4 wheel jumps out

[wadeo5247]

Please help, new to jeeps and I have a 77 CJ7 that when put in 4L when trying to climb a small hill, the 4 wheel jumps out...Please any help would be greatly appreciated (it has a v-8 and auto not sure of anything else, if it helps the 4 wheel shifter is on the driver's side and is real short) If you hold it it pushes against you and tries to jump out ( it also has a 3" body lift I think)

 

[coldair]

Sounds like a rebuild to me :-( Know you probably don't want to hear that but no other way of getting around it.

 

[IOPort51]

silly question, were the front hubs locked??

 

[BusaDave9]

the 4 wheel shifter is on the driver's side and is real short)

What Transfer Case do you have? All CJ's came with the shifter on the passenger side. The TCase and front differential are on the right side.


Based on the year you should have a Dana 20 TCase but it sounds like a PO may have swapped it out.

 

[wadeo5247]

yes the hubs were locked in, Im not sure of which tc it has the lever is low on the center hump on the drivers side it looks factory I've seen it in pics on other members rigs

 

[coldair]

yes the hubs were locked in, Im not sure of which tc it has the lever is low on the center hump on the drivers side it looks factory I've seen it in pics on other members rigs

Can you get under your jeep and take a picture of it? we Can tell you what it is by a picture.

 

[Torxhead]

It is possible that it wasn't all the way in gear, or the body can flex and kick the shifter lever whatever Transfer Case it is.

 

[wadeo5247]

I like the sound of that better, but however I'm sure that a rebuild is in the near future if you stand on the brake and give it gas like you were trying to do a brake stand something pops I believe its the TC 100_2549.jpg

 

[wadeo5247]

Is there any way that the popping noise is coming from somewhere else other than the TC?

 

[BusaDave9]

That's a QuadraTrac Transfer Case . It was the first chain driven Transfer Case . It never had any method of compensating for a stretched chain. I bet your chain is slipping and jumping teeth.
The QuadraTrac is a full time Transfer Case . It has a differential to compensate when the front and rear go different speeds such as sharp turns.
You may want to install a part time conversion kit at the same time. Mile Marker makes them.
If you don't convert to part time 4WD you may also have to rebuild the differential. Since the chain has been slipping the differential has been trying to drive only one axle. That's why you are saying it's jumping out of 4WD. The differential clutch plates are worn now because of the bad chain. I am also sure the chain sprockets are worn too.
The part time conversion will replace all those parts.
You could just replace the QuadraTrac but if it's used it may have the same problems. Since there was no compensation for chain stretch t is extra important to keep it well lubed.
It's not easy to swap another TCase becouse you have an offset rear output. Your rear diff is on the passenger side. Most TCases that you could swap in there would have a centered rear output.
I say get a part time kit and locking hubs.

 

[wadeo5247]

Thanks for all the info. I will look into that part time 4 wheel, it does already have hubs, My dad thought it might have been a quad track but the locking hubs threw him off. thanks again

 

[wadeo5247]

Is the quad a track not as good as most jeeps or just not as common, are they harder to get parts for or more expensive to work on? Sorry for all the questions just would like to get all my ducks in a row. wondering if I would be better off selling both my jeeps and buying another.

 

[BusaDave9]

it does already have hubs, My dad thought it might have been a quad track but the locking hubs threw him off. thanks again

Are you sure you dont already have a part time kit?

You should never have locking hubs with a QuadraTrac . If you unlock the hubs the clutch in the differential will have to propel the jeep. That will wreck the clutch pack. How does it drive with the hubs unlocked?

It's still very possible a PO installed locking hubs without a part time kit. That's a common screw up. People see there are no locking hubs up front and they think they will save money on gas if they install hubs.

If you already have a part time kit it is very possible the chain needs to be replaced. There are some cheep Chinese chains that won't last in a QuadraTrac . Make sure you get a good quality chain made in the US.

 

[BusaDave9]

Is the quad a track not as good as most jeeps or just not as common, are they harder to get parts for or more expensive to work on?

The QuadraTrac was the first tcase with an alluminum case. It was also the first chain driven Transfer Case . It was a very revolutionary design for it's day. It had problems such as chain stretch but if you keep it well lubed it is a good Transfer Case .
The QuadraTrac was used in jeeps from 1973 to 1979. In CJs they were only installed with the GM Turbo 400 automatic Transmission .

The QuadraTrac is very easy to work on. All you really need are a good pair of snap ring pliers and a socket set. The low range unit unbolts from the rear of the QuadraTrac and then the tcase splits in 2 when you remove the bolts.

 

[wadeo5247]

How can I tell if it already has a part time 4 wheel kit on it? When driving it without the hubs locked in it drives just like a regular jeep.

 

[BusaDave9]

When driving it without the hubs locked in it drives just like a regular jeep.

That alone makes it sound like a PO already installed a part time kit.
If the QuadraTrac was still in OEM set up the clutch pack would already be wrecked. Unlocking the hubs would cause too much slippage in the TCase differential.

It sounds like you just have excessive slack in the chain. There is a plug in the bottom of the Transfer Case you can use to check for chain slack. Insert a screw driver. You should have only 0.5 to 0.75 inches of slack.

 

[wadeo5247]

Busa thank you so much you have helped me out so much I will get under it and see what I can come up with. and will post what I find out. Thank you again