Yes you could install a switch to engage the clutches for 50/50 split. But the issue with this is that you will burn up the T-case in no time. It was not designed to be run like this for more than a minute or so.
__________________ '97 Ford Aerostar AWD 4.0L v6 AT 84k mi '07 Ford Taurus SE 3.0 Vulcan ATX 42k mi, Last of the original Tauri
So This is not a good van for Driving in heavy snow ? My street is one of the last ones to get plowed after a good snow, getting out can be hard sometimes. I was hopeing this van with agressive studed snow tires would do the job. It serves the function for every thing else I need it to do. Or is the way it is set up good enough ?
it is not 50/50 split. It is locked center diff.
AWD aero has assimetrical center diff, and you cant change its ratio, but manual diff lock is a good idea.
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And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
So This is not a good van for Driving in heavy snow ? My street is one of the last ones to get plowed after a good snow, getting out can be hard sometimes. I was hopeing this van with agressive studed snow tires would do the job. It serves the function for every thing else I need it to do. Or is the way it is set up good enough ?
What? I did not say that.
Just the stock AWD with good radial tires on it rocks in heavy snow. I have seen giant Rams and Cheby's slide back and fourth on ice and snow, yet the Aero goes through the stuff with confidence and very little slippage. The normal 30% front 70% back is more than enough to get you going through the deepest slop. Trust me, I have gone through multiple snow storms/unplowed roads in mountain terran in mine, and no problems.
__________________ '97 Ford Aerostar AWD 4.0L v6 AT 84k mi '07 Ford Taurus SE 3.0 Vulcan ATX 42k mi, Last of the original Tauri
I was once on a ski trip where the snow collected up to the bumpers when I came back at the end of the day. I was noticing 8 guys trying to push a Suburban next to me out of the ruts that it had somehow dug itself into. I did some clearing behind each wheel using my windshield scraper, and just casually backed out and went on my way.
I think part of the Aero's advantage is its 4wd computer automatically engages the front-rear lockup only when it needs to, and the rest of the time the standard configuration works just fine. Mine also has the limited slip rear diff, so that helps a lot in slippery conditions. So in the worst case, the van is 3wd.
I have a normal (open) rear end and have never had problems with sliping, sliding, and not being able to move in the worst snow storms. I haven't been mud bogging so I will leave that to Pablo's expertese.
__________________ '97 Ford Aerostar AWD 4.0L v6 AT 84k mi '07 Ford Taurus SE 3.0 Vulcan ATX 42k mi, Last of the original Tauri
I can confirm that. Right now, my AWD system isn't even functioning properly, and it still rocks in snow. With the right tire, the Aero can handle most snow conditions. This past winter I drove though snow deep enough that the bumper was pushing snow, and it still went though it very well. Lots of 4WD trucks were getting stuck in the same stuff.
yeah, I agree. well, why aero have assymetrical center diff? First of all, if you press gas pedal in curve too agressively rear axe skids in RWD case and front if it is FWD car. But vehicles with all time AWD with 50:50 center diff run different way. really all torque is divedes 25:25:25:25 for all wheels and what wheels will skid depends on weight distribution and linear and angle accelerations. To feel it you are to have many years experience. I used to drive russian Niva (now Chevy Niva on European market), Subaru legasy and forester. It is really dificult. That's why designers made assymetrical diff to avoid this kind of problems. LSD is not for soccer moms too. After you get out deep snow to ice rear axe skids in curve for some seconds and it is enought to do 180 dgr turn and hit a couple of cars. That's why LSD are not popular on family vans. So stock AWD aero has open diffs. Yes, there are controlled diff locks, but this is professinal thing.
Well, to overide central awd lock is a good idea, if you will not forget to turn it off. First of all drivong with locked center differential you overload drive line, T-case, CVs.... from other side van may skid in curve on skid surface (wet pavement - is enought, belive me), that's why manual T-cases dissapeare. Override is usually automaticly turns off whem car runs faster 10-15 MPH ore when you turn ign on and turn it on. Simple switch may play a bad role for you. BTW, if you leave T-case lock coil actuated for more then one hour, it may overheat, toast and fail and I'm not sure will you install fuse to override circuit. I think, better to have button you press when you need, and when you release it, AWD lock disangages.
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And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
If you were to manually lock the center diff, the torque split would not be 50/50. It would be instantaneously variable between 0/100 and 100/0. That means that if one end looses grip, the other end gets 100% of available torque and as such does 100% of the driving. That's also what you get with a 4x4 truck in 4HI or 4LO. The actually torque split will vary constantly while driving with conditions and you'd only get the 50/50 under relatively ideal conditions (which probably don't necessitate the lock up). In all probability, the torque distribution while locked will follow the weight distribution until condition change.
With all of that said, the idea of being able to lock up the clutch manually isn't new, we've talked about it here several times. I haven't been around in a while, so I can't say if it's come up recently or not though. However, I know the Ford AWD system engineer that was chief engineer for the Aerostar AWD system. I've worked with him on other AWD programs, and asked him about doing just that. He actually thought that it might improve the locking clutch durability in poor conditions, since it would reduce the number of on/off slip cycles that it would go through. He said that the clutch itself is good sized and can handle being continuously locked for a period of time.
So with that in mind, it ought to be easy enough to do. I envisioned using a rotary switch, like the 4WD switch in an Explorer. The three switch modes could be set to allow it to run open (signal to the AWD clutch power disrupted), auto (signal connected to the AWD controller as OEM) and 4HI (AWD clutch always powered).
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Rick Barnes
'66 Ford Ranchero - a mess
'79 Suzuki GS750E -daily rider
'84 Ford EXP Turbo Coupe - TBD
'88 Mazda 323GTX - winter/rally car
'91 Mercury Capri - summer car
'97 Ford Aerostar XLT AWD - DarkStar
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I did not say that. 
