Rubicon I'm looking at buying...thoughts? (previously: hood lettering removal)

[BlackAura]

Checked it out, looks nice.

Just left a message with Jay, hopefully I can take it to his shop to get it checked out asap.

I can't really test 4WD or the locking differentials, and I didn't want to damage anything, so I figure it's best to get it tested out by someone that knows it.

For future reference...I know for sure you can't lock the differentials when on dry pavement (or really on any pavement at all).  Also I believe they'll only lock in 4lo.

But....can you run 4hi or 4lo on the street?  From my knowledge of differentials / how the trasfer cases work, I would think that the differentials would (assuming they're not locked), relieve any stress on the system without any difficulties.

Also I took a few pictures of the tires, but I didn't have anything to stick in the treads as reference (doh!  Pictures are pretty much unusable to gauge how much tread is left).  I can post them, but not sure if it's worthwhile.  What's the minimum tread on Wrangler M/TR's tires that would be usable for the Jeeping 101 course next weekend?

[Slewfoot]

I have an '06 Rubi.  You can't (from the factory) lock the diffs. unless you're in 4-lo.  When in 4-lo, one push down on the diff. lock switch locks the rear diff....subsequent pressing DOWN toggles the front diff. lock on and off while the rear diff. remains locked.  Pull up on the switch and both diffs. unlock.

The LOCK lights will flash once the switch is pressed down, and will continue to flash until the diff. is locked...once a diff is locked, the light comes on solid.  Mine generally do not engage immediately...they generally take a few seconds, but I believe this is normal.  The flashing LOCK lights do NOT indicate a problem, just that they haven't locked yet (unless, of course, they never stop flashing, then there is likely a problem somewhere).

Personally, I don't recommend using 4 wheel drive on pavement at all.

However, the diff. locker does not know if you're on pavement or not, so they'll lock regardless.  But...when on pavement, since the transfer case is not a differential, the front and rear drive shafts will need to spin at different speeds when turning, as well as the left and right wheels.  So, 4 wheel drive (hi or lo) on a surface were the tires can't slip/slide a bit (like pavement) will cause tires to drag/push on the pavement, causing some stress on the driveline.  It would be worse with the diffs locked.

Just my two cents.

[parabs]

a grid with some aggregate on it will be safe to use your 4wd, hi or low.  On a grid, you can at least test it to see if the transfer case is working.

Slewfoot, on any 4-lo system i have ever seen, it was always procedure to go into neutral, shift/press the 4-lo button, and wait a few seconds.  There is almost always a slight clunk, and then you are in 4-lo.  To shift out, you do the opposite of course.  The Chebby and Ford 1/2 tons I had both were electronic switches, and when going into 4-lo, the light blinked just as you described..

[Slewfoot]

Hi Parabs.

The TJs have a manual 2/4hi/N/4lo lever.  The lights and delay I was talking about are for the differential locks.

I have a '92 Jimmy with electronic 4wd switching and it behaves as you described.

I agree with parabs - grid road (with loose gravel) should be OK.

[Spinalguy]

i forget why technically but bnine has shown that once you press the button, the locker is engaged regardless of its 'flashing' state. Maybe he will chime in as i probably messed up his education to me one day

Oh yeah, as long as you are in a straight line, you can engage the lockers in 4wd on pavement to test it.

[Slewfoot]

i forget why technically but bnine has shown that once you press the button, the locker is engaged regardless of its 'flashing' state. Maybe he will chime in as i probably messed up his education to me one day

Oh yeah, as long as you are in a straight line, you can engage the lockers in 4wd on pavement to test it.

I'd like bnine to chime in too so I can get a better understanding of the how the internal workings actually behave.

As spinalguy says, straight line on pavement is OK.   The stresses come in when the wheels have to turn at different speeds, such as when turning.

[BlackAura]

Thanks for the help guys!

I've got an inspection booked with Jay tomorrow morning, so hopefully all goes well.

EDIT:  I had a large blurb here about the financing part of it (the vehicle is currently leased by him, and I just want to pay for it in full), but apparently all the hoops I have to jump through are the same as what my parents did when they purchased their most recent car, so I guess it's all good.