4x4 question

[billybass]

I make a practice of shifting into 4WDH whenever launching and recovering the boat. Friday I forgot to shift back to 2WD when going home, no big deal. But when I was backing the boat into the yard and cutting it sharp all of a sudden it felt like the wheels were starting to bind up. I shited to 2WD and had no pronlem. Later I shifted back to 4WD and noticed when making tight turns it would bind up again.

Any idea what I did?

[funkja]

Sounds normal to me. Especially if you were on a hard, non-slippery surface. I'm not an expert but maybe a mechanic can tell us why this happens. Seems like the differential function that allows wheels to spin at different speeds while turning doesn't work in 4WD.

[headhigh]

Ohhh, be careful Bill. Be careful running 4wd on a non-slippery / non-gravel surface. You can do damage to the inner workings.

It's a really good idea to switch it into 4wd once or twice a month if you don't run it off road regularly. Just make sure you're on loose gravel or mud or something similar that will let the tires slip. Otherwise it puts a huge amount of pressure on the gears.

I've actually had mine lock up when I was turning out of my driveway. (I think the kids were playing around in the truck that day and switched it over to 4wd High)

[billybass]

Thanks for that info guys, I didn't realize this. This is the first 4WD I've ever owned. I'll check it out again hopefully tomorrow if I take the boat out again.

[bassnva123]

Bill this is normal for a 4x4 to do this while locked in. Essentially what is happening is both front wheels are turning at the same speed but one is covering more distance than the other, thus you feel a jerking back and forth motion on the steering wheel. It is not good to run it on the road with it locked in but doing it one time should not hurt it at all as you dont drive real rough.

[Big Johnson]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bassnva123 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Bill this is normal for a 4x4 to do this while locked in. Essentially what is happening is both front wheels are turning at the same speed but one is covering more distance than the other, thus you feel a jerking back and forth motion on the steering wheel. It is not good to run it on the road with it locked in but doing it one time should not hurt it at all as you dont drive real rough. </td></tr></table>

[vatreefarmer]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bassnva123 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Bill this is normal for a 4x4 to do this while locked in. Essentially what is happening is both front wheels are turning at the same speed but one is covering more distance than the other, thus you feel a jerking back and forth motion on the steering wheel. It is not good to run it on the road with it locked in but doing it one time should not hurt it at all as you dont drive real rough. </td></tr></table>

+1 No worries unless you make a habit out of it

[javelin225H.O.]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billybass &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Thanks for that info guys, I didn't realize this. This is the first 4WD I've ever owned. I'll check it out again hopefully tomorrow if I take the boat out again. </td></tr></table>
I know on my Dodge, they recommend not going over 45 mph. During the last snow we had I worked the night shift and drove it in 4wd all the way home from Suffolk to Franklin but kept it under 45 mph.

[TRCM]

Bill, the best thing to do is put it in auto 4wd when launching & loading. That way if you forget, no real harm done.

The jerking is a combination of the differential and the joints @ the wheels. They will bind up because they are not designed to run at that much of an angle. The jerking is coming from 1 side binding up and all the torque being sent to the other side, then it binds, and so one and so on.

I think if you read the manual, it will tell you not to turn real sharp when in 4x4. Especially low range due to the increased torque

[Sldrvr]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by headhigh &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Ohhh, be careful Bill. Be careful running 4wd on a non-slippery / non-gravel surface. You can do damage to the inner workings. </td></tr></table> Bill sounds normal, they will grab on dry surfaces and seem to jerky but that is normal.

[bassnva123]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by javelin225H.O. &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I know on my Dodge, they recommend not going over 45 mph. During the last snow we had I worked the night shift and drove it in 4wd all the way home from Suffolk to Franklin but kept it under 45 mph. </td></tr></table>
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Its a Dodge it will rust away before it breaks away...lol...j/k....