Hey i just looked at my t case and it has linkage to select instead of vacuum is that something they did from the factory or was that done by some one ive heard they were basicly all vacuum selectors thanks, Dan

 

What year is yours?after 90 they were all manual,mine is an 89 and it is manual.
prior to 91 they could have come either way,the 3 I have had all 89s were manual,if you had the 242 xfercase you more than likley also had a manual linkage

 

its an 88 it does have a 242 case is that uncommon for an 88?

 

I had 2 limited and 1 laredo and all had 242 xfercases,it is not as common as the 231 but it was not rare. The higher models had 242 cases as they were I guess designed to be used for more on road than offroad.

 

mine is actually a base model i was trying to figure out why it would not go into 4 wheel i was looking at getting one of those posi-lok kits untill i realized it was a manual linkage and not vacuum i believe the linkage is either bent or something popped off im going to look into more tomorrow.

 

I am sure you could have got a 242 on any model,The xjs I have seen with a 242 also had the non vacuum front axle has been my experience.

 

All of the XJ/MJ transfer cases were, as I recall, manual. The "vacuum" bit referred to the CAD (Central Axle Disconnect) used in 1987-1991/1992 XJ/MJ with the NP231 transfer case and D30 front axle. This was eliminated around the 1993 model year (it didn't save enough in fuel economy to be worthwhile,) and can usually be eliminated without consequence. Information on how to install the one-piece right halfshaft can be found with a little looking.

 

The transfer case is not vacuum operated! its the front axle that is vacuum operated! the transfer case conects to the lever inside the cab by linkage. The vacuum disonect you hear people talk about is on the front axle passenger side.

 

yes i understand that but my axle does not have the housing ive seen what they look like and my front diff doesnt have one on it anywhere.

 

Not all Cherokees had an axle disconnect. Yours is obviously one of them.


Depending on what t-case you originally had ... you may or may not have had a "disconnect" housing.


All Cherokees with the SelecTrac case never used a disconnect housing. Cherokees with the CommandTrac case used a disconnect housing until roughly 1993 or 1994 (actual year escapes me). After that ... the vacuum disconnect was discontinued across the board.


Consider yourself lucky that you have a non-disconnect housing. They're stronger and there is no delay when you shift into 4wd (waiting for the motor to engage the axle).



Joe

 

Thanks for all your help guys hopefully ill get it working.

 

Any XJ with a 242 was non-disconnect.

 

Just as a point of information, he didn't specify year of his vehicle. The 84-6 XJs had a full time option that had a vacuum motor to switch it from full time to locked, operated by a vacuum switch on the console. Once locked, low range was selected with linkage manually. Discontinued at the end of 86

 

The 242 transfer case is also a full time case and you cannot use a aussie locker on full time front axles!

 

to 4.3

Seems to me like its a 1988 or not I believe the 88 is the year