How does my front 4X4 work?
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 305
Likes: 14
Interesting thread. Can someone explain why my truck bucks like a mad bronco when turning tight on pavement both hubs are locked in 4wd? Is something wrong? I've got to the point where I just lock one in unless I'm on snow or ice.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 571
Likes: 4
From: hondo
The answers are all here, but not clearly so I'll try to simplify it. The hubs lock each front axle to it's wheel. The axles get their power from the differential. The differential is open meaning that it feely allows both axles to spin independently. Any time that one tire is able to slip more easily than the other one it will, and the tire with better traction will get very little power.
Any time one tire is spinning you can power brake to help transfer power to the other one. Put pressure on the brake pedal while throttling, the brakes being applied will help put a load on the free spinning tire which will transfer more power to the other one.
Any time one tire is spinning you can power brake to help transfer power to the other one. Put pressure on the brake pedal while throttling, the brakes being applied will help put a load on the free spinning tire which will transfer more power to the other one.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10,750
Likes: 1,065
From: Douglassville, PA
Because your front and rear axles are locked in sync but they are driving different arcs. If you really want an experience do it in 4x4 low.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 34
From: Los Angeles, Ca.
When going around a turn the front tires need to spin faster than the rears because they're taking a longer path. In 4wd the front & rear are locked together so what you're feeling is tires breaking loose then grabbing repeatedly. It puts a lot of strain and shock loads on everything from the hubs to the transfer case and could break something so avoid it. If you need 4wd frequently, leave the hubs locked and put the transfer case in 2wd when 4 isn't needed. Much quicker & easier than getting out to lock/unlock a hub. Hubs locked and T-case in 2wd is perfectly safe.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 833
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
Locking one hub is absolutely pointless.... might as well not even engage 4wd.... because the front wheels won't be pulling anyway.
Like stated, when BOTH hubs are locked and the transfer case is engaged, the front and rear tires spin at the same speed. When turning, the front wheels have to travel farther than the rears. This will cause the rear end to slide or skip, or, if the bed is loaded, the front end will skid, hop, and "push"
Like stated, when BOTH hubs are locked and the transfer case is engaged, the front and rear tires spin at the same speed. When turning, the front wheels have to travel farther than the rears. This will cause the rear end to slide or skip, or, if the bed is loaded, the front end will skid, hop, and "push"
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