New to NAXJA NW, shopping for an XJ

IMO.... yes, if you plan on upgrading anything in the future ABS will make it difficult and they are prone to having issues. Not to say thats all bad, but if its the type with no booster and only an ABS pump, dont walk away.... RUN !!!
Completely agree.
 
IMO.... yes, if you plan on upgrading anything in the future ABS will make it difficult and they are prone to having issues. Not to say thats all bad, but if its the type with no booster and only an ABS pump, dont walk away.... RUN !!!

Oh come on it's not THAT bad. My first rig had that, I just yanked it all and installed a WJ booster...just took awhile to make it work right.
:thumbup:

Just found out it has ABS, is that a deal breaker?

I wouldn't say that. Since you're buying used you'll have to accept somethings for not being exactly right. Just try and get as close as possible to what you want, the newer ABS stuff was electric IIRC, and they were still vacuum assist. So all you have to do is pull the fuse and just have a little more stuff in the engine bay that doesn't do anything...brakes still work just fine.

~Scott
 
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IMO.... yes, if you plan on upgrading anything in the future ABS will make it difficult and they are prone to having issues. Not to say thats all bad, but if its the type with no booster and only an ABS pump, dont walk away.... RUN !!!

I am not familiar with what a booster is, well, I know my Audi has plenty of boost! Haha...
 
Oh come on it's not THAT bad. My first rig had that, I just yanked it all and installed a WJ booster...just took awhile to make it work right.
:thumbup:



I wouldn't say that. Since you're buying used you'll have to accept somethings for not being exactly right. Just try and get as close as possible to what you want, the newer ABS stuff was electric IIRC, and they were still vacuum assist. So all you have to do is pull the fuse and just have a little more stuff in the engine bay that doesn't do anything...brakes still work just fine.

~Scott
What is the booster exatly? Not familiar with jeeps... Doesn't sound like too hard of a fix, if that is a fix... Bump for more info!
 
if you see this your in good shape. if not.... well you have some possible problems ahead.
Dsc00653.jpg
 
There are a couple issues with ABS:

1) It means you have ABS, which is not ideal.

2) It means you for sure have a crappy rear axle.

Look for a '98-'99, non-ABS, 4.0, NP231 transfer case (it has 2WD/4WD/N/4Low Range positions...any more than that and it's NP242=not as good), the rear diff cover should be angular, "like a stop sign" and it should be from a private party that can show receipts for repair work. What was repaired isn't as important as the fact they they, a) repaired it when it needed it, and b) thought the next owner would want to have a complete record; this tells less about the repairs as it does the previous owners.

Also, at the very least, find a '91 or newer H.O. unit. As an owner of both (pre and post '91), I can tell you the later model ones are easier to work on.

You should not spend more than $3000 on the nicest late model ('97+), "it's my favorite color," perfect example owned by your next door neighbor's grandmother.

-----Matt-----
 
There are a couple issues with ABS:

1) It means you have ABS, which is not ideal.

2) It means you for sure have a crappy rear axle.

Look for a '98-'99, non-ABS, 4.0, NP231 transfer case (it has 2WD/4WD/N/4Low Range positions...any more than that and it's NP242=not as good), the rear diff cover should be angular, "like a stop sign" and it should be from a private party that can show receipts for repair work. What was repaired isn't as important as the fact they they, a) repaired it when it needed it, and b) thought the next owner would want to have a complete record; this tells less about the repairs as it does the previous owners.

Also, at the very least, find a '91 or newer H.O. unit. As an owner of both (pre and post '91), I can tell you the later model ones are easier to work on.

You should not spend more than $3000 on the nicest late model ('97+), "it's my favorite color," perfect example owned by your next door neighbor's grandmother.

-----Matt-----

Awesome info, thanks a ton!
 
So basically i'd prefer it not to have ABS?

http://www.jeepforum.com/wiki/index.php/Dana_35

if this is right, dana 35 wasn't used in any xj past 97?

It's just my opinion, but yes. I was pissed of for a few years after buying my XJ. I was sure it would have ABS. When I started building it and reading more about them I found that if I had my prior wish, having ABS, I would also have a terrible rear axle. I think the D35 is probably fine for on road use with stock tires, but I see so many people having them self destruct as soon as they put larger tires on it. There is a current post here about "I grenaded the diff", or something like that.

The Dana 44 that people like to install is a 30 spline, and the Chrysler 8.25 is a 29 spline. So the C8.25 isn't a shabby axle.
 
