Automotive Chatting » Ford Cars » Jeep Grand Cherokee Choices
Jeep Grand Cherokee Choices
Question:
I agree, the Quadratrac is a great choice, but I have a ‘93 with SelecTrac and it works just as well. We can leave it in Full Time 4WD in any condition, just like the Quadratrac and it kicks in when needed. One nuance though, there is a slight more road noice when we have it in Full Time 4WD and I am wondering if gas milage is affected, (jeep says it is not)
Response:
I just received the brochure on the ‘96 Cherokee. Two questions to the Jeep fans out there. 1. The description of Selec-Trac makes it seem the perfect choice: full-time four wheel drive that does not scrub tires or hurt mileage due to an open center differential. And yet Jeep talks like Quadra- Trac is the ultimate choice (it shifts power between and among axles according to traction). a) How does Quadra-Trac for ‘96 differ from the Explorer’s system that was maligned in Popular Science? b) How much delay is there between the computer deciding the power needs redirecting and the mechanical action to redirect it being completed (this issue was the crux of the Explorer complaint in that variable conditions led to constant shifting of power between axles with delays considered significant)? c) Why does selecting a V-8 make Quadra-Trac mandatory, especially when the V-8 is positioned as better for towers, and I would have thought towers would prefer the non-variability of Selec-Trac? 2. Is Quadra-Trac better than Selec-Trac only in that drivers suddenly coming upon a situation with loss of traction that they did not anticipate will have their decision to go to 4WD made for them, or are there hidden downsides to Selec-Trac that Jeep is not talking about (or hidden benefits to Quadra-Trac that I have not seen)? I’m annoyed because I was thinking of getting a ‘96 GC Limited with the V-8 for acceleration (not towing) and the up-country package for greater lift (not available on Limited) and maybe the Selec-Trac due to leeriness of a computer making my decisions for me, but now I see I cannot do this. Thank you in advance for your time.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Path: news.cac.psu.edu!news.math.psu.edu!hudson.lm.com!netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov! usenet.eel.ufl.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!newsfeed.internetmci .com!news.sprintlink.net!news.wwwi.com!nntpgate.primenet.com!nntpdist.prime net.com!usenet Newsgroups: rec.autos.4×4 Organization: Primenet Lines: 39 NNTP-Posting-Host: ip036.lax.primenet.com X-Newsreader: AIR News 3.X (SPRY, Inc.) I just received the brochure on the ‘96 Cherokee. Two questions to the Jeep fans out there. 1. The description of Selec-Trac makes it seem the perfect choice: full-time four wheel drive that does not scrub tires or hurt mileage due to an open center differential. And yet Jeep talks like Quadra- Trac is the ultimate choice (it shifts power between and among axles according to traction). a) How does Quadra-Trac for ‘96 differ from the Explorer’s system that was maligned in Popular Science? b) How much delay is there between the computer deciding the power needs redirecting and the mechanical action to redirect it being completed (this issue was the crux of the Explorer complaint in that variable conditions led to constant shifting of power between axles with delays considered significant)? c) Why does selecting a V-8 make Quadra-Trac mandatory, especially when the V-8 is positioned as better for towers, and I would have thought towers would prefer the non-variability of Selec-Trac? 2. Is Quadra-Trac better than Selec-Trac only in that drivers suddenly coming upon a situation with loss of traction that they did not anticipate will have their decision to go to 4WD made for them, or are there hidden downsides to Selec-Trac that Jeep is not talking about (or hidden benefits to Quadra-Trac that I have not seen)? I’m annoyed because I was thinking of getting a ‘96 GC Limited with the V-8 for acceleration (not towing) and the up-country package for greater lift (not available on Limited) and maybe the Selec-Trac due to leeriness of a computer making my decisions for me, but now I see I cannot do this. Thank you in advance for your time.
