Question for jeep experts

[goin camping]

What year/model jeep was the last one where the front axle was engaged mechanically by a lever on floor. No vacuum lines, servos, motors or other tomfoolery. Just a solid mechanical engagement.

 

[MStudt]

All of the YJ's (87-95) had floor shifting, but also have vacuum lines (CAD). The TJ's (97-06) had floor shifting, and some are CAD and some non-CAD. The XJ's (84-96) had floor shifting, the models that came with an NP242 were non-CAD, and the other where CAD. The XJ's (97-01) had floor shifting, and were non-CAD. So to answer your question, the 06 TJ was the last year, but much easier to find in the XJ's.

 

[goin camping]

All of the YJ's (87-95) had floor shifting, but also have vacuum lines (CAD). The TJ's (97-06) had floor shifting, and some are CAD and some non-CAD. The XJ's (84-96) had floor shifting, the models that came with an NP242 were non-CAD, and the other where CAD. The XJ's (97-01) had floor shifting, and were non-CAD. So to answer your question, the 06 TJ was the last year, but much easier to find in the XJ's.

So a tj that is non CAD has one lever for the front axle engagement and a 2nd lever for hi/lo range. Do these also have manual hubs?

 

[MStudt]

Must of the TJ's that were non CAD where all dana 30 models. Unless someone added manual hubs, they will not come with them. I really can't tell you any of the 80"s and jeeps that have manual hubs. Plus must manual hubs are going to be on the Dana 44 models, which you can find in the Rubicon's. But still, don't think they came with manual hubs. And yes, TJ's were full manual on the floor. You'll find all the same stuff in the XJ's and usually a lot less expensive. The TJ's have a handle on the floor, starts in 2hi, then up the 4hi, next is neutral, and then 4lo.

 

[goin camping]

Thanks for fielding my questions. I appreciate it.

I'm focusing on the "Wrangler Style" body.

To clarify the non CAD tj has one lever that you use to choose range and front axle engagement. How does it do that?

Are yj anf tj the only models from 1942 to 06 that use some sort of vacuum or other assist to engage the front axle?

 

[Gaucho919]

Just to clarify, TJ's(97-06) never had vacuum actuated front axles. The front axle is always engaged. The lever engages the transfer case which in turn makes the front wheels turn. The jeeps that did have vacuum actuated front axles, when you engage the transfer case to 4wd, there is a vacuum switch on the t-case that then sends vacuum to the correct port on the front axle vacuum actuator, and engages the pass side front axle-shaft.

 

[Glenn D]

The early jeeps with 2 shifters for the transfer case are what I think you are talking about.. They are based on a Dana 18 transfer case. I have a CJ-3B that has it, Had a 1942MB that was the same and I think CJ-5's may have, but the CJ-7 went to the Dana 300 transfer that was a single shifer. If I remember correctly... I also have a 1949 Willies truck that is a Dana 18 transfer... they could be changed to allow both Hi and Low range in 2wd, but needed to do some work inside teh case to make it work. Both the truck and CJ-3B can only be in low range when in 4wd.

The YJ and early TJ used the New Process transfer cases that are a single lever shifter, and the YJ having the disconector on the right axle, the TJ did not. The front of the TJ spins all the time, and the YJ only the drivers side spun. My 1994 YJ has locking hubs front and rear, solid axles along with a "True Netural", so when the transfer case is in netrual, the fromt and rear dirve shafts are not interconnected as they are stock for both the YJ and TJ.... As for the JK, no idea, I do not have one yet... having 5 jeeps is fun, expensive, and worth it, my family of 4 all drive Jeeps... Wife has a KJ that I'm not allowed to touch...

 

[MStudt]

My mistake on the TJ. There is no benefit to getting an axle from a JK rather then a XJ. Unless that is, if you want to pay a lot more money for it. You can get an XJ HPD30 for around $100 where I am, and one from a JK for about $600. If you going to spend over $600 on a front axle, my suggestion would be to get a D44 from a Rubicon. At least those come with a locker. If he is talking about a D300 transfer case, then would also mean a passenger side drop axle. This axle would not work in most wrangler unless there is already a transfer case for the passenger side, and new exhaust work to route the pipe.

 

[onetraveller]

The JK is the same as the TJ. The hubs are permanently locked in and the axles and front driveshaft spin all the time. Engaging four wheel drive simply engages the transfer case with the front driveshaft. This is why you can't put non-actuated lockers (e.g. detroit) in the front of a daily driven JK.

Mike

 

[1stDeuce]

To quickly answer the OP's question, the CURRENT model year JK Wrangler is the (current) "last" year. If you rule out anything with a CAD, and want "Wrangler" style, which basically means uh, Wrangler, then the purely mechanical list includes all JK and all TJ. (ie. All '97 and newer wranglers are purely mechanical)

All YJ's were CAD, though the T-case is still mechanically shifted. If you look at all Jeeps, ZJ's, 1st gen KJ's and '97-01 XJ's are all strictly mechanical, as are earlier XJ's with the 242 T-case, none of which have the vacuum driven CAD. ALL CJ's back to the biginning of time (that don't have the glovebox dial-shifted "Quadra-Trac" system, which is very rare) are fully manual, and CJ was the last to use front lockout hubs.

MStudt, you're getting there, but not quite a Jeep geezer yet...

C

 

[MStudt]

MStudt, you're getting there, but not quite a Jeep geezer yet...

C

I know more about the rock crawling side of the wranglers. I've been on that side of the table for a to many years, and now looking to get away from it. I do have to admit the axles are my weak point, but I do knew a lot about them. Unfortunately, stock axles are a little lower on the list. But, you also stated a few of the same things I pointed out in the beginning. I would never have said the CJ axles since they tend to be a little shorter then anything out now. If you're going to get a D30, at least get a HPD30.

 

[/dev/ram]

If you happen to prefer the YJ style, you can also swap an axle from a TJ into the YJ using a seal on the pumpkin side of the housing and removing the mechanical bits of the CAD and replacing with a cover. There are issues with u-joint sizes, so you need to have all that detail worked out in terms of whether you want the same u-joints all-around. If so, upgrading the rest of the components runs into some pocket change, and you're still left with a Dana 30 (the same issues apply to other axle sizes too, but remember that the D44 on a Jeep isn't a true D44...).

 

[@just_rich_young]

The JK is the same as the TJ. The hubs are permanently locked in and the axles and front driveshaft spin all the time. Engaging four wheel drive simply engages the transfer case with the front driveshaft. This is why you can't put non-actuated lockers (e.g. detroit) in the front of a daily driven JK.

Mike

You mean like a Detroit TrueTrac? What will happen if you run one of these in the front of a JK?

 

[Gaucho919]

You mean like a Detroit TrueTrac? What will happen if you run one of these in the front of a JK?

It won't like to turn

 

[@just_rich_young]

It won't like to turn

So I should take it out? Seems a shame since it's been working perfectly.

Just being snarky. I've been running a Trutrac for awhile now in a sleeved and gusseted dirty 30. It's my DD and it gets wheeled hard. The only time I know it's there is when I need it. Otherwise, it's invisible.