Grand Cherokee WG Centre Diff (locks??)

Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Location: Sunny Coast

Hi all,

I’m new to the Jeep world, previously owning a GU 4.2 TD with 3” lift and 35” tyres, but found out that for a lot less money I could get a much classier 4WD with all the creature comforts, and as such bought a V8 99 WG Grand Cherokee Limited with Quadra Drive.

At the moment it is stock as a rock, but I’m looking to get a small lift (2”) and up the tyres to 245/75/16. Want to get as much height as I can but need to keep it legal or there’s no use wasting money on insuring it if you don’t, as you’re not covered.

My question to anyone who can help is about the centre diff. It appears you can’t lock the centre diff like you can with an 80 series Cruiser. I gather it has to have a centre diff as it is Full Time 4WD, but please, I am just learning so correct me if I’m wrong.

With an 80, if you don’t lock the centre diff (which you should only do on dirt roads) I have been told it will put all the power to the one wheel without traction. By locking the centre diff, at least you have to have one front and one rear without traction before you stop.

As it appears the WG doesn’t have a centre diff lock, is this the same as the 80? Does the centre diff lock if you go into low range?

Also, can you drive in Low Range on bitumen (say a boat ramp)? Does it produce transmission wind-up doing so? I gather that if Low does lock the centre diff, then you can’t.

Many thanks for you help – from (hopefully) a new Jeep convert.

Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Location: Sydney

Dropping it into low range locks the centre. Don't do this on the road.

Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Location: Sunny Coast

Thanks for that. What confused me is in the manual it says under "When to Use Low Range - Also use low range on the road in rain, ice, snow, mud or sand to get heavy loads rolling". Fair enough ice, snow, mud and sand, but on the road in the rain???

It also says "4WD LO Mode used for added pulling power in all terrain driving low speed operation, under 64kmh". As such, I would have thought "all-terrain" means all surfaces, including hard ones (it also says use High for all terrain driving)

No worries - just needed to be sure that you can't do it - like the Patrol.

Cheers.