In my opinion the Selec Trac is the best choice. Although nothing is really wrong with the Quadra Trac it can hurt gas mileage. The Jeep GC limited is for the people in this world who want an all weather grocery getter. For them this system is fool proof. I don’t know if it is computer run or if it works on the amount of slippage. I am not sure if the low range ration is as good as the Selec or Command Tracs. I would want the V8 with the Selec Trac. the onlydown side to the Selec is that the cones/clutches for the Full Time can wear down if used constantly on a dry road. Once in a while definitely willnot hurt it. To be truthful if acceleration is what you want the 4.0 liter is the motor you want. Even Jeep says the motor is more for towing than acceleration. the difference in 0 – 60 mph is something like .2 seconds. But I don’t know for which motor. The 4.0 liter is more peaky with the power and it is higher up in the rpm range for speed. So even though it has less power it is just as quick. It is also cheaper to option. If you want to gain a little more, just put a K&N filter in to even things out. Joe Attardo
Response:
I have test driven several GC,s. One negative thing I noticed was the significant noise from the front wheel drive system
<snip You’re correct. I have a Grand Cherokee with Command Trac and every time I put the transfer case in part-time 4 wheel drive I hear a fairly loud humming noise coming from the front wheels. In 2 wheel drive the GC is pretty civilized. Paul
Response:
I have owned two jeeps with quadra-trac, one with locking hubs, and several other 4wd vehicles with the locking hubs and I felt the quadra-trac was definitely the best traction and safety. I could never get it to perform unpredictably – when I gunned it on ice/snow, it accellerated in a straight line and never seemed to spin a wheel. With the other systems, you could feel the different tires spinning and they would not necessarily accelerate in a straight line or round a curve safely. Sometimes the back wheels were pushing, sometimes the fronts were pulling, and on a curve with ice, that is not what you want. Also, people have a tendancy to NOT be in $wd when the situation arises that it could save their life, such as black ice on a shady curve on a sunny winter day with dry roads. If you want the best – get the Quadratrac.
Response:
I have test driven several GC,s. One negative thing I noticed was the significant noise from the front wheel drive system when in 4WD – This went away with cars that could be manually changed into 2WD. I am not sure if I drove a car with Quadra-Trac, does this quieten down when it does not sense a need for 4WD? I found the road noise bad enough that I think I have made up my mind to get a Tahoe, even if it is a bit too truck-like for most of my needs. Graham Moss – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Quadra-Trac uses a viscous coupling in the transfer case. When there is no slippage it is like an open differential, when there is slippage it tightens up and equalizes torque to front and rear drive shafts. There is no electronics to the system. This a unique system patented by Jeep. The Select-Trac has been prone to more breakdowns in the past. The Quadra-Trac is more rugged and can handle the higher torgue of the V8. It’ll be more reliable. Even in a Laredo model if you opt dor the V8 you get Quadra-Trac. I suggest you test drive both to decide between the 4.0LI6 and the 5.2LV8. The Quadra-Trac system is always in 4WD. The Ford system discussed in Popular Science is normally in 2WD, but when slippage is detected it turns
Response:
I don’t hear any noise at all in our Grand Cherokee Limited with Quadra-Trac. None in our friends Limited either. Don’t know what to make of the significant noise you heard. We had the Selectrac in our 1987 Wagoneer Limited ( small one) and no noise there either. Dick Hughes – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have test driven several GC,s. One negative thing I noticed was the significant noise from the front wheel drive system when in 4WD – This went away with cars that could be manually changed into 2WD. I am not sure if I drove a car with Quadra-Trac, does this quieten down when it does not sense a need for 4WD? I found the road noise bad enough that I think I have made up my mind to get a Tahoe, even if it is a bit too truck-like for most of my needs. Graham Moss The Quadra-Trac uses a viscous coupling in the transfer case. When there is no slippage it is like an open differential, when there is slippage it tightens up and equalizes torque to front and rear drive shafts. There is no electronics to the system. This a unique system patented by Jeep. The Select-Trac has been prone to more breakdowns in the past. The Quadra-Trac is more rugged and can handle the higher torgue of the V8. It’ll be more reliable. Even in a Laredo model if you opt dor the V8 you get Quadra-Trac. I suggest you test drive both to decide between the 4.0LI6 and the 5.2LV8. The Quadra-Trac system is always in 4WD. The Ford system discussed in Popular Science is normally in 2WD, but when slippage is detected it turns
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