Jeep Transfer Cases explained... I think!

Designator NP231 NP242 NV242 NP249 NV249 NV247 Name Command-Trac Selec-Trac (93-95) Selec-Trac (96-01) Quadratrac (93-95) Quadratrac (96-98) QuadratracII (WJ) Lo-Lock (Y/N) 2Hi, 4Hi (PT), 4Lo Y 2Hi, 4Hi (PT), 4Hi (FT), 4Lo Y 2Hi, 4Hi (PT), 4Hi (FT), 4Lo Y 4Hi, 4Lo N 4Hi, 4Lo Y 4Hi, 4Lo N 4 x Options

NP = New Process NV = New Venture PT = Part Time (front & rear drive shafts are locked at the same speed) FT = Full Time (front & rear drive shafts a able to rotate at different speeds) Lo-Lock = Front & rear drive shafts are locked at same speed in Lo range - New Process Gear (NP) changed names in 1993 to New Venture Gear (NV) but its still the same company The Quadra-Trac (QT) transfer case uses a viscous (fluid) coupling (VC) in order to transfer power to the front tires and still allow for slippage when the drive shaft speeds are different. (For instance, when cornering) This is great for the normal everyday driving in any weather. However, there are times when this is bad. It is possible to get a QT in a position where the front tires spin and the rear are stopped... there is no lock, so it will not move. Also, the VC is a sealed unit that is prone to failure in older ZJs. If it develops an leak while inside your TC (you'll never know as it will just leak into your TC fluid) it will begin to fail. Failure of the VC is in the "locked" mode. This is bad as it causes binding in corners. These symptoms normally appear after it is warmed up, such as after traveling 100 miles and turning into a parking lot. As these symptoms get worse, you will begin to notice the "ratcheting" noise after a short drive around town, etc. Prior to 1996, the QT did NOT have a Lo-lock. If you got in a bind and put the TC in Lo, it would still (possibly) spin the front tires and not move the rear or vica-versa... it just depends how much traction there is on either set. These situations are the hardest on the VC! In 1996 and after, the VC would lock in Lo range... therefore they lasted longer since people "abused" them less when getting unstuck in Lo range. The Selec-Trac transfr case is like a common transfercase with the exception that it has a center differential. (IN the transfercase) You have the 2WD mode which is normal, you have the 4Hi (FT) mode (which uses the differential in the "open" mode to allow for differences in speed of drive shafts), you have the 4Hi (PT) mode which slides a keyed "collar" into the middle of the open differential effectively "locking" it (The front and rear drive shafts turn at the same speed as with most 4wd systems), then you have 4Lo where, again, the center differential is locked and the front & rear drive shafts spin at the same speed.