grand cherokee shudder

[tom41]

My 94 grand cherokee v-8 all 4 wheel drive has got a bad shudder as I am making a SLOW turn as in pulling in a parking space or turning sharply in a driveway. It feels like the limited slip is trying to grab, I had the transfer case and rear end serviced an new chrysler fluids by Jeep Doctor in Jefferson City Tenn an it done great for abbout a week. Now its started doing it again. Any suggestions please ? thanks

[hardisk_c]

A little of that slippage is normal, but if its trying to bind, and tends to 'hop' around corners after driving it a bit, it sounds like you may have a 249 transfer case with a viscous coupler on the verge of/already has failed. Several ways to handle it. Some here have 'merely' done an R&R of the coupler, others have opted to change out the 249 (4Hi-N-4Lo) with the somewhat stronger 242 case (2Hi-4Hi-N-4Lo) that does away with the coupler entirely. Depends how much $$ you want to put into it.

My

[dksob81]

Hardisc is right, sounds like the VC might be going baqd, you could try switching to a synthetic fluid in the Transfer Case, this will help disipate the heat that tends to lock the VC up prematurely.

Hardisc, you described the 231 case (2hi-4hi-N-4lo). The 242 (2hi-4hi part time-4hi full time-N-4lo) has 2 4HI gear 1 locks the axles together for wheelin' and 1 allows you to drive around in 4HI all the time, simliar to the 249 but without the VC.

Tom, if your VC is the problem and the shuddering becomes unbareable I would swap for the 242 transfer case. You can get a use TC from a yard for about $200, there is a lil more work involved but nothing you can't handle. and a new VC is going to cost $400+. If you are just going to replace the VC, I have a pretty good write up on the VC replacement, one of the goods guys of the forum posted it on his site...... http://www.masoncomputing.com/np249/

[tom41]

thanks guys for the help an info on my GC with the shutter!! got me a VC replacement an installing it THIS FRIDAY an thanks for the uninstallin an reinstalling details they are very helpful!! thanks again

[hardisk_c]

That's the walkthrough I used when a buddy of mine and I did mine. . . just have a few thoughts on the replacement based on the experience on a 94 w/ the I6 & the 249 case. . .

1. That first snap ring is closer to being a lock ring, as such unless you have a larger set of snap ring pliers with a large spread, it may behove you to get a set of lock ring pliers as a secondary to your snap ring pliers.
2. The guy is not kidding when he says it bleeds ATF, so bring along about 3 qts of your favorite blend. On mine (and dksob81 can say if there's any difference in tranny's) once the tcase was disconnected, the transmission proceeded to vent about 2 qts of ATF.
3. Make sure everything goes back on the tail shaft like it came off, two parts to note: the oil pump has a little plug where the line comes in off the main part of the case, the other is to make sure that the speed ring (last part) is positioned so that the driveshaft can slide into it (cupped side out).

Once again, everyone gets to hear my . Hope your swap goes smoother than mine

[dksob81]

hardisc is is right, there where be some loss of tranny fluid from the tranny if you decide to pull the Tcase from the tranny to replace the VC, removing Tcase makes replacing the VC a lil easier a lil more work tho, If you are going to replace the VC with the Tcase in the jeep then be sure to drain the TCase first.

Also like he mentioned you may want to get a pair of lock-ring pliers for the first lock-ring (under the access plate) it will make it a lil easier then trying with snap-ring pliers.

[tom41]

I followed you guys instructions an replace the VC all went well, took about 4 to 5 hrs and the problem is cured many thanks for the advice and the clear idismantleing an replacement pics!! they were a life saver!! thanks again