he said that someone rebuilt the front end for him. maybe they absent mindedly changed the ratio. you didnt have lockers installed did you? i drive in the woods & swamps here alot in my xj , i use 2wd darn near everywhere i go. i only use my 4wd to get farther away from help.

The gear ratio is easy enough to check, just jack up one wheel, put in nuetral and count the rotation of the wheel and the drive shaft. I suppose its possible the mechanic goofed the ratios. If the mechanic did mess up your gear ratios, I think I would find a new mechanic....

A different ratio front and rear takes about 3 feet to start humping and jumping.. There is no wait or rest it locks up and stays thataway!
Every post the guy makes he is resolute in thinking he knows something is wrong.
I have seen guys testing a 4X4 to purchase put in 4 on a parking lot and think the vehicle is broken.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

If some one messed with the front ring and pinion, I would check it against the rear. Like other guys said, I also use 4WD only when I have to. I have an Auburn in my rear and can go quite far in 2WD.

Guys, I've owned and operated jeeps and swamp buggies in S FL for over 20 years, I know how to use 4 wheel drive! Where I run you need 4 wheel drive once you leave the pavement (Big Cypress/Everglades)!

I took it out this past weekend and leaving my camp (the yard is grass) it popped again! I went and drove it in a slough that had anywhere from 6" to 2' of water and mud in it and it did not do it (maybe enough slippping to account for ratio diff????). The only thing I can think of is ratio diff., but I thought I'd ask on here to see if anyone else had seen something similar. The mechanic could have easily swithced them as he specializes in Jeeps and works on a bunch of them. I could see where it would be easy to do with so many Jeeps in 1 shop.

Anyhow, for those that offered help, thanks!

Duece

Have you tried jacking up each end of the vehicle and turning the wheel by hand and counting the revolutions that the driveshaft makes, in order to determine the gear ratio? That's what I would do, instead of guessing, particularly since it started doing this about the same time that someone else was working on the axles.

Duece I JUST reread all of your posts... You don't have a problem! Them gears have been in that Jeep for 3 years now. The ratio is correct! You have the same problem everyone has with 4X4's.. When you get traction in 4 your Jeep will pop and jump around..
I betcha it only does the popping when it is in a turn..don't it?
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

WHEN exactly was the last time that either of your differentials was worked on, particularly the one that had a ring and pinion replaced?

Have you driven it much in 4WD since that date?

WHEN did it start to do the popping?

You know I just thought of one other thing. Check your front axle (not drive shaft) u-joints. I had the u-joint on the drivers side front of my Ford wear out to the point where all of the needles were gone, and it would pop when I would make turns in 4wd.

Sean

If that were the case, it should pop all the time, even in 2WD, as long as the front hubs were not unlocked. If the front hubs are not unlocked, those axle shaft u-joints are always turning, even if the transfer case is not applying power to the front diff.