Is it possible to swap out a regular 4 wheel drive transition case to a Selec-Trac 4X4?

[WILDHOBO]

The front axle shafts are CV style with selec-trac, and I’m pretty sure are u joint without. If I'm right about that you’d be looking at a lot more work than the transfer case. I agree with most everyone. Keep looking for the one you want that already has it. We have it for the same reasons. I didn’t consider any that didn’t have it.

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[jrf]

The front axle shafts are CV style with selec-trac, and I’m pretty sure are u joint without.

I'm not worried about that at all. Times I'd be in AWD are the same times I'd be in 4wd. But roads around here tend to be patchy during most of the winter. So going from snow/ice/dry/wet/etc. CVs are allow you to run AWD on pure dry pavement. I don't need that. IF...it's just a t-case swap that's an easy chore for me. I'm more wondering if there are any electrical issues doing this. Don't care about an AWD light just that all the other functions work.

 

[Mac]

How does the front axle disconnect work with the select trac transfer case?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm not worried about that at all. Times I'd be in AWD are the same times I'd be in 4wd. But roads around here tend to be patchy during most of the winter. So going from snow/ice/dry/wet/etc. CVs are allow you to run AWD on pure dry pavement. I don't need that. IF...it's just a t-case swap that's an easy chore for me. I'm more wondering if there are any electrical issues doing this. Don't care about an AWD light just that all the other functions work.

It's more than allowing you to run on dry pavement......... I've had a lot of both types and there's no way I'd want normal u-joints in anything with automatic transfer cases.
Even on ice and snow mine binds up badly on tighter turns. I pulled into an icy snowy parking lat last winter and almost couldn't make a turn as the front end bound when I hit a small patch the tire grabbed.
If I did the selectrac I'd absolutely want the CV front axles.
Since I don't crawl over boulders or drag it through sharp rocks, I'm fine with rubber boots that need occasional replacing. I've driven CV equipped vehicles for years (and am on my second set of axles in one and had to replace a boot before I ended up swapping axles)

 

[dcmdon]

Thank you so much

Thank you so much for your thoughts on this! I realize after reading your response that I meant “transfer” case, not “transition case”. Thank you for the correction. Anyone else have an idea?

Order the truck you want.

I would never be without street capable AWD in a vehicle. Its 100% non-negotiable.

 

[DAVECS1]

Inwas really hot on this swap until driving my jeep through a bad winter. The stability control was pretty outstanding. I never had a situation where the jeep was not kept in check, and I am supercharged. Also the traction control through abs was also very good in the snow. I spent money putting in a limited slip, but in all reality that has just gained me a better burn out, in the snow nd wet the stability control has it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Inwas really hot on this swap until driving my jeep through a bad winter. The stability control was pretty outstanding. I never had a situation where the jeep was not kept in check, and I am supercharged. Also the traction control through abs was also very good in the snow. I spent money putting in a limited slip, but in all reality that has just gained me a better burn out, in the snow nd wet the stability control has it.

I'm going to set up an appointment for my truck - there is no traction control. I gun it on wet pavement, I go sideways and spin. ABS seems to work but the truck otherwise is about as bad as my 73. My wife was shocked when I took off to get ahead of a line of traffic and instead of moving forward, the rear wheels spun and we went sideways. I had to let off and then hit it again just a bit more carefully - same result, wheel spin. I experienced the same a year or so ago in snow going up a hill on I80 - it started spinning and started to slide. I thought - what the heck? Seriously?

 

[DAVECS1]

When it kicks on there is a light that flashes on the dash. There are a couple different routines. The traction control works inder 15 mph I believe. There is slip control, which should of caught your acceleration. Lastly is stability control that monitors your accelerometers and keeps you from sliding ways your wheels are not pointed and pulses the breaks and pulls throttle.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

When it kicks on there is a light that flashes on the dash. There are a couple different routines. The traction control works inder 15 mph I believe. There is slip control, which should of caught your acceleration. Lastly is stability control that monitors your accelerometers and keeps you from sliding ways your wheels are not pointed and pulses the breaks and pulls throttle.

There were no lights on the dash, there were no sounds other than engine accelerating and wheels spinning - could hear them spin and the sideways slip (not several feet, maybe a couple of feet) were the tell I had no traction and it wasn't doing anything to correct it. I had to let up to regain control.
My chevy would literally cut the throttle - I'd push and it would back the engine off until it regained traction - the traction control on that Silverado was far superior to this. More than once I tried to spin the tires - even on dirty surfaces or intersections with a bit of sand and the truck literally cut engine RPM while I pushed the throttle.

