YJ 4WD performance question

This YJ is my fourth Jeep. The other three were bought new, and when in 4WD, you couldn't really tell until you turned the steering wheel hard that they were in 4WD. This YJ had only been in 4WD at Paragon (rocky terrain). Yesterday and today, driving around in the snow, it seems rougher than the others. I'd expect the KJ to be smoother, and I realize the YJ has 106K miles on it and is 17-18 years old, but is it typical to be rougher on clear road and want more revs when on snow/ice? The street to our development is long and straight, as soon as I get to 4th gear, it roughens up, really liking 3rd better (15-30mph), on the highway it seems better, but rougher than I remember my other YJs being. Is there a fluid check on a transfer case, etc. or things I could check?

DrJ

ahh...not specific enough, sorry, the engine/transmission/transfer case runs rougher than when not in 4WD. With more revs, it gets a little smoother, but still noticeably rougher in 4WD.
DrJ

My YJ dont run rougher in 4WD. But it does make a slight whining sound, especially in low. I get all the fluids changed every 30,000 mi.

I know what you are talking about DRJ. The roughness is because of the load on the motor. It being a four banger will like the higher RPM's. The roughness is coming from the load, that is why it smooths out at higher RPM. make sense?

And there is less load in 2WD, so it is smoother. Would it be worse because of the cold weather, and the Jeep being cold? Might it get better as the Jeep and fluids gets warmed up? Just trying to make sure I'm not having a transfer case issue that needs attention.

DrJ

...or more a 106,000 mile thing. I think we actually might have the same t-case and 4 cyl. My YJ is actually older than you, right? Close?

DrJ

More moving parts? Front Pinion Angle? Unbalanced Front Drive Shaft?

stock... stock... stock.

Not that a trip to Paragon might have bent something... it took some pretty good hits last month. I guess that's my concern. If it is just rough, I don't really care. I just don't want to let it get worse by not paying attention to a small, fixable problem now.

I just changed the tranny, transfer case and both diffs fluids. I'll drive it around a bit tonight to see if there's a difference.

The YJ front dshaft isn't a cv style, and isn't balanced very well... at least mine isn't.

the cold weather 4wd disengagement problem is almost always because of moisture freezing in the vacuum disconnect unit.

well my yj has a 4cyl, and 108,000 miles. I have an auto, and 33's. I assume when you say rougher you are feeling vibrations. I would say its not weird to notice a difference, but if its severe, then you might have a problem. I can tell if its in 4wd, the vibrations increase a bit but the engine revs about the same.

Great! I don't have 33's, just 30" BFG A/Ts (like my other YJs). Do revs help smooth yours out? Actually, it guess would be a little more torque that comes with the revs at low speed that seems to smooth it out.

It seemed better yesterday, and it WAS warmer. Today should be a good indicator.

DrJ

the front axle is vacuum operated

if you ingage the 4WD and the motor starts running rough
it may be a vacuum leak at the Tcase lines.

Nope, motor runs smooth no matter what. If it is anything it is a t-case issue, that's just how it feels.

DrJ

I have an extra T cse but you need a 21 spilne input
mine are 23 spline.