-260X ujoints to 5-297X. Seems the NP231
always came with the vacuum disconnect through 1991 and the NV242 never
did in any year. Also just learned that the 2000 and 2001 XJ used a less
desirable low pinion standard cut Dana 30.
So for the original poster who wants the full time NV242, the best
choice from an axle perspective is non-ABS Cherokee from 1997 when 29
spline axles were first used, through 1999, last year for the hi-pinion
Dana 30.
Steve
> "Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote
>
>>Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
>>problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
>>Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
> My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
> with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
Thanks. I stand corrected. I had assumed the Dana 30 disco was used
until the mid-95 switch from 5-260X ujoints to 5-297X. Seems the NP231
always came with the vacuum disconnect through 1991 and the NV242 never
did in any year. Also just learned that the 2000 and 2001 XJ used a less
desirable low pinion standard cut Dana 30.
So for the original poster who wants the full time NV242, the best
choice from an axle perspective is non-ABS Cherokee from 1997 when 29
spline axles were first used, through 1999, last year for the hi-pinion
Dana 30.
Steve
06-17-2004, 09:37 PM
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
Matt Macchiarolo wrote:
> "Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote
>
>>Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
>>problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
>>Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
> My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
> with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
Thanks. I stand corrected. I had assumed the Dana 30 disco was used
until the mid-95 switch from 5-260X ujoints to 5-297X. Seems the NP231
always came with the vacuum disconnect through 1991 and the NV242 never
did in any year. Also just learned that the 2000 and 2001 XJ used a less
desirable low pinion standard cut Dana 30.
So for the original poster who wants the full time NV242, the best
choice from an axle perspective is non-ABS Cherokee from 1997 when 29
spline axles were first used, through 1999, last year for the hi-pinion
Dana 30.
Steve
> "Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote
>
>>Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
>>problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
>>Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
> My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
> with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
Thanks. I stand corrected. I had assumed the Dana 30 disco was used
until the mid-95 switch from 5-260X ujoints to 5-297X. Seems the NP231
always came with the vacuum disconnect through 1991 and the NV242 never
did in any year. Also just learned that the 2000 and 2001 XJ used a less
desirable low pinion standard cut Dana 30.
So for the original poster who wants the full time NV242, the best
choice from an axle perspective is non-ABS Cherokee from 1997 when 29
spline axles were first used, through 1999, last year for the hi-pinion
Dana 30.
Steve
06-17-2004, 09:37 PM
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 4WD (Cherokee?) recommendations please
Matt Macchiarolo wrote:
> "Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote
>
>>Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
>>problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
>>Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
> My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
> with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
Thanks. I stand corrected. I had assumed the Dana 30 disco was used
until the mid-95 switch from 5-260X ujoints to 5-297X. Seems the NP231
always came with the vacuum disconnect through 1991 and the NV242 never
did in any year. Also just learned that the 2000 and 2001 XJ used a less
desirable low pinion standard cut Dana 30.
So for the original poster who wants the full time NV242, the best
choice from an axle perspective is non-ABS Cherokee from 1997 when 29
spline axles were first used, through 1999, last year for the hi-pinion
Dana 30.
Steve
> "Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote
>
>>Until mid 1995, the Cherokee came with a Dana 30 front end that has a
>>problematic vacuum actuated axle disconnect and weak u-joints. Later
>>Cherokee Dana 30s are always turning and have stronger u-joints.
>
> My '93 with part-time T case had the non-disconnect axle. Earlier the ones
> with full-time T cases had the non-disconnect axle, IIRC.
Thanks. I stand corrected. I had assumed the Dana 30 disco was used
until the mid-95 switch from 5-260X ujoints to 5-297X. Seems the NP231
always came with the vacuum disconnect through 1991 and the NV242 never
did in any year. Also just learned that the 2000 and 2001 XJ used a less
desirable low pinion standard cut Dana 30.
So for the original poster who wants the full time NV242, the best
choice from an axle perspective is non-ABS Cherokee from 1997 when 29
spline axles were first used, through 1999, last year for the hi-pinion
Dana 30.
Steve