quadratrac causing wheel hop?

[ckent]

I was test driving a 1999 Gr Cherokee. When I made a tight turn (left or right) the vehicle seemed to be hopping. Is that caused by the full time 4wd and is it normal?

Thanks for your help, I don't want to buy a problem.

[Stuka]

It can cause it on very tigght turns. Any AWD drive car will do this if it has a limited slip center dif. (open center difs dont do it). So I wouldent worry about it to much unless it does it really bad.

[PhilSine]

To begin with, a 99 Grand Cherokee is not a FSJ (Full Size Jeep) it is a dwarf of a concoction dreamed up by some flaky engineer at Chrysler who wanted to sell more Jeeps to soccer mom's and suburban dad's that have no intention of going off road but wanted something that looks cool going through the snow and a few light dirt roads. The Grand Cherokees are more of a status symbol to many of these people than anything.

However, I do like them and in a few years I will buy one to replace the 96 Cherokee Sport that my wife drives. They are a lot more luxurious and comfortable than any FSJ ever built.

But, over the next 40+ years I will go through many newer Jeeps but my 77 Chief will always be on the road barring any major collisions or drops off cliffs.

With that having been said, here is a proposed solution to your problem........

If you have the Limited model with Quadra-Trac then you have full time 4WD. There may be an "emergency drive" option that locks the transfer case so that you have power to both axles all the time. If this is so, then this causes what you are experiencing. The condition described is not normal or healthy for your vehicle and its drive train. Read your owners manual to find out how to get it out of 4WD before you ruin your transfer case and differential. 4WD is not meant to be used on dry pavement.

If you have the Laredo package with selec-trac (Quadra-Trac was an option for the Laredo while standard on the Limited) then the same applies only there may be one more position for the transfer case selector lever.

[Don S]

ckent.. Welcome to IFSJA,It's a great group. having owned a '99 WJ 4.7 Quadra Drive (NOT QuadraTrac II) For three years I joined NAGCA.COM. The WJ is within inches the size of my two Wagoneers. The normal options were Quadra Drive or QuadraTrac II with the V-8s and Selec-trac with the I-6. Quadra Drive differs from QuadraTrac II only in that Quadra Drive has front and rear "Vari-Locks" which are gyrators pumping pressure to clutch packs in the diffs. Both TCs lock in low range. The WJ with 2"BBs and larger tires are Outstanding. Mine in Stock trim has done Black Bear Pass & Poughkeepies Gulch in Colorado.. But so has my '76 Waggie... cul ..ds..

[ckent]

ok men, I appreciate the comments. I'm going to call the Jeep service department to describe the chatter feeling when I'm turning tight. I'll see what they say.

BTW, I also have a wrangler and I know it's not a full size jeep either. I came here with my question because I knew you would be familiar with the symptoms.

[PhilSine]

Well Don S, if you really want to do a tail of the tape we can.

77 Chief 99 Grand (Limited)
Width 78.9” 72.3
Wheelbase 108.7 105.9
Cargo vol 95.1 ft3 39 ft3
Curb Weight 6,025 5,147


That's just a few. Many others are close, but they still don't really compare. I don't hate the newer Jeeps, I just love the older ones. You are one of the few that utilized your Grand Cherokee to its capabilities. The statement I made about the design purpose of the newer Jeeps is true. If it weren't, then Chrysler would have closed shop on the Jeeps in the late 80's due to lack of interest. The fact still remains, a 99 Grand Cherokee is NOT a FSJ. Our new member may find some useful info here about general mechanics that may apply to his vehicle, but not as much as he may find elsewhere at a forum that focuses on his type of Jeep.

[Bob Barry]

I've rented a WJ before, and can certainly say it has nothing like the cargo room or low load-height of our full-size wagons.

Nevertheless, a ZJ does make a good wheeling machine, up to a point. You'd never be able to Riverbeast one of them. I might get a used one, a '94 or '95, in about 7-10 years. If any of them can make it that long, then they might be worth keeping.