2005 KJ drive train questions

[Fev1969]

Hi everyone, joined six months ago, been stalking ever since. I bought a 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited back in 2017 with 60,000 on it. Wife wanted it, drove it for a couple years then wanted something different, she didn't like how it handled on the highway especially when it's windy. Now it's only driven occasionally when I need to pick up something where I need to pull a trailer and, in the winter sometimes. It's been fairly dependable with some common issues. Drivers side front lower control arm ball joint snapped while making a left turn, luckily, I was only turning at a green light. I've replaced both front window regulators. Drive belt broke on the way to work one morning in the middle of nowhere, had to limp it 4 miles to civilization. Overheating, had a small crack in the plastic radiator tank, bought a 3-core aluminum radiator off eBay. While I had the radiator out, I went ahead and replaced the water pump, thermostat and housing, idler pully assembly and overflow tank pressure cap.

My front driveshaft went out early on back in 2018, been driving without it ever since. I'm going to order it; anyone have a brand they have had good luck with?

Is there a way I can tell which transfer case, transmission and rearend I have without crawling under it, I'm not real mobile now, in an air boot with five broken bones in my foot. It's a 2005 Liberty Limited, 3.7L auto.

 

[u2slow]

242J tcase, and Chrysler 8.25" rear end. All the V6 autos are 3.73. trac-lok diff optional.

 

[Fev1969]

242J tcase, and Chrysler 8.25" rear end. All the V6 autos are 3.73. trac-lok diff optional.

Thanks, up until yesterday I didn't know they had different options. Mine is 2WD - 4 Part time - 4 full time - N - 4 L. others don't have the 4 part time. What's the "part time", is it like a posi, when the drive wheel starts to spin it locks the others in? I've had the jeep going on 9 years and never used the 4x4 because of the front drive shaft being out. in 4 - full time are all the wheels locked in? Thanks

 

[2TALL1]

FCA RAM

fcacommunity.force.com

Go here input your vin#
It will tell you what your vehicle is equipped with.

 

[u2slow]

Thanks, up until yesterday I didn't know they had different options. Mine is 2WD - 4 Part time - 4 full time - N - 4 L. others don't have the 4 part time. What's the "part time", is it like a posi, when the drive wheel starts to spin it locks the others in? I've had the jeep going on 9 years and never used the 4x4 because of the front drive shaft being out. in 4 - full time are all the wheels locked in? Thanks

I have both transfer cases. One lacks "full-time".

Part-time is the simpler version where the front and rear driveshafts (and axles) and forced to turn at the exact same speed. The full-time mode tcase has a differential to allow different speeds front and rear, which allows for tighter turning without scrubbing - on pavement.

In the Liberty, the front axle is engaged all the time. (No locking hubs or axle-disconnect).

 

[Fev1969]

I have both transfer cases. One lacks "full-time".

Part-time is the simpler version where the front and rear driveshafts (and axles) and forced to turn at the exact same speed. The full-time mode tcase has a differential to allow different speeds front and rear, which allows for tighter turning without scrubbing - on pavement.

In the Liberty, the front axle is engaged all the time. (No locking hubs or axle-disconnect).

Thanks, I found a good thread here that really breaks it down: https://www.jeepkj.com/threads/explanation-of-the-command-trac-and-select-trac.26712/

Any good recommendations for a front drive shaft?

 

[Fev1969]

FCA RAM

fcacommunity.force.com

Go here input your vin#
It will tell you what your vehicle is equipped with.

Thanks, that's pretty awesome

 

[JMichael2006]

Hi everyone, joined six months ago, been stalking ever since. I bought a 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited back in 2017 with 60,000 on it. Wife wanted it, drove it for a couple years then wanted something different, she didn't like how it handled on the highway especially when it's windy. Now it's only driven occasionally when I need to pick up something where I need to pull a trailer and, in the winter sometimes. It's been fairly dependable with some common issues. Drivers side front lower control arm ball joint snapped while making a left turn, luckily, I was only turning at a green light. I've replaced both front window regulators. Drive belt broke on the way to work one morning in the middle of nowhere, had to limp it 4 miles to civilization. Overheating, had a small crack in the plastic radiator tank, bought a 3-core aluminum radiator off eBay. While I had the radiator out, I went ahead and replaced the water pump, thermostat and housing, idler pully assembly and overflow tank pressure cap.

