4X4 system different then the usual

[ChristopherN]

Hello, this isn't a problem, just a question I'd like answered.

When I engage 4WD in my dad's Jeep Cherokee and I crank the wheel the car "skips" so to speak across the ground, which I know is normal, but in my 2000 Jimmy it doesn't skip one bit, I know the system works because of traction change in snow. So could someone just explain to me the difference in the 4 wheel drive system in the Jimmy vs. other systems?

 

[Molson02536]

The Transfer case on the Jeep is a part time 4wd which means you can drive it on dry and wet roads. As you turn the distance traveled on the front wheels and back wheels differ due to the radius of the turn and the transfer case will let the front drive shaft slip so you don't get any binding between the front and read drive shaft that's where you notice the "Skip". The Transfer case on the Jimmy is a full time 4wd which means you can drive it on wet roads but not on dry pavement. As you turn the distance traveled on the front wheels and back wheels differ due to the radius of the turn but the Transfer case will not let the drive shaft between the front and rear differ and you get binding in the dry pavement which can case the transfer case to explode at high speeds turns. You can go fast on a straight line but any S turns is where your going to put stress on the Transfer case. Gm has a AWD Transfer case which you can run on any pavement all the time, but you have no 4wd low and the AWD is active all the time. Transfer case on your Jimmy is most likely NP233C and the AWD is a BW4472.