Gear box
- mike
- Last minute Mike
- Posts: 3545
- Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2002 12:00 pm
- Location: Christchurch - The place I'd like to be
Hi Surf,
As long there is slippage between the road and tyres then you are sweet ie snow, ice, gravel road etc
What happens when you engage 4wd is the front wheels are then locked to the rear wheels and when you corner the rear wheels travel less distance than the front causing massive strain on the drive train on tarmac as they are locked togeather but fighting each other. If there is no slippage between the tyres and the road then either something will brake or you will get transmission windup (with damage?) where you will eventually just stop. If this happens you will have trouble disengaging 4wd and will have to jack a wheel up to 'unwind' the drive train.
Mike
As long there is slippage between the road and tyres then you are sweet ie snow, ice, gravel road etc
What happens when you engage 4wd is the front wheels are then locked to the rear wheels and when you corner the rear wheels travel less distance than the front causing massive strain on the drive train on tarmac as they are locked togeather but fighting each other. If there is no slippage between the tyres and the road then either something will brake or you will get transmission windup (with damage?) where you will eventually just stop. If this happens you will have trouble disengaging 4wd and will have to jack a wheel up to 'unwind' the drive train.
Mike
Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:29 pm
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Hi Surf,
Doesnt this only happen when the hubs are engaged in 4wd as well. If the hubs are in free wheel then no drive is being transfered to the road wheels therefore no drive line problems
no dout I will be corrected if I'm wrong
cheers DJ
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Hi Surf,
quote]As long there is slippage between the road and tyres then you are sweet ie snow, ice, gravel road etc
What happens when you engage 4wd is the front wheels are then locked to the rear wheels and when you corner the rear wheels travel less distance than the front causing massive strain on the drive train on tarmac as they are locked togeather but fighting each other
there is no slippage between the tyres and the road then either something will brake or you will get transmission windup (with damage?) where you will eventually just stop. If this happens you will have trouble disengaging 4wd and will have to jack a wheel up to 'unwind' the drive train.[
Doesnt this only happen when the hubs are engaged in 4wd as well. If the hubs are in free wheel then no drive is being transfered to the road wheels therefore no drive line problems
no dout I will be corrected if I'm wrong
cheers DJ
- tomsoffroad
- Flopsie
- Posts: 2445
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:00 pm
- Location: North Canterbury
- tomsoffroad
- Flopsie
- Posts: 2445
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:00 pm
- Location: North Canterbury
- tomsoffroad
- Flopsie
- Posts: 2445
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:00 pm
- Location: North Canterbury
- hinsonberger
- Bush Crasher
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2002 12:00 pm
- Location: Thames
Gearbox & FWHs
As previously mentioned, most definitely do not drive on the road in 4WD in a part-time 4WD vehicle. You need a fair amount of slip to avoid excessive tyre wear & transmission wind-up/damage.
Incidentally, it is very bad practice to drive with 4WD engaged & the free wheeling hubs set in the unlocked position & can do damage.
I have seen people also doing this for pulling boats up steep ramps so they can use low ratio, this is a definite no-no.
Hope this helps?
Cheers
Incidentally, it is very bad practice to drive with 4WD engaged & the free wheeling hubs set in the unlocked position & can do damage.
I have seen people also doing this for pulling boats up steep ramps so they can use low ratio, this is a definite no-no.
Hope this helps?
Cheers
Ninety 2.5P
Discovery 300Tdi
Discovery 300Tdi
How does driving in 4wd with the hubs unlocked do damage? The drive is being applied to the front wheels with no load but I fail to see how this is a bad thing - although driving up a steep boat ramp I would engage them anyway - I've seen photos of a 4wd being pulled back down a ramp until it dissapeared under water
Steve

Steve
- hinsonberger
- Bush Crasher
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2002 12:00 pm
- Location: Thames
I should have explained myself a bit clearer...doh!
What I should have mentioned is damage to the transfer case/gearbox. Most part-time 4WDs have a max speed when engaged in 4-Hi which varies depending on manufacturer. If you are driving on the highway with the transfer box in 4WD you may exceed the max speed, and things can overheat/get stressed, etc. Even if you don't exceed the max speed, some transfer cases on part-time 4WDs are not designed for sustained high speed running.
Also, regarding the boat ramp comment, I should have qualified that also mentioning that the torque in low range can be too great for just the rear wheels & place undue load on the axles, etc, while properly in 4-Lo (with hubs locked) the load & torque is spead across front & rear drivetrains.
I should remember to write & explain myself more clearly!!
Cheers
What I should have mentioned is damage to the transfer case/gearbox. Most part-time 4WDs have a max speed when engaged in 4-Hi which varies depending on manufacturer. If you are driving on the highway with the transfer box in 4WD you may exceed the max speed, and things can overheat/get stressed, etc. Even if you don't exceed the max speed, some transfer cases on part-time 4WDs are not designed for sustained high speed running.
Also, regarding the boat ramp comment, I should have qualified that also mentioning that the torque in low range can be too great for just the rear wheels & place undue load on the axles, etc, while properly in 4-Lo (with hubs locked) the load & torque is spead across front & rear drivetrains.
I should remember to write & explain myself more clearly!!
Cheers
Ninety 2.5P
Discovery 300Tdi
Discovery 300Tdi