AWD & chains, all 4 wheels?
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AWD & chains, all 4 wheels?
What setup do I use with AWD (93) and snow chains? A friend who works at a transmission shop says I should put them on all four wheels or it will tear up the transfer case. But it seems like the transfer case should take care of itself if I put them on the rears only.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
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Originally Posted by duggmann
What setup do I use with AWD (93) and snow chains? A friend who works at a transmission shop says I should put them on all four wheels or it will tear up the transfer case. But it seems like the transfer case should take care of itself if I put them on the rears only.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Rochester, NY
You need to have consistant traction at all the drive wheels. Same goes for snow tires. If one axle has grip and the other slips readily, then the clutch in the t-case is going to be constantly cycling. When it isn't engaged, you'll be getting fairly high differential rates across the center diff. I see it as potentially causing accelerated clutch wear or high impact loadings on the differential, depending on how rapidly it engages. Neither is healthy.
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I often use chains on my RWD when travelling in the Alps. On extremely slippery conditions, even AWD won't help you. In such areas, AWD vehicles have chains on all 4 wheels.
I remember one time I had an Audi Quattro (with snow tires) in front of me. Everyone else had chains except him. He didn't make it up a slight hill and blocked the traffic. I talked to the driver, we put a blanket between his and my Aerostar's bumber and I pushed him up the hill.
I remember one time I had an Audi Quattro (with snow tires) in front of me. Everyone else had chains except him. He didn't make it up a slight hill and blocked the traffic. I talked to the driver, we put a blanket between his and my Aerostar's bumber and I pushed him up the hill.
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From: Rochester, NY
A lot depends on conditions. I've driven AWD vehicles with snow tires in slippery conditions and have done well. I've been winter road rallying around western NY for a number of years and have seen all sorts of things. I've also spent a fair amount of time at various vehicle proving grounds in winter conditions. What it comes down to is the driver's ability and the specific conditions at the time...
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Thanks for all the responses...I took my 93 awd to Lake Tahoe over New Year's. It snowed 5' in 4 days. Never got stuck, never chained up, but I had cables for front and back. At the chain checkpoint, the CHP were actually checking all 4wd vehicles to see if they were carrying chains. While I was up there, I drove to Reno and back, The highway was 40 miles of sheet ice. Again, no problems, just had to drive carefully.
BTW, this is my fourth Aerostar. I bought a 93 cargo new and sold it at 100k mi, a 97 xlt new and traded it on a Dodge Ram, bought back the 93 cargo from the guy I sold it to at 180k miles, bought this 93 awd xlt from a friend at 195k miles, and just bought a 97 awd xlt with 127k on it. As you can tell, I have a bit of an Aerostar fetish, 3 in possession, but they run forever, are fairly easy to fix (which I rarely have to do), they're cheap to own, and they have the best utilization of space of any of the minivans. Ford blew it when they took it out of production.
BTW, this is my fourth Aerostar. I bought a 93 cargo new and sold it at 100k mi, a 97 xlt new and traded it on a Dodge Ram, bought back the 93 cargo from the guy I sold it to at 180k miles, bought this 93 awd xlt from a friend at 195k miles, and just bought a 97 awd xlt with 127k on it. As you can tell, I have a bit of an Aerostar fetish, 3 in possession, but they run forever, are fairly easy to fix (which I rarely have to do), they're cheap to own, and they have the best utilization of space of any of the minivans. Ford blew it when they took it out of production.
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Originally Posted by duggmann
Thanks for all the responses...I took my 93 awd to Lake Tahoe over New Year's. It snowed 5' in 4 days. Never got stuck, never chained up, but I had cables for front and back. At the chain checkpoint, the CHP were actually checking all 4wd vehicles to see if they were carrying chains. While I was up there, I drove to Reno and back, The highway was 40 miles of sheet ice. Again, no problems, just had to drive carefully.
BTW, this is my fourth Aerostar. I bought a 93 cargo new and sold it at 100k mi, a 97 xlt new and traded it on a Dodge Ram, bought back the 93 cargo from the guy I sold it to at 180k miles, bought this 93 awd xlt from a friend at 195k miles, and just bought a 97 awd xlt with 127k on it. As you can tell, I have a bit of an Aerostar fetish, 3 in possession, but they run forever, are fairly easy to fix (which I rarely have to do), they're cheap to own, and they have the best utilization of space of any of the minivans. Ford blew it when they took it out of production.
BTW, this is my fourth Aerostar. I bought a 93 cargo new and sold it at 100k mi, a 97 xlt new and traded it on a Dodge Ram, bought back the 93 cargo from the guy I sold it to at 180k miles, bought this 93 awd xlt from a friend at 195k miles, and just bought a 97 awd xlt with 127k on it. As you can tell, I have a bit of an Aerostar fetish, 3 in possession, but they run forever, are fairly easy to fix (which I rarely have to do), they're cheap to own, and they have the best utilization of space of any of the minivans. Ford blew it when they took it out of production.
You know what was the greatest thing??? Even though I was in the snowbank for about two feet on the front end, I just popped the car in reverse and got out like it was nuttin!
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Chains on awd really come into their own stopping on icy road conditions. Rubber tires even with the new high adhesive rubber or studs have little stopping power. The Aerostar AWD, especially the Extended, have a 60/40 weight distribution and will go places they should not be with the low ground clearance. Just love to see those big diesel 4wdr PU's with their 90/10 weight distribution going down the icy freeway in 360 loops at 60 mph on those ridiculous wide oversize tires. The drivers all have these silent screams of terror on their faces before they slam into the overpass abutement and cut that big turbo diesel in two.
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