steering while in 4x4?

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Aug 30, 2003 | 03:22 PM

DW2455

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From: Independence, MO

steering while in 4x4?

Question of the day! I was in a big parking lot decided i would lock in the hubs, put it in 4H and ride through the parking lot to lube the front axle, rolling just above idle speed i try a uturn when i start in the turn it feels like the front end jerked from side to side, like somthing tried to bind,almost felt like lugs were loose and the wheel was wabbling,but it wasn't. now everything looks tight, feels tight, and in two wheel drive it drives nice and tight and feels real good. IS this just a characteristic of a 4X4? can you just not turn very sharp with four wheel drive locked in? or do i have a problem that i'm not aware of??

Thnx in advance for your help! DW

Aug 30, 2003 | 03:31 PM

AlM

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steering while in 4x4?

yo DW,
That is normal when in 4x4 on a dry (non-slippery) surface.
Try making wider turns when doing this or wait for a rainy day to run through 4x4 hi and low for general maint.
BTW, the Ford owner's Guide and many 4x4 tutorials warn against having your thumb(s) wrapped around the steering wheel when off-roading or doing what you did on dry roads. Mnay thumbs have been fractured or tendons/ligs torn by that wheel.

Aug 30, 2003 | 03:41 PM

DW2455

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From: Independence, MO

steering while in 4x4?

well that dont sound like fun! thanks for the reply, i wounder if maybe it was just to sharp of turn with the axles locked. but it good to know theres nothing wrong.

so if your care full not to turn very sharp is okay to run in 4H on the hwy if its snowing or the roads are bad? DW

Aug 30, 2003 | 04:41 PM

mrit

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From: Lynnwood

steering while in 4x4?

If you just want to lube the front axle parts, Lock the hubs OR put it in 4hi. This will let everything in the axle get lubed without the binding. If its snowing its okay to use 4hi on the highway(if there is snow on the ground) I think ford says not to go above 55 or something like that, but why would someone go that fast in the snow anyways

Aug 30, 2003 | 05:09 PM

DW2455

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From: Independence, MO

steering while in 4x4?

well that what i did except i locked the hubs and put it in 4H,

riding in the parking lot. DW

Aug 30, 2003 | 08:25 PM

92exploder

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From: NJ

steering while in 4x4?

when you have the front locked in and try to turn, the inside tire is still trying to turn as fast as the outside tire. when you are off-road or in the snow the tires can slip enough, but on dry pavement they can't, hence the binding. you really shouldn't run in 4hi or lo on dry pavement... it is tough on the drivetrain... especially if your tires aren't all the same diameter...

Aug 31, 2003 | 01:56 AM

88DesertBronco

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steering while in 4x4?

I believe what really happens is that in 4 wheel drive the front and rear, through the transfer case, are what can "bind". The front, like the rear, has a differential, which allows the outside wheel in a turn to move faster. But the front and rear drive shaft are locked together by the transfer case gears and they are forced to turn at the same rate. Imagine if the front tires are smaller than the rear. The front tires would "want" to spin faster than the rear, or spin the drive shaft faster, but they can't. This causes drive line torque to build, and the tires would skid along. In slippery stuff, like dirt, sand, snow, any mismatch is made up by tire slippage. On pavement the tire grip delays the slippage and torques the drive shafts until either the tire skids, or something breaks.... If left in 4, then eventually any outsized tire would wear down to match the others. My Bronco was stuck in 4H for a week, (the transfer shift lever was put in backwards, so pushing into 2W really pulled into 4H), and I drove around on the freeways at 70--must have made all my tires the same size after that! That was "unnecessary wear on the driveline"