Has anyone had a Teraflex 2low for an extended period and have some feedback, good or bad? About to do a 231 JB conversions SYE and freshen up, I don’t think I’d use 2low a lot, but can see it being handy on occasion.
Teraflex 2low long term feedback
- Thread starter OutdoorEd
- Start date
Good feedback. I am moving to a cable shift, so hopefully that will counter this issue.
I have never understood the purpose of 2L RWD. If I need low range, I also need 4wd. Using 2L RWD puts added stress on the rear drivetrain when the front is not pulling. The presence of lockers is irrelevant because it is the rear locker that prevents the Jeep from steering.
The only 2L I would want is FWD if I had rear cutting brakes.
I could see it being a useful option. Having the 2.5L and a spartan front locker there are times where I have plenty of traction but need the low range due to the lack of low rpm grunt. Eventually I want the Novak cable shifter but they're not cheap once converted to Canadian Pesos... Combined with a Tera 2-lo I'd be more than halfway to a selectable locker anyway so not too sure what route I'd choose.
EDIT: after recently doing an SYE solo as a first-timer and having some drama I'll wait until I have to open up my t-case for the next rebuild before I consider buying the 2-Lo pawl.
EDIT: after recently doing an SYE solo as a first-timer and having some drama I'll wait until I have to open up my t-case for the next rebuild before I consider buying the 2-Lo pawl.
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DirtDawg
TJ Enthusiast
I had a TeraLow with optional 2L kit installed in my former 2000 TJ Sport 4L for most of the 21 years I owned that. Despite thinking that feature would be useful, I rarely selected that, other than during engagement of 4L (2L clicks all the way back towards driver, then half-click forward into 4L. More than once approaching a rocky obstacle, I clicked into 2L by mistake and had to pause motion to engage 4L as intended.
I've read that; Teraflex discontinued TeraLow some years ago, the kit was somewhat unreliable and replacement parts are scarce now. I never had a mechanical failure, however the fast-spinning planetary gears limited how low range could be used to avoid over-revving the assembly. I often thought later in ownership that I'd have been better off initially if I'd spent more for an Ajax twin-stick t-case. Also noting that TeraLow was in combo with 4.56 gears/ARB lockers on Dana 30/Dana 44, NV3550 5-spd plus 33x12.5R15 GY MTRs, which provided a great crawl ratio for controlled ascending or descending...
I've read that; Teraflex discontinued TeraLow some years ago, the kit was somewhat unreliable and replacement parts are scarce now. I never had a mechanical failure, however the fast-spinning planetary gears limited how low range could be used to avoid over-revving the assembly. I often thought later in ownership that I'd have been better off initially if I'd spent more for an Ajax twin-stick t-case. Also noting that TeraLow was in combo with 4.56 gears/ARB lockers on Dana 30/Dana 44, NV3550 5-spd plus 33x12.5R15 GY MTRs, which provided a great crawl ratio for controlled ascending or descending...
Thanks and yes, 2wd low would hardly be used, but when you do need it it is very handy. I had selectable front hubs on an older pick up, so 2wd low range was useable and handy. The TJ and the pick up served very different applications though, so I don’t know how often I’d use it. Was thinking of putting it in because of the “why not” factor, was really wanting to hear if anyone had any problems with one, like select ability as mentioned above.
Note though, the 2wd low kit and Teralow (4:1)kits are 2 very different things.
Cheers
DirtDawg
TJ Enthusiast
I'd forgotten that aspect, since I never considered installing the 2L kit (pawl) alone - noting that was 20 years ago...
Thanks for your perspective. I don’t see when you would use any 2wd in a situation that would put that much stress on just the rear. The only time I’ve really used it (2 low) on other vehicles is when reversing trailers up hill on pavement, but can see a use for it in slow tight bush off road.
I think it might be something I’ll skip. The times I’ve used it on previous vehicles were on pick ups and it was very handy, but that is a very different application vehicle. I can’t see myself towing a heavy trailer with the TJ. lol
Cheers, and I think that is spot on. I remember it being handy, but as you’ve stated above not for the purpose that i use my TJ for.
I had both the TeraLow 4:1 kit & the 2Lo installed in my TJ for about 1.5 years & I used mine all the time when out wheeling. I'd flip it into 2Lo when running the easier areas and only when I needed 4WD would I flip it back. Like Dusty Boot I had the 4 angry squirrels so having it & the TeraLow was a big improvement when off-road. It's still being used in a fellow wheelers YJ behind their 4 banger & still working fine. I'd installed it along with the TeraLow in 2005 and it was in late 2006 when I pulled the t-case out for my V-8 swap. But it was then installed into my buddies YJ along with my old rims & tires. They are in WY and still using it now.
As others said I know people who use it to move a boat or camp trailer around their property. 2Lo can be handy for more than one purpose. You don't know until you do.
As others said I know people who use it to move a boat or camp trailer around their property. 2Lo can be handy for more than one purpose. You don't know until you do.
Good to hear some real world usage.
Did it always shift ok, that’s my biggest concern. If I fit it and it rarely gets used it isn’t a big deal, just don’t want something that makes the t-case a pita to shift.
@OutdoorEd Next time I rebuild my t-case I may add this feature but my un-educated guess tells me it would shift "better" if paired with the Novak cable shifter.
Definitely going to cable shift. I wasn’t able to get the Novak or savvy shifter cable, but managed to get a B&M shift cable kit. Hopefully it is just as good.
It shifts fine it's just getting it adjusted correctly. You're adding another detent and I had to play with mine before I was able to get it adjusted jut right. This was years before the cable shifters were available so I had one of the kits for a body lift. I'd imagine it'd be easier with the cable shifter but can't say for sure.
2Lo is now just past 4Lo which is where people are talking about putting it in the wrong spot.
I have not had the 2lo very long but I have used it a few times. In Arizona I come across the occasional rock field that you have to crawl slow on, some times for miles. I’ll pop it into low and just crawl for some time as were 2hi was just not the right RPM. I also like to play around and see just how far I can get up obstacles in 2wd before needing 4wd. I do not see it as a necessity at all. I only installed it as it was on sale and I needed to pull my Tcase for other issues.
If it’s on sale, I would put one on the self for that day you happen to get into the Tcase. I would not go out of my way to add it on a perfectly functional tcase.
If it’s on sale, I would put one on the self for that day you happen to get into the Tcase. I would not go out of my way to add it on a perfectly functional tcase.
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