This is from a forum at: www.offroadlands.com

Terry

Posted - 01/06/2008 : 04:32:28 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was one of the Safety Officers for the LOST KJWest Club and I saw them wheel some fairly difficult trails. Their major weak points are the Independent Front Suspension, the cast front diff and finally the transfer case. I've seen all of these items fail on several KJ's, however I think they're great, especially the Diesel version. There have been a few straight axle conversions which does solve the limitations.


Fulltimer
New B



Saint Augustine, FL
USA
67 Posts
0 Land Reviews
Posted - 01/06/2008 : 10:24:28 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I haven't heard of any transfer case problems. The crappy aluminum diff. is another story.

Terry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 Jeep KJ 4X4


AreaBFE
Land Owner



Moab, UT
15 Posts
0 Land Reviews
Posted - 01/06/2008 : 3:13:59 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They've used 2 different diffs... Select Trac and something else and one of those is the weaker. I've personally seen 3 break. We met with Jeep engineers a few years ago, and showed them these issues. I don't know if they've improved the design or not.

I was amazed to know that almost all of the engineers have never been offroad!!! Scary if you're building an offroad vehicle...., so we took them, and they loved it. I think a few of them actually stuck with it.

_________________
2011 Ford F-150 XLT 4X4

^^^ So I have a selec-trac diff...........hmmmmmmmm

No sence in reading further.

_________________
05 BLACK KJ - 42RLE & NP242
Skids, Hooks, Bent Rock Rail, Lifted, A/T's, etc.
NY and PA and Florida ONF Special Custom Organic Trail Rash

I wondered what was up with all the Polls.

Personally I've heard of several Front diff's breaking - but never a transfer case - yes the 242 is weaker - but weaker is still rated at over 1400 ft/lbs of torque (not pure engine - you have to take engine torque and multiply by the gear ratios)
given the engines in the Liberty and the tires you can use on a standard lift - I don't think that's a significant weak spot.

From a pure torque value the front diff is probably okay too it's the bounce up, spin tire, bounce down that breaks them - the spin allows a significant momentum build up.

I do admit that KJWest has a lot of challenging trails close and they're capable of finds trails that could break about anything.

okay - I'll go vote in the Polls

_________________
2005 CRD
stuff
Skeptic quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur

Both of the tcases have been used in the xj, zj, and wj for many, many years.

They are nothing new to jeep.

_________________
LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

Yep the 242 t-case has been around for awhile,the 231 t-case has been in almost every Jeep for like 15-20 years.And don't forget some KJ's got the 231HD t-case(also known as the 241,NP or NV I can't remember which one it is,it is not the RockTrac though).

The polls I did have nothing to do with what is being talked about on the other forum. Other than the subject matter.

In another thread here in the "General Discussions" section I started a thread about the front differential. What came out in there is the reason for the polls. I hope to get some decent stats to add to the thread. There is some good thoughts going on there and I hope to keep them going.

Terry

_________________
2011 Ford F-150 XLT 4X4

I know of two KJ 242's that have broken over the years. Transfer case failures are pretty rare w/ the 231.

_________________
99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

The 242 has been around since at least 88, thats 20 years now.

_________________
http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic