converting 95 ZJ from AWD to 2 wd ?

Dschenberg · 02-12-2009, 08:37 PM

Hi everyone i was just wondering if anyone has ever coverted their AWD to a 2wd ??

we have been having problems with the front rear end the ring and pinion keeps going out just replaced it a year ago and its bad again so my mechanic said we could always strip the front housing and convert it over to a 2wd..

will there be any problems doing this ? i only drive the jeep around town and i dont go offroad with it so its not like its an absolute need to have the AWD.

but i wanted to make sure i wouldnt run into any problems doing this..

btw it is 1995 jeep grand cherokee laredo 5.2 liter AWD

anyway any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA

xJoshxx · 02-12-2009, 08:39 PM

just disconnect the front driveshaft? and pull it out?

and your viscous Coupler is probly the cause of your awd drive problems most time it is.

do u feel wheel hopping in a parking lot do figure 8's ull hear tire squeals if it's startin to go i believe and dont floor it when doing it thats sure fire way to snap stuff

Dschenberg · 02-12-2009, 08:46 PM

i was just wondering because some people have told me if i take the front driveshaft out the truck wont move at all, but the mechanic says it will be just fine doing it..

i know its not the coupler because we bought a used ring and pinion last year and could not use the pinion because he sold us the wrong size so we reused the pinion that was in the truck. and as far as i have heard the ring and pinion HAVE to be a matched set.. but i dont have the money right now to go and spend that type of money to replace it again. so i thought we could strip the guts out so we can drive it until we save enough money to buy a new ring and pinion to put back in.

xJoshxx · 02-12-2009, 08:49 PM

just unbolt it the transfer case output will still spin it;'s not gunna do anything to ur jeep. many have done it before

BEFORE
somepeople on here are like OMG remove ur front drive shaft gain 32432mpg
you will see no gain in MPG. or even a countable one.

just remove the front drive shaft throw it in the back drive off and do some burn outs! in the 5.2

Dschenberg · 02-12-2009, 08:53 PM

LOL thanks so much for the fast reply...

my husband told me to be very gentle with the gas pedal once he does this he said better yet just release the brake and let it start rolling lol

he says i am liable to burn the tires right off the jeep LOL

xJoshxx · 02-12-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dschenberg

LOL thanks so much for the fast reply...

my husband told me to be very gentle with the gas pedal once he does this he said better yet just release the brake and let it start rolling lol

he says i am liable to burn the tires right off the jeep LOL

na gotta brake check it hold the brakes give it gas till u hear the tires break loose then slowly let off the brake so the back can get free but holding the front.

now when it's wet out watch gas in curves and other things when wet u can fish tail easy in a 5.2

rustynail · 02-12-2009, 09:09 PM

If your mechanic changed your ring and pinions a year ago and now they are blown and his advice is to go 2wd then your mechanic knows he screwed up and doesn't want to do it again because he doesn't know what he is doing. If taken care of they should last the life of the vehicle. Just a possibility. I don't mean to be harsh.

rustynail · 02-12-2009, 09:19 PM

I've read a lot on the debate about removing the front driveshaft and saw mixed feeling so I did the research because my front driveshaft blew. I learned that 93-95 it is not OK and 96-98 it is OK. This is because as of 96 all of the power goes to the rear until there is tire slippage. 93-95 the power is dispersed evenly and the viscous coupler works the front and rear instead of just the front like in 96 and newer. I have read posts about peoples grand cherokees rolling away after they parked them because once the viscous coupler cools down it lets loose and the truck rolls away. 96-98 the rear is always locked so no worries. If you do not care about your viscous coupler then go for it but be sure to use your e-brake whenever you park. cheers

**ratmonkey** · 02-13-2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZJ-Orvis

I've read a lot on the debate about removing the front driveshaft and saw mixed feeling so I did the research because my front driveshaft blew. I learned that 93-95 it is not OK and 96-98 it is OK. This is because as of 96 all of the power goes to the rear until there is tire slippage. 93-95 the power is dispersed evenly and the viscous coupler works the front and rear instead of just the front like in 96 and newer. I have read posts about peoples grand cherokees rolling away after they parked them because once the viscous coupler cools down it lets loose and the truck rolls away. 96-98 the rear is always locked so no worries. If you do not care about your viscous coupler then go for it but be sure to use your e-brake whenever you park. cheers

this is truth.

also, 1 year on a "new" ring and pinion is terrible. i'd tell the mechanic to redo it for parts cost.

Dschenberg · 02-13-2009, 06:21 AM

Hmmmm ok now i dont know what to do..

The ring and pinion werent "new" it was used from a junk yard, we tried to save money cuz the cheapest we could find new around here told us 500.00.. the mechanic is my husbands dad he told us if we didnt want to buy a new one to go to the junk yard and get a used one and he did tell us it might or might not work and for how long he wasent sure. but we were hoping it would last longer than it has, it hasent went out yet but unsure how long until it does and i am not supposed to drive it out of town in fear it will go out then.

can someone maybe who has researched this before provide me with a link if you have one so i can read more about this ?? i have been searching for the last couple days and havent found much.

wonderbrd937 · 02-13-2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZJ-Orvis

I've read a lot on the debate about removing the front driveshaft and saw mixed feeling so I did the research because my front driveshaft blew. I learned that 93-95 it is not OK and 96-98 it is OK. This is because as of 96 all of the power goes to the rear until there is tire slippage. 93-95 the power is dispersed evenly and the viscous coupler works the front and rear instead of just the front like in 96 and newer. I have read posts about peoples grand cherokees rolling away after they parked them because once the viscous coupler cools down it lets loose and the truck rolls away. 96-98 the rear is always locked so no worries. If you do not care about your viscous coupler then go for it but be sure to use your e-brake whenever you park. cheers

if that information is correct, then it wont be possible to accomplish.

good luck tho.

Dschenberg · 02-13-2009, 06:37 AM

ok i talked to my father in law and read to him what ZJ-Orvis said and he said if the 95 puts power to the front and rear then we probally would have that problem but he said we could either A. use the E-brake or B. he believes we should be able to put it into 4lo just when we park it and it should still lock up and we wont have the problem of it rolling away.. what do you all think ?

he said it would just be like this through out the summer while we save up enough money for a rear end and they can put it back in but we would still have a vehicle to drive he did say that we would most likely be replacing the coupler too as this might wear it out..

**ratmonkey** · 02-13-2009, 06:58 AM

the pre 96 249 tcase did not have a lo lock either. so you're out of luck on that part.

the viscous coupler is about 400$ for just that. throw in chain, seals, and bearings and you're over 600 in parts. a good np242 selec-track tcase can be easily had for under 250$ from a junkyard.

new gears and a master install kit should run you under 300$ for the dana 30 as it's a common front axle(rear end is generally found in the rear of a vehicle, fyi).

Turbonut · 02-13-2009, 06:59 AM

Depending on where you live in PA, you should be able to locate a complete front housing assembly for around $300/$400 if you can have someone do the install, which isn't terribly difficult.

Dschenberg · 02-13-2009, 07:28 AM

ok so i have been texting my husband at work with what you all have been saying and he says he wonders if ours is a split year cuz when the truck is in park the back wheels are locked but the front isnt, any thoughts ??