My front driveshaft went out early on back in 2018, been driving without it ever since. I'm going to order it; anyone have a brand they have had good luck with?

Is there a way I can tell which transfer case, transmission and rearend I have without crawling under it, I'm not real mobile now, in an air boot with five broken bones in my foot. It's a 2005 Liberty Limited, 3.7L auto.

You have the NV242J t-case based on the shifter.

 

[Robochop]

Just FYI you can rebuild the front shaft with a kit from eBay or Amazon. You replace both end and boots.

 

[2TALL1]

@Fev1969 do you still have your front driveline?
If so buying a rebuild kit for it is way better and cheaper solution.
They can be had at most part stores and is a fairly simple project.

 

[2TALL1]

Oh my god that’s so funny

 

[2TALL1]

Must be using the same brain waves this morning…lol

 

[u2slow]

Any good recommendations for a front drive shaft?

I rebuilt mine with new CV end off eBay. Rockauto carries them now too.

 

[JMichael2006]

You have the NV242J t-case based on the shifter.

Also the rear axle is most likely a corporate 8.25".

 

[Fev1969]

Also the rear axle is most likely a corporate 8.25".

Yes, that is what the build spec sheet lists. Are these good?

 

[Fev1969]

I rebuilt mine with new CV end off eBay. Rockauto carries them now too.

I saw the rebuild kit on Ebay for around $70, not sure the brand. I've ordered many parts from 1A Auto and CARiD both with good results, both places have the rebuild kits for around $100, that's both ends. They are the TRQ brand which I've used before on front hubs/wheel bearings with good results. The whole TRQ front assembly is $181. Only reason I may do the complete front driveshaft instead of just rebuild is because the mine has been setting in the garage for 7 1/2 years. and has a lot of rust and corrosion on the shaft and front. I'm going to throw the spline end in some cleaner for an hour or so tonight and see how it cleans up.

 

[Fev1969]

Also the rear axle is most likely a corporate 8.25".

It is, is that a good thing or bad?

 

[u2slow]

I only rebuilt the one end (@tcase). That's the end the boot usually tears first, and the grease leaves. 317,000km on the shaft now.

 

[JMichael2006]

It is, is that a good thing or bad?

The 8.25 is pretty common. Generally good units, not ment for *********, big tire offroading. You can upgrade them a fair amount. They can handle 33's but is the limit without spending money that could be put into installing a D44 or Ford 8.8.

 

[mercdudecbr600]

Hi everyone, joined six months ago, been stalking ever since. I bought a 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited back in 2017 with 60,000 on it. Wife wanted it, drove it for a couple years then wanted something different, she didn't like how it handled on the highway especially when it's windy. Now it's only driven occasionally when I need to pick up something where I need to pull a trailer and, in the winter sometimes. It's been fairly dependable with some common issues. Drivers side front lower control arm ball joint snapped while making a left turn, luckily, I was only turning at a green light. I've replaced both front window regulators. Drive belt broke on the way to work one morning in the middle of nowhere, had to limp it 4 miles to civilization. Overheating, had a small crack in the plastic radiator tank, bought a 3-core aluminum radiator off eBay. While I had the radiator out, I went ahead and replaced the water pump, thermostat and housing, idler pully assembly and overflow tank pressure cap.

My front driveshaft went out early on back in 2018, been driving without it ever since. I'm going to order it; anyone have a brand they have had good luck with?

Is there a way I can tell which transfer case, transmission and rearend I have without crawling under it, I'm not real mobile now, in an air boot with five broken bones in my foot. It's a 2005 Liberty Limited, 3.7L auto.

Find one that is BALANCED and has a lifetime warranty. I've used trakmotive stuff and it seems like a reasonable quality build.