I've never driven much less owned an AWD vehicle before so I have a question about the nature of them.  My '98 ZJ Limited has the Quadratrac system and was wondering about the feeling of the rear end squirming to the outside corner when doing low speed sharp maneuvering (as in parking lot machinations).  Is this normal or is something amiss?  Oh and btw...I think there should be a forum for noob Jeep owners imho complete with faq.  Thanks.  

let this be that forum!  LoL

i have a 97 with the same transfer case...its normal.  I'm not sure what it is so don't take my word on this, but in the Dana 44s in those trucks there is a limited slip differential...this usually gives a squirming feeling or like a kick when you corner sharp going slow.  when i first felt it i was worried, but I asked around...everything should be cool.

as a safety though, check out your differential fluid's shape.  it should be a dark brown color...if its anything else it would be:

tan or whitish: sludgy and contaminated with water

black: too old, should be changed

but everything should be okay

Welcome to another smart guy! You have a jeep ZJ, the best!! LOL  

ya a #### unibody real (flexable)  

see now that was just low...low man...besides we like to be different...creativity comes to those want ZJs...but confomrity goes to every other Wrangler owner...haha just playin

besides its still a JEEP!

That is just plain rude! I think you need to rethink before you post stuff like that. This is a clean board where we help each other out. You have not fully understand what the JEEP BROTHERS meaning is.........Just because you drive a certain type of jeep it does not mean it gives you the right to put all others down. That's just plain rude man and shows your young age.

I'm not writing this to "start" something with you, but you cannot expect ppl to not def themselfs when you say stuff like that.

I'm not familiar with ZJs, but I know that the TJ and KJ have a Trac-Loc limited slip diff available for the rear end.  Is it possible you have one too?  I tried to see what was available for the 98 ZJ before posting and it looks like it was an option (or std?) on the 01 ZJ, but I couldn't find any info on the 98.

If you do have one, how many miles do you have on your ride?

The Trac-Loc is OEMed from DANA and is considered to be a budget solution.  It's ok for street and light (maybe mild off-road) use, but its my understanding that on averge it tends to go out after ~30K miles.  I have over 60K on mine, so I don't know what thats worth, but then again, its in my wife's mall crawler.  One major head ache with it is that it needs a special additive (friction modifier) added to the diff fluid.  Otherwise it will tend to hang up causing squirrelly behavior or in my case on my wife's KJ, it locked up almost like a spool.  So, at low speed turns it would drag the outside tire.  Now, as I recall, its supposed to be services every 15~16K miles, but according to a reputable dealer I know, they have seen the modifier worn out in under 10K miles. 

I had an old ford ranger 2wd and it had some kind of loc or posi in it and it was still working good 20 years later!!! I believe they are better then ppl give them credit for. not for rock crawling of cource  

yeah the same thing.  i have it, but i think it only came with the D44s of the time.  (don't quote me on that).  when i got my car i drains and flushed the diffs.  i put in that additive too.  but what explained was exactly right.  but as far as there life goes, i just put 20K miles on in a year with light offroading and powerloading road abuse and as far as i can tell its fine. 

i plan to reflush the diffs again this year, so i'll let you guys know what happened.