There are a couple issues with ABS:

1) It means you have ABS, which is not ideal.

2) It means you for sure have a crappy rear axle.

Look for a '98-'99, non-ABS, 4.0, NP231 transfer case (it has 2WD/4WD/N/4Low Range positions...any more than that and it's NP242=not as good), the rear diff cover should be angular, "like a stop sign" and it should be from a private party that can show receipts for repair work. What was repaired isn't as important as the fact they they, a) repaired it when it needed it, and b) thought the next owner would want to have a complete record; this tells less about the repairs as it does the previous owners.

Also, at the very least, find a '91 or newer H.O. unit. As an owner of both (pre and post '91), I can tell you the later model ones are easier to work on.

You should not spend more than $3000 on the nicest late model ('97+), "it's my favorite color," perfect example owned by your next door neighbor's grandmother.

-----Matt-----

Matt he said in his post that he will be using the XJ to get to work, so he needs traction both on road and off. This is why I said NP242 since it has 4x4 Full and Part Time. As far as the NP231 being better, well everything I have read has only given the NP231 a slight edge over the NP242. It's raining here in Houston today so I had the XJ in Full Time 4x4, but if I had a NP231 I would have been 2wd all the way to work.
 
If you need full-time 4x4 in the rain, you need new tires.:D

On a related note, I just bought myself a new XJ! :) Picked up a '98 Sport, 4 door, 4.0L/AW4/231/8.25" teal w/ grey interior. Not grocery-gettin' grandma clean, but very clean nonetheless. 142K on the odometer, 80% tread on stock-ish tires, completely stock and unmodified. Paid $3K total, found it at a used dealer on Evergreen, had him throw in the tabs, title transfer and whatnot. I haven't taken any pics, but you all know what a clean, stock XJ looks like. At least you remember back when before you beat the piss outta yours.;)

It'll be a couple of months before I do anything to it, I still have to strip down my '91 and have the hulk hauled off. I've also got some rollcage mods going on with my CJ, so I'll be busy as a beaver for the next several months.

Good luck to the OP on finding a nice, ckean XJ. They're out there, you just have to look for a bit sometimes.
 
If you need full-time 4x4 in the rain, you need new tires.:D

On a related note, I just bought myself a new XJ! :) Picked up a '98 Sport, 4 door, 4.0L/AW4/231/8.25" teal w/ grey interior. Not grocery-gettin' grandma clean, but very clean nonetheless. 142K on the odometer, 80% tread on stock-ish tires, completely stock and unmodified. Paid $3K total, found it at a used dealer on Evergreen, had him throw in the tabs, title transfer and whatnot. I haven't taken any pics, but you all know what a clean, stock XJ looks like. At least you remember back when before you beat the piss outta yours.;)

It'll be a couple of months before I do anything to it, I still have to strip down my '91 and have the hulk hauled off. I've also got some rollcage mods going on with my CJ, so I'll be busy as a beaver for the next several months.

Good luck to the OP on finding a nice, ckean XJ. They're out there, you just have to look for a bit sometimes.
:wave:
Congrats on yours! What color? I am going to 82nd to see what I can find... I checked with the ones I could find on CL, most had ABS :thumbdn:
 
Its all opinion really. i love the full-time option. my rig drives better full time.. dry or wet.. it just feels more solid to the road.
with such a minor effect on fuel mileage... why not use full-time?

the 231 to 242 debate is as useful as the 8.8 vs d44 debate..
 
Or to learn how to drive. ;)

Nice score Doug! Let me know if you need somebody to stand around and drink beer while you work on the Jeep.

-----Matt-----

Will do. You are eminently qualified, of course. :cheers:

Oh, and to STUCKHEAD, it's teal. I said it in the post, must have missed it. It's actually a little bit too "pretty", but once it's all decked out in black accessories (wheels, bumpers, sliders, flares, hybrid cage) it'll look pretty cool, IMO.
 
Hey guys, Big Update, Almost bit the bullet today! Gonna go back when they open tomorrow...

Saw a 99' Jeep Cherokee Classic, Power Everything, Remote Keyless Entry, No Abs, White. No moonroof or heated seats :(

Was 4999, Guy brought it down to 3999, I got him down to 3700 even!

Looked pretty much exactly like this, some minor scratches nothing big, stock everything.
13333090.jpg


Going back tomorrow at 9 when they open to check it out and make sure its what I want... Just posting to see what you guys have to say about everything! Thanks again! Look forward to seeing you guys at noobfest :)
 
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