98 TJ Drivetrain Problem?

Sometimes the T-case will get a little torque bind in it, and cause it to stick in 4wd a few seconds before releasing. Letting up on the throttle or disengaging the clutch usually helps. Since you haven't used 4wd in a while I would guess the T case may have been a little sticky as well.

Where in michigan do you live? Here in detroit there wasn't enough snow to use 4wd today....did you use it on simply wet pavement at any time?

Lesson #1: DO NOT use 4wd on hard, high-traction surfaces. Loose dirt, slippery snow, mud, etc. is what it is for. In 4wd the tires need to be able to slip to prevent driveline binding and eventual spectacular damage. Not even wet pavement.

You have a physical linkage that runs from the body side to the t-case side. This can go out of adjustment and cause hangs like you are describing. I would be first looking at the engine and tranny mounts close expecting to see a bad one before I adjusted the linkage, but the linkage is an easy adjust if needed.

Mike

I DID know this one. . The roads were 4wd-able this morning on all the sideroads near Clarkston, which is where I was.. plows hadn't made their way to the roads I was on.

I do know exactly what you mean by letting off the throttle, and how you can feel the 4WD disengage.. But this last trip home was nothing like that , the whine seriously sounded like it would damage something if I didn't do something about it..

Mike,

Would the "hangs" provide this awful wh> You have a physical linkage that runs from the body side to the t-case

That is scary.

I would inspect the position of the transfer case and differentials and driveshafts.

Open a drain or fill plug on the transfer case, or the speedometer gear, and fish around with a finger to check the condition and level of the lube, and check for metal bits.