http://www.hahnauto.com/retail_locations_nuway.asp
1997 Jeep XJ Country

Author Topic: 1997 Jeep XJ Country  (Read 91018 times)

Offline MrMindless

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3453
1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #15 on: January 13, 2012, 04:24:03 PM »
I'd second front locker first. And on 31s even locked I don't think you could break a stock shaft if you tried.

My 2¢
Michael Maskalans
#571 Last Minute Motorsports
High Miler: 07.5 Ram 6.7 6sp 4x2, ARB, 19.5s
2003 R'Audi Allroad 6sp
Road Block: 98 Dakota 203/205 triple stick, 42" SXs
Dumpbus: 97 Ram 24v P-pumped, RoadRanger 13sp
'87 AMC Eagle Wagon

Callelle

  • Guest
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #16 on: January 13, 2012, 04:39:45 PM »
I'm also planing on going to 33's but I'm sure the D30 could even handle that. The reason I'm so keen on doing the shafts at the same time is more of a precaution. I understand that shit happens and parts break, but seeing as how I've never even removed a shaft before, I'd like to try and avoid that situation and having to say "Ok, who's going to show me how to do this".

Callelle

  • Guest
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #17 on: January 13, 2012, 09:43:40 PM »
What are the advantages / disadvantages of having the front locked compared to the rear?

Offline MrMindless

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3453
1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #18 on: January 13, 2012, 10:25:48 PM »
I like front traction better. Also when not in 4x4 you'll NEVER know a front locker is there.

Downside: a locked front will tend strongly to push, especially in winter driving. To the point that I believe Bill suggests not running on the street in ice& snow in 4x4 with a front locker.
Michael Maskalans
#571 Last Minute Motorsports
High Miler: 07.5 Ram 6.7 6sp 4x2, ARB, 19.5s
2003 R'Audi Allroad 6sp
Road Block: 98 Dakota 203/205 triple stick, 42" SXs
Dumpbus: 97 Ram 24v P-pumped, RoadRanger 13sp
'87 AMC Eagle Wagon

Offline AWL4928

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 183
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #19 on: January 14, 2012, 12:48:39 AM »
Having just gotten to use My front in snow it is not bad at all.  It's a little bit of a learning curve but you get the feel for it in like a half hour and don't notice a difference.  Just make sure there's enough on the ground to actually need it otherwise it gets funky.   And I wouldn't worry about shafts.  I'm on 33s still fine and you can deffinately get an extra set of stock shafts for yours at s junk yard just incase unfilled you have money for Chromolly if you still want them.

Callelle

  • Guest
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #20 on: January 14, 2012, 07:17:38 AM »
I don't really plan on driving my XJ in winter so I'm not that concerned about it. Having spent most of the night browsing through Jeepforums, I haven't really been able to find much about what either locker does for you off road. The only things I found were that a front locker will pull you up over obstacles, while the rear works really well with a Cherokee because it's a longer wheel base and when climbing stuff the weight transfer keeps the rear wheels planted. Some people swore by doing the rear first and others swore by doing the front first.

Offline Wingman

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1977
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #21 on: January 14, 2012, 08:23:13 AM »
I vote rear.

You need the locker most often when climbing obstacles.  If in the front, it may help the front wheels climb but then the weight transfer goes rear.  The front may help pull some but with the weight on the rear, that is where I want my traction device.

Callelle

  • Guest
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #22 on: January 14, 2012, 10:22:08 AM »
I vote rear.

You need the locker most often when climbing obstacles.  If in the front, it may help the front wheels climb but then the weight transfer goes rear.  The front may help pull some but with the weight on the rear, that is where I want my traction device.

That's pretty much what I read that made me want to do the rear in the first place.

Offline rejeep

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 629
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #23 on: January 15, 2012, 02:03:53 PM »
front first..
see how amazing it is and them pony up and put a selectable in the rear.

Offline Callelle

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 416
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #24 on: January 15, 2012, 02:23:34 PM »
There is no selectable for the 8.25 other than an ARB. I've mulled over the idea of swapping an 8.8, but I just dont have the money to do that at the moment.
1997 XJ Country 4.0/AW4 - DD/Weekend Wheeler
  4.5-5" lift, TnT Long arms, IRO/RE springs, Aussies, a bunch of armor
2006 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 - Tow Rig
  Firestone Airbags

Offline Wingman

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1977
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #25 on: January 16, 2012, 08:58:23 AM »
time to flip a coin... ;D

Offline smichaelR22

  • Club Member
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 4343
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #26 on: January 16, 2012, 09:42:54 AM »
front first

if you cant get half your jeep over the rock or log, you cant successively "bump" the rear over with increasing amounts of rolling throttle. 
572 single seat race buggy
573 Brolite '97 Ranger, '96 backup ranger
1997 ZJ 35's
2014 Ram 4500 Cummins 6 speed 4x4
48' enclosed trailer

Offline Callelle

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 416
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #27 on: January 16, 2012, 12:58:45 PM »
time to flip a coin... ;D

It honestly might just come down to that. There will be no downside no matter which I choose to do really.

D30
+ Pulls up on to obstacles
+ Invisible on Road

8.25
+Rear tends to lift a tire first
+Weight transfer on climbs
+Cheaper to upgrade axle shafts at same time (and gives me spares)

I'm still leaning twords doing the rear first and then running a selectable up front in the future. If there ever came a time where I would need to drive it in the winter, I'd rather not have the front fully locked when I used 4 wheel drive. A lot of it still comes down to upgrading the shafts too. I know that with 31s and eventually 33s that I dont really need upgraded shafts, but I've always had the "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it" mentality. Another thing is sort of "project management". Since I'm pretty much deciding on running a selectable front where its a more involved instal than an Aussie, that would be the perfect time to re-gear and upgrade the rest of the front axle.
1997 XJ Country 4.0/AW4 - DD/Weekend Wheeler
  4.5-5" lift, TnT Long arms, IRO/RE springs, Aussies, a bunch of armor
2006 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 - Tow Rig
  Firestone Airbags

Offline rejeep

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 629
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #28 on: January 16, 2012, 08:35:29 PM »
There is no selectable for the 8.25 other than an ARB.

well thats a selectable for the rear!!!

Offline Callelle

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 416
Re: 1997 Jeep XJ Country
« Reply #29 on: January 17, 2012, 06:34:08 AM »
There is no selectable for the 8.25 other than an ARB.

well thats a selectable for the rear!!!

When I have the money for it some day >.<
1997 XJ Country 4.0/AW4 - DD/Weekend Wheeler
  4.5-5" lift, TnT Long arms, IRO/RE springs, Aussies, a bunch of armor
2006 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 - Tow Rig
  Firestone Airbags

 

test block /modules/smf/index.php?topic=2619.msg23344