Does my Cherokee have Quadra-Trac?

Quadra-trac is a full time, all wheel drive system. If you have the option of choosing 4wd or 2wd it isn't Quadra-trac. (It would be Selec-trac or Command-trac depending on if there is a full-time/part-time option or not.) If you don't have that option, (ie, just 4wd high/4wd low) it is Quadra-trac.

Not picking on you, just clarifying for others that read these posts. Full-time means the diffs are open for all road conditions, all wheel drive means that all wheels are in some way connected to the engine. :)

Even with Quadratrac you can be stuck with one rear and one front wheel slipping. The only limited slip is front-to-rear. That's where the "poor man's positrac" comes in. You just lightly apply the brakes to stop the spinning wheel and add a bit more gas.

Agreed. Selec-trac is probably the better of the two as it offers full and part time 4wd options.

Keep in mind that about 95 the Quadra-trac II was offered. In that case, 4wd low actually does lock and becomes part-time.

True. I was simplifying.

Jeep's Quadra-trac system has impressed me since the mid 70s when a salesman drove a Cherokee into a snow pile with bald summer tires, got is jammed and still got it out.

Somehow I recall that salesman telling me the power went to individual wheels but what you say makes sense now that I rethink it.

I was looking for an XJ with Selec-trac, a tow package, other options and decent condition when I decided (due to my wife not wanting another "old vehicle") to get an almost new WK. That combination is not too common.

Yup. And I'm actually looking forward to winter for a change. :-)

"DougW" wrote in news:w0uTi.14788 $ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe15.phx:

I just purchased a new Wrangler X for my wife. As I looked through the Jeep website, I decided that I'd order a Wrangler and specify the limited slip differential option.

The salesman had a Wrangler X coming in that had everything I wanted except for the limited slip differential.

The salesman said that the '08 Wrangler built-in ESP 'Electronic Stability Program' would automatically stop a spinning wheel, thus providing power to a non-spinning wheel.

This made some sense to me, so I purchased the '08 Wrangler X minus the limited slip rear diff.

So this would be like the 'poor man's positraction' described by DougW. Right? Or am I screwed?

(I'm not planning on doing any particular off-roading. Just fire roads and driving in snow, mud, etc.)

Thanks.

The Rocket Man

In principle the ESC can apply the brakes to just one wheel. In practice I don't know if it's programmed to work that way in a low-traction situation.

And I just had a weird notion for an aftermarket accessory that in principle would work with anything with ABS--just a set of switches that let you turn the brakes on or off for each wheel, so you kill the brakes on the wheels with traction, apply brakes to whatever extent is needed, and go. Of course you'd need to remember to re-enable the brakes so maybe it needs a timer.

I have open diffs and can get all 4 tires spinning on ice by hitting the brake pedal. Usually I only get three going, but if I hit it just right, the other front one will light up too.

That electronic gizmo sounds like it does the same thing. It would worry me having 'electronically' controlled brakes though....

The open diffs are nice for keeping a straight line track in snow and ice, you don't slide out sideways as much or as easy.

Mike