 

[DAVECS1]

There were no lights on the dash, there were no sounds other than engine accelerating and wheels spinning - could hear them spin and the sideways slip (not several feet, maybe a couple of feet) were the tell I had no traction and it wasn't doing anything to correct it. I had to let up to regain control.
My chevy would literally cut the throttle - I'd push and it would back the engine off until it regained traction - the traction control on that Silverado was far superior to this. More than once I tried to spin the tires - even on dirty surfaces or intersections with a bit of sand and the truck literally cut engine RPM while I pushed the throttle.

Yeah that has not been my experience, worth a check, but your gonna need a good dealer

 

[ilovebikes99]

AWD doesn't help much with black ice when you initially hit it. This is a common misconception. You clearly didn't live in a snowy climate.
What you need is a set of winter tires. Then even with FWD or RWD vehicle you will be able to overcome ice and snow. Your AWD system will not keep you from sliding out because ice is slippery, the entire vehicle will slide.
So unless you know what you're doing with AWD AND RWD on black ice, you're a goner regardless.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Depends on the temperature of the ice. I was able to actually accelerate out of problems with my Eagle which is 4 wheel drive with limited slip in the transfer case when it's engaged.
I have had an Eagle stuck only one time - and I high-centered it on a tall snow drift. I was goofing around off-road with it.

Wet ice 25 or above is so slippery you can slide sitting still. 8 wheel drive wouldn't matter.

 

[DAVECS1]

Iowa has more than its fair share of black ice. The wind and precipitation is wnuff to rattle any seasoned pro. I once was driving my mini pickup during a snow storm and the wind blew hard enuff I stopped and the wheels spun on the road. So I am sure Shadowspapa knows inclement weather. And I would argue a Subaru has the super natural ability to navigate just about anything.

 

[Deleted member 22728]

Is it possible to swap out a regular 4 wheel drive transition case to a Selec-Trac 4X4? Although I live in Southern California, I travel one to two times a month to the mountains in Mammoth Lakes, which is at an elevation of 8000 feet. During the winter, Mammoth Lakes often gets very severe winter storms. For me, it is not only important that I have four-wheel-drive when I drive in the snow but that I have automatic four-wheel-drive. It is a safety issue for me. If I unknowingly hit black ice and can’t see it ahead of time, I’m not going to have enough time to change to 4 wheel dr. In addition, I don’t want to keep the car in four-wheel-drive at all times because it reduces my gas mileage. I have my eyes on a new 2021 High Altitude. It appears to be almost fully loaded. I’ve been looking for a white, fully loaded High Altitude for a long time and finally found one. Surprisingly however, and very disappointing I might add, is that this particular High Altitude does not include the selec-trac 4X4. The dealership informed me that I could swap out the transition case for the selec-trac. They told me I would need to go to a performance shop or that certain Jeep dealerships might have a performance shop within their dealership. Does anyone know if this swap has been done before, if it’s safe, and will last as long as the original transition case would have lasted? How much does something like this cost? Does anyone know of a reputable performance shop in Southern California who can take care of this for me? Thank you!

sure

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Iowa has more than its fair share of black ice. The wind and precipitation is wnuff to rattle any seasoned pro. I once was driving my mini pickup during a snow storm and the wind blew hard enuff I stopped and the wheels spun on the road. So I am sure Shadowspapa knows inclement weather. And I would argue a Subaru has the super natural ability to navigate just about anything.

I'll never forget the time I drove into town to deliver something to one of my wife's friends. We'd had one of our usual ice storms. We lived a few miles out of town at that time. I made it to town fine in the first Eagle. Pulled into the lady's driveway, dropped off the stuff, got back into the car, backed out of the driveway and onto the street and stopped. I was putting on my seat belt and about to put the car in drive again and had this weird feeling - I thought I was having a dizzy spell or something. I looked around and realized - still in park from putting on my seat belt, the car was sliding down the street! Man was that weird. I put it in gear and drove away fine and all was good. But to be sitting still, foot on brakes and the car is MOVING. It was about 30 degrees and the ice was not sticky. When it gets really cold the ice is actually not bad as it's almost sticky.

Another time we were heading home from my first wife's parents farm in north Iowa. I35 south in our Gremlin. All of a sudden I saw a mix of headlights and tail lights and it was weird up ahead. Tails lights were going every direction. We approached the overpass and realized what was going on. Dozens of cars off the road, either side, in the median, etc. It was too late, though - just like that we were crossing the median and a truck hit us and almost ripped off the left fender and I got it back around to the other side.
It was one of those the roads are clear, all is fine, then just like that. We have a lot of that - clear, clean roads, no snow, and in half a mile there's a blizzard with high winds and several inches of snow.

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