4X4 bucking motion when engaged

Is this happening on the road? (In your yard?) Explain.

The Medic

Not wanting to be the bad guy.

I've always had a Jeep CJ (one of many)(since 1981) They have been my daily driver's and I really love them.

I guess way back then it was just a "given" that four wheel drive was only to be used "off road". On soft, "can slip" surfaces.

Four wheel drive "binds" the front axle against the rear axle (they fight each other in a way). A dirt or slippery kind of surface allows the bind to to be relieved by letting a wheel slip on the ground. This can happen and the drive train will not be damaged.

On a road or really hard surface, there is no relief, nothing can slip. Except for eating away at drive train components (gears and such, especially the transfer case.)

My Jeep's owner's manual was probably 50? Pages long.

I just found yours. It's 279 pages long. (A lot to read)

Below is pages 154 and 155 for your rig from your owner's manual.

Does it drive in two wheel drive okay?

What about 4x4 on a dirt road? (I'm hoping this is just a learning experience and nothing has been damaged yet.)

Return with good news!

The Medic

Being this is a four wheel drive it should not be driven in four wheel Low range unless you are off the road on grass, dirt, gravel that doesn't have the grip that pavement or concrete does. As CJ says both four wheel high and low are not meant for "normal" driving. You should keep the switch in the 4x4 Auto position for normal driving. In both the 4X4 high and low the automatic functions are locked out and the transfer case is engaged all the time. That will damage it or an axle in short order due to the torque wrap CJ talked about. Low range is even worse as it uses a different gearset in the case to multiply the torque to the axles and is only to be used when on very loose surfaces like sand, snow or mud.

From your description you have may have already damaged the transfer case because it is not designed to be in low range for any length of time.

However, try just putting the switch to 4X4 Auto and see if the problem stops. If the case and clutches have not been damaged it should still operate as designed.

I agree, 4wd high and low is not meant for driving on the freeway.

The black stuff would be the clutch facings that normally only engage when 4X4 is on. Sounds like the case will need to be rebuilt or replaced with a used one. Being an 2003 there are a lot of them in salvage yards to choose from. You might want to look at Car-Part. Com
and see if a nearby salvage yard has one.