This is true ONLY if the differentials are locked. For some years
now 4WD's have had front and rear differentials that behave just like
the two wheel drive differentials. The big difference is traction
management where power will be transfered from the wheel that looses
traction to the wheel that has some traction. You would only lock the
differentials if you are in situation where you need to drive all
wheels at the same time because none of the individual wheels can
maintain traction. The only places that come to mind where you would
need this is on say sheet ice, steep grades with very deep sand,
loose rocky grades and such. Even in the deep beach sand on the east
coast I never had to lock the differentials on my Grand Cherokee.
Bob Kitterer
1960 Sprite (Mk IV in disguise)
1966 Sprite Mk III (Trevor, in boxes)
2000 Miata Special Edition
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
On Sep 17, 2005, at 12:41 AM, Mike Rambour wrote:
> its not as completely simple as that, although the above is true.
> A true 4-wheel drive has problems driving on the street since the
> front wheels travel a different distance than the rear wheel during
> sharp turns and also unless the gears front to rear are perfectly
> matched either the front wheels will drive harder than the rears or
> the rear will push the front end, we are not talking about a lot
> here, maybe 1/100th (maybe even 1/1000th I don't know) of a
> revolution difference but that will eventually bind up the u-joints
> and if you keep a 4-wheel drive engaged on city streets, you will
> find that you "chatter" the tires more than normal and will wear
> out parts much quicker as you bind the u-joints between the front
> and the rear (hopefully you wont damage the transfer case but we
> wont get into how I know that)
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