Topic: knocking in 4wd

[Jeffy]

What kind of terrain do you have out by you, Bounty? I'm in CT, northeast is basically rock, muddy trails and hill climbs that can be pretty slippery. I want the best set up and it seems that my buddy was backing your argument. I have to keep in mind that the diesel will have a ton of low end torque, so if i pair it to the Rubi case, it may end up being too low.
If i understand correctly, the issue will be muddy hill climbs, correct? In 4 low with a rubi, i won't be able to spin the tires enough to get traction, but if the hill is rocky on the other hand, ill be able to idle up...

The problem with going too low is that you lose your torque multiplication when you go over your stall speed.  If you need any sort of speed then you'll be SOL.

[sharpxmen]

the issue in your case I think is the auto transmission not the future diesel, the VW TDI is not that low-rev, it's actually (if my memory serves me well) going up to 5000 or close to that, i drove 2 vehicles with that motor (a Golf and a Seat "something" can't remember) and was revving like a champ. With a manual transmission i found 2.73 to be too long when climbing slowly over rocks (meaning i had to slip the clutch to keep it from going too low in revs), i don't think you'd have that issue with the auto, but i never drove a Jeep with anything other than a stick so i don't know for sure what the auto is like, just guessing. Hillclimbs are fine with the 2.73 to be honest (from my experience, nothing too extreme though).

[95yjman]

If you go to a 4:1 transfercase do yourself a favor and skip the terralo you will be glad you did in the long run. Rubi case or an Atlas is the ticket. Rubi case is an excellent choice oh yeah your knocking noise was the front CV joint. In mud and water country you want to check those regularly since you cannot grease the stock one and once it gets hot it welds itself together and breaks the transfercase.
It a not all that uncommon problem.

Could he of just pulled the front driveshaft and ran like that until he fixed the CV joint?

[aka-justin]

First off, wow - sorry. How many miles was the ploding at?

The 241OR 4:1 and the NV3550 4:1 1st is amazing to slow crawl in and idle over crap - but it's slowwwwwww in most every gear, tops at 15-20 in 5th which feels to dangerous to me to drive at. So I either bog in 4H depending on 1st 4:1 or have to go slow in 4L. Maybe if I wasn't -10% under stock speed at the axles, 4L wouldn't be as bad.

My only other experience was with the stock setup on my 95YJ and AX5 with NP231 and +12% over stock speed from the 31" BFG KM2s. The 4L made it adequate in the dirt and climbing, but still had no crawling ability, but could maintain speed easier.

Tom Woods may be a point of contact for advice too. I've heard their name a few times and my Rubi came with one after the prev owner twisted up the stock one.

My own opinion would be set a course for the finished product. If you want to do the disel or hemi swap you had mentioned, plan that out and find another NP231 to rebuild or just chuck under your ride or park it and complete the swap now. I know I'd get stuck on these milestones and spend double to do it over, and over, and over like my shocks until I finally got the ones I had wanted to begin with, which in turn wasted time and money. I'd probably get it back running on the cheap then map out my dream and make the action plan. I'll shut up know before Jeffy charges me by the letter.

[sharpxmen]

4:1 low and 5th is the same as high and 1st gear with the NV3550 (3.93 for 1st and 0.97 in 5th or something like that), i'm not saying you should drive around in 5th and low but if you really wanted more speed you could go in 3rd or 4th for a short distance, if that's not working go 1st and high.

[chardrc]

if you have mud i would stay away from 4:1. the rubi t-case is very nice for the rocks but gets winded in lose hills and mud. just my $0.02

[Bounty Hunter]

What kind of terrain do you have out by you, Bounty? I'm in CT, northeast is basically rock, muddy trails and hill climbs that can be pretty slippery. I want the best set up and it seems that my buddy was backing your argument. I have to keep in mind that the diesel will have a ton of low end torque, so if i pair it to the Rubi case, it may end up being too low.
If i understand correctly, the issue will be muddy hill climbs, correct? In 4 low with a rubi, i won't be able to spin the tires enough to get traction, but if the hill is rocky on the other hand, ill be able to idle up...

I'm in the Midwest, so lots of dirt trails, mud and hills.  Some rocky terrain as you get further southwest into the MO Ozarks.  I don't crawl enough large rock to justify 4:1, but when I do it seems the 5.38 in the axles isn't quite low enough.  But its ideal for all other wheeling.

[stan98tj]

the issue in your case I think is the auto transmission not the future diesel, the VW TDI is not that low-rev, it's actually (if my memory serves me well) going up to 5000 or close to that, i drove 2 vehicles with that motor (a Golf and a Seat "something" can't remember) and was revving like a champ.

THe engine won't be completely stock. I'm getting the chip and tune kit from HPA Motorsports which will result in nearly 300ft lbs torque, higher HP, and a ton of the torque being brought in at very low RPMs. I figure, compared to my 2.5l, that TDI will be putting out more torque at crawl speeds.

Guys, please remember i only have a 3spd auto..so I can't shift around like you guys in the 5spds can, I take it that would hurt me even more if I got the rubi case.

Bounty, seems like we have just about the same kind of terrain. We def have our rocky parts but it's not the Moab or Rubicon trail. I just want a good all around set up that will allow me to wheel a variety of areas. Since the end goal is an expedition type vehicle, i Plan on taking her cross country to various parks, is a Rubicon t-case def needed for places out west?

[sharpxmen]

Guys, please remember i only have a 3spd auto..so I can't shift around like you guys in the 5spds can, I take it that would hurt me even more if I got the rubi case.

my thought too, you don't need/want a 4:1 with the auto

[aw12345]

Could he of just pulled the front driveshaft and ran like that until he fixed the CV joint?

Yup would have saved a lot of coin and work

[neale_rs]

THe engine won't be completely stock. I'm getting the chip and tune kit from HPA Motorsports which will result in nearly 300ft lbs torque, higher HP, and a ton of the torque being brought in at very low RPMs. I figure, compared to my 2.5l, that TDI will be putting out more torque at crawl speeds.

Guys, please remember i only have a 3spd auto..so I can't shift around like you guys in the 5spds can, I take it that would hurt me even more if I got the rubi case.

Bounty, seems like we have just about the same kind of terrain. We def have our rocky parts but it's not the Moab or Rubicon trail. I just want a good all around set up that will allow me to wheel a variety of areas. Since the end goal is an expedition type vehicle, i Plan on taking her cross country to various parks, is a Rubicon t-case def needed for places out west?

You don't need 4:1 for an expedition type vehicle.   I think you will be happier overall with the stock ratio or at most 3:1.

[stan98tj]

Yup would have saved a lot of coin and work

yeah, happened so quick, I misdiagnosed the issue, figured it may have been a loose CA, then I tightened them up and still heard it and figured it was the hub...then it happened
lesson learned.

[aka-justin]

yeah, happened so quick, I misdiagnosed the issue, figured it may have been a loose CA, then I tightened them up and still heard it and figured it was the hub...then it happened
lesson learned.

Water under the bridge. Now, time for upgrades