ok haven't seen how using the clutch in 4 lo can b harmful to it ....

yes when in water got that one

but why would it be bad when descending a hill in 4 lo when breaking OR going up hill ??

what would b the real differance between that and going down a hill in 2 hi or 4 hi and down shifting or pushing the clutch in to come to a stop or near stop when breaking ??

one more thing you are on the trail and you push the clutch in and feather it out with some throttle to clear an obstacle

 

It wouldn't...who said it would?

EDIT: Unless you're dropping off a ledge, coming to a stop, or something, you really don't need to use your clutch in 4 lo...You're so low that you can even use your brakes until you're almost to a stop and your engine will keep churning.

Engine braking vs using just your brakes

Unless you're in 4th gear or so, giving gas when in 4 lo and releasing the clutch will make you jerk forward, even if you're just feathering it out.

 

no I agree w/t what you have said but was told that disengaging the clutch in 4 lo was not recommended

just trying to clear this up for someone

 

Nah I didn't mean to sound rude; I've found that typing on the internet is an artform if you don't use smilies...it's all good...yep it makes no difference if you're in 4 lo 4 hi or 2 hi.

 

According to jeep.com

off road basics it says nvr disengage the clutch when descending a hill severe clutch damage could result

 

They are correct, if you get to rolling too fast after disengaging and then re-engage it can cause damage due to the high rpm that it's now trying to engine/tranny brake when engaging, not good at all.

Using the tranny in 4-lo to descend doesn't hurt anything, one of the beauties of a manual Vs. Auto. But!!! the tradeoff is on ascend , manuals have to play footsies with the clutch/brake/gas sometimes....unless you have a Rubi or an Atlas t-case ...1st gear Lo, idle up any incline without really even touching the gas..or very little ....and the auto guys have it easy, they stay on the gas, sip a soda, take a bite of their sammiches, all while just pushing the gas pedal uphill...while we have to be more technical ....so us manuals eat/drink downhill only

Ohhkayy....someone's had too much caffeine this morning

 

that is the answer was looking for it is not the disengaging that bad but the engaging perfect

thanks and enjoy your sandwich

 

what he said....in fact although not a jeep...I'll share this first hand experience.....on the highway playing with an old hot rod pickup, nobody on the road but he and I, me in my 97 Camaro SS with a humble 375rwhp at the time....I go to shift from 5th to 4th gear doing 85mph.....but I hit 2nd gear instead by accident ....holy what just broke Batman?...it would barely run, backfiring, missing, etc....I pull over at a station and found that all but 4 of my stamped steel valve rockers were completely loose screwing my valve-timing. Extremely bad on your engine to clutch brake....if they wanted us to brake with the engine they'd have put diesels in these rigs with a Jake Brake

 

Ohh ok, now I see what you are asking...yeah it's pretty much common sense when you use a stick...e.g. if you're going 50 mph you don't want to downshift into first. The way to think about it is that the low gearing at the transfercase just "amplifies" this situation. Here's a good idea that I've found to be true: if you're moving or accelerating at a relatively fast speed and you pull in the clutch, downshift, and can hear a whirring sound coming from the transmission, do not release the clutch or you'll be treated to a nice jerk. You can easily hear this when going about 20mph in 2nd and putting the tranny in 1st with the clutch pressed.

 

Allways use the clutch when changing gears or stopping or slowing. I dont understand the question. Just allways use it! There can not be a good enough reason to not to. Use your clutch!.....Thats final....