4 wheel drive

[andrewk]

I wouldn't panic about 4x4 on a hard road for any short dsitances, transmission wind up in my experience is a rarity and usualy a result of miss-matched tyres as much as anything else, its not good practice, but not anyhting to realy worry about a few hundred yards every now and again wont do any harm.

I had the Trooper for quite long enough to know that you are right. I once drove over 20 miles in 4wd towing a caravan, without transmission wind-up. It wasn't deliberate and I cannot explain why I didn't notice. I suspect that, as the road was pretty rough, the reduced downforce on the front wheels due to the weight on the towball was enough to lift the front wheels slip every now & then just enough to avoid wind-up.

Having said that, it's not a great idea to do it deliberately - especially if you want to go round corners.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Deleted Member S]

But you're both answering the wrong question. I'm not doubting that that is a good way to test wether you're in 2wd or 4wd but it will not tell you whether you're front hubs have released when you go back to 2wd.

Your right about that HB :smile: remember in Yorkshire when I had to keep stopping as I kept getting a funny noise which turned out to be the front hubs which had not unlocked after backing up to release then :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

bin off road today backed up 3ft as manual says to get out of 4x4 but didnt hear a click is all ok

HB, the nice man asked about disengaging 4x4? it is a valid answer t the question if a little different from yours! If you want to check if the hubs are completely dissengaged there is another question. Personaly I would begin with a strip clean and lubriacate of the auto hubs as seen in the downlaods to get and idea of how (and if) they work, and then follow HB's advice.

I have only known wind-up occure twice and both wer on vehicles that had been used in 4x4 for a very long time by owners who were not aware they were in 4x4 at all! one was a frontera and one was a Fiat Panda 4x4, If i remember correctl it did no seroius damage to either just started to behave strangley, the panda's rear wheels locked!

 

[rossco]

There is 2 points here that need to be considered 4x4 or locking hubs

1. to put a vehicle into 4x4 is a case of using the 4x4 shift which engages the transfer case which go to the front wheels.

To get out of 4x4 disengage the transfer case.

2. If you have automatic hubs the springs basically feel the power come on from being engaged into 4x4 and lock in

To disengage the automatic hubs you need to back up to release the tension off the springs.


You can still drive in 4x4 with the automatic hubs off if they unlock themselves by mistake if you reversed somewhere.

You can also drive with the automatic hubs locked in and not be in 4x4 as they might not have disengaged properly.

The recommended procedure is to back 3 feet personally I go back further and wish I had manual hubs in to avoid the hassle of not knowing if they came out or not.

You well feel the wheels trying to pull you in straight line when turning if they are locked in.

 

[NNMan]

I wouldn't panic about 4x4 on a hard road for any short dsitances, transmission wind up in my experience is a rarity and usualy a result of miss-matched tyres as much as anything else, its not good practice, but not anyhting to realy worry about a few hundred yards every now and again wont do any harm.

I would, wind up can happen in the space of a few meters, dont use 4 wheel drive on the road. same as dont have tyres with different amount off tread ware on the same axel this will also lead to wind up.

my vitara was well abused I now feel sorry for it now and wish I knew what i know now about taking a little care.

 

[leo23]

thanx 4 the disscusion guys!!think its not locked cause its all running free just wanted to check as i reverse 10 ft at speed

 

[jims-terrano]

I think everyone have given valid points and advice, as we all know these little chunks of metal are quite delicate. My point of view are that they are a good idea but kind of unreliable and I wouldn't go back to auto's, my manuals are fine as it's not often I come across the need for 4wd unexpectedly. When I know I'm likely to need 4wd I just engage them before I set off but less of manuals they have been discussed before.

The green 4wd light only lights up to say 4wd has been selected and does not indicate the state of the hubs in any way.

When I had auto hubs the click was never reliably quiet or loud.

If the front hubs are locked and 2wd is selected you should not cause any harm at all. You will feel different steering and it may not have the same get up and go about the performance. The chances are they will disengage by themselves anyway if left. I have heard of people locking the auto hubs and driving around every once in a while simply to keep the transmission in working order.

If you ever hear a clicking noise from the front hubs, similar to a childs bike with a lolly stick wedged in the spokes to make a noise then your hubs may indeed be faulty but this has been covered in previous threads.

Check the downloads section as there are 4wd instructions on there.


Jim T

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

I wouldn't panic about 4x4 on a hard road for any short dsitances, transmission wind up in my experience is a rarity and usualy a result of miss-matched tyres as much as anything else, its not good practice, but not anyhting to realy worry about a few hundred yards every now and again wont do any harm.

I would, wind up can happen in the space of a few meters, dont use 4 wheel drive on the road. same as dont have tyres with different amount off tread ware on the same axel this will also lead to wind up.

my vitara was well abused I now feel sorry for it now and wish I knew what i know now about taking a little care.

ref mismatched tyres on same axle. surely differential will allow that unless you're referring to an lsd fitted axle. what of these silly space savers many cars have.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

RBRT, i think the same can be said with different tyres on front and back when in 4x4 as that is what transmission wind up is caused by odd wheel rotations in 4x4 not 2x4

many cars hav a central diff to cope with this but a terrano doesn't so thats where the issue arrises, so same tyres all round not just on the same axel!

otherwise as you say if it was tyres on the smae axel that caused the issus any car with a space saver would be in trouble, unles of course it was exactly the same diameter, as that is the sixe difference that counts.

 

[rustic]

I had the same problem with 4 wheel drive, never knowing if the drive is disengaged after reversing back 3 feet or so, I was going to design and fit a sensor to the front propshaft that would auto detect a moving prop shaft, flash a light on the panel, but after owning the vehicle for 12 years, never got round to fitting it.
In the winter when there is snow and ice, if I engage 4x4 then I slip it in and out as required, and don't reverse back, this way you can engage it for a few hundred metres or so and there is no clicking as the hubs remain engaged.
Another thing you can do is paint a white spot or two on the front drive shafts and check them with a torch to see if they have rotated after driving.
Don't rotate the shafts by hand as they will engage the hubs.
Hope this helps.
best regards and a Merry Christmas to all
Rustic

 

[NNMan]

As plank said there is no center diff so these things do cause a problem

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

but on the other hand the centre diff while helping to prevent wind up does acount for the lack of traction in rav4's and freelanders, so it is also what makes a T2 a proper tractor :lol: :lol: