Center diff lock in Low?

[azvrod]

Hi all sorry for the Newbie questions. I got my 99 a couple of weeks ago and have just about finished all the interior cosmetic items (if anybody needs a good upholstery guy in Phoenix let me know). Also put 2 new tires on (ouch!) Next week is timing belt and water pump week, then front disks, then hopefully thats it! But Ive got a couple of questions I cant find an answer for on the forum:

1) When in Low the center diff stays locked..Ive tried what the manual suggests, accelerate forward or reverse and it wont unlock. It locks and unlocks just fine in High. The manual is kind of ambiguous though, so should it unlock in Low when I depress the button?

2) Most troubling is the apparantly infamous steering wheel wobble (other than when braking..see rotor replacement above). It seems to occur when I drive over bumps or pot holes. I first thought it was tires, but I have two new Michelins on the front now and its still doing it. Combined with the wobble from the brakes, at speed it is actually pretty severe. Could it be the bearings as Ive read elsewhere on the forum?

BTW I greased the muffler bearings and re-seated the googenhiemer and it had no effect on any of the above. Thanks in advance for any all help!

Kev

 

[hoser]

Welcome to the forum! (official mud salute)

1) By default, CDL is engaged in Low range. In order to have selectable engage/disengage CDL in low, you need to do this simple mod.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=457327

2) Your wheel bearings is a good possibility. Jack up the front wheels and check for play.

 

[spressomon]

While you have the front end jacked up...check your CV boots/shafts for signs of leakage.

 

[azvrod]

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[Phx99Cruiser]

Just curious, in Low why would you NOT want the CDL engaged? When in Low, you're trying to get all the traction you can...

 

[DirtyHarry]

I have used my low range without the CDL engaged on my 80 when going up or down REALLY steep paved roads or towing a boat out of the water on a slippery ramp.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Just curious, in Low why would you NOT want the CDL engaged? When in Low, you're trying to get all the traction you can...

Many situations. Mostly when you're off road and need to turn up or down a very tight switchback (or negotiate around large rocks). The radius between locked and unlocked makes the difference. There's all kinds of places where this comes into play and you don't need the added traction of a locked CDL.

One extreme example....Black Bear Pass in Colorado. You want 4L for decent, but I turned down every switchback but one without backing up. I was the only vehicle to do so. Others were doing 2-3 point turns which I seen a more dangerous.