...another funny fact from Monsta
Excursion 4WD experiences?
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2007
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Excursion 4WD experiences?
Hello Everyone. I'm new to the forum. I have been in the ford family for a while, but more recently have been lookingat the purchase of an excursion to meet my towing needs, while stil having the ability to carry people.
I have recently test drove several excursions and have a couple differnt experiences with the 4WD system in both high and low on dry pavment when turning. I am under the undertanding that it is a locking diff, but should the truck be really "hopping" when turning in 4wd on dry pavment? The wheel rotates violently and the wheel (inside) drags on the pavement. The desiels i drove didnt do it, but the gas models did. Is this normal?
Thanks!
I have recently test drove several excursions and have a couple differnt experiences with the 4WD system in both high and low on dry pavment when turning. I am under the undertanding that it is a locking diff, but should the truck be really "hopping" when turning in 4wd on dry pavment? The wheel rotates violently and the wheel (inside) drags on the pavement. The desiels i drove didnt do it, but the gas models did. Is this normal?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2007
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wow..so much info on these boards!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-street-3.html
I have never owned a 4wd vehicle and had no idea. I guess this is what i was experiencing (in the thread above).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is directly from the FMC manual.
Basic operating principles
• Do not use 4WD on dry, hard surfaced roads. Doing so will produce
excessive noise, increase tire wear and may damage drive components.
4WD modes are only intended for consistently slippery or loose surfaces.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-street-3.html
I have never owned a 4wd vehicle and had no idea. I guess this is what i was experiencing (in the thread above).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is directly from the FMC manual.
Basic operating principles
• Do not use 4WD on dry, hard surfaced roads. Doing so will produce
excessive noise, increase tire wear and may damage drive components.
4WD modes are only intended for consistently slippery or loose surfaces.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 241
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From: Damascus
yep normal. Ok to test this way BUT don't drive that way, not made for dry pavementthe wheels are turning at different rates the "hop" is the wheels trying to compensate for that rate differance. This won't be noticed in snow ice or mud and to some extent on wet pavement because the wheels can slip a little instead of hopping
Master of Strokes
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: CA
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Posting Guru
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So from what I understand you can have the 4WD engaged on pavement or concrete as long as its snowing or raining and you need that extra traction.
It would also be fine if you used it at the drag strip to get extra traction so you won't roast the tires, just don't make a turn at the drag strip with 4WD engaged. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
It would also be fine if you used it at the drag strip to get extra traction so you won't roast the tires, just don't make a turn at the drag strip with 4WD engaged. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
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Brett Foote
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Providence, RI
Originally Posted by aortizexcursion
So from what I understand you can have the 4WD engaged on pavement or concrete as long as its snowing or raining and you need that extra traction.
It would also be fine if you used it at the drag strip to get extra traction so you won't roast the tires, just don't make a turn at the drag strip with 4WD engaged. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
It would also be fine if you used it at the drag strip to get extra traction so you won't roast the tires, just don't make a turn at the drag strip with 4WD engaged. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Deeper snow, dirt, gravel, sand, mud; those are the only surfaces on which you can use the X's part-time 4wd system.
And yeah, at the dragstrip as well, I suppose.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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Obviously I'm confused here, so someone please show me where...
Why do the wheels skip and hop? (I know they skip and hop b/c the wheels are turning at different speeds on the same axle, but why does that cause problems) It seems that because the X has open diffs, it woudn't make a difference whether the 4 wheel drive is engaged or not, because the 2 tires will still be able to rotate at different speeds, right?
Thanks,
Isaac
Why do the wheels skip and hop? (I know they skip and hop b/c the wheels are turning at different speeds on the same axle, but why does that cause problems) It seems that because the X has open diffs, it woudn't make a difference whether the 4 wheel drive is engaged or not, because the 2 tires will still be able to rotate at different speeds, right?
Thanks,
Isaac
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 283
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From: Minnesota
And why would you want to take the Excursion on a dragstrip?
To the dragstrip I understand. Towing the drag car I understand.
But why subject that torture to a 4wd workhorse? A 2wd maybe.
I guess grandpa had it right. "You can throw a saddle on a hog too."
As I've grown older I understand more why our elders just sat there and shook their heads in wonder at our lack of forsight.
Then laughed when I told you so happened.
Oh well, Rich.
To the dragstrip I understand. Towing the drag car I understand.
But why subject that torture to a 4wd workhorse? A 2wd maybe.
I guess grandpa had it right. "You can throw a saddle on a hog too."
As I've grown older I understand more why our elders just sat there and shook their heads in wonder at our lack of forsight.
Then laughed when I told you so happened.
Oh well, Rich.
Last edited by Move over I'm coming; Oct 12, 2007 at 12:39 AM. Reason: fitting
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
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From: Washington State
The wheel hops due to the use of a U-joint at the axle shaft. On a tight turn it binds up. Just the nature of the beast. If there were CV joints instead there wouldn't be any binding.
Since the front DIFFERENTIAL is open, the hopping has absolutely NOTHING to do with wheel speed differences.
Since the front DIFFERENTIAL is open, the hopping has absolutely NOTHING to do with wheel speed differences.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 41
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From: SE Louisiana
Don't forget that in 4 wheel drive, the transfer case locks the front axle to the rear axle. There is no "differential action" between the front and rear axles.
In a turn, all 4 wheels turn at a different rate. On a slippery surface, everything works great because the tires can slip to accomodate for the differences in speed in a turn.
On a concrete surface, the tires have lots of traction and they certainly resist slipping. In a turn, if the front and rear axles are locked and the tires can't slip, the drivetrain binds. This binding or drivetrain "wrap" will continue to increase until:
In a turn, all 4 wheels turn at a different rate. On a slippery surface, everything works great because the tires can slip to accomodate for the differences in speed in a turn.
On a concrete surface, the tires have lots of traction and they certainly resist slipping. In a turn, if the front and rear axles are locked and the tires can't slip, the drivetrain binds. This binding or drivetrain "wrap" will continue to increase until:
1) the tires slip,
2) a tire or tires "hop" up off of the pavement and counter-rotate to relieve the wrap, or
3) something breaks.
You can actually do a little test to prove this to yourself and to help you understand it. On a concrete parking lot, lock the transfer case into 4 wheel drive and turn the steering wheel all the way to 1 extreme. Take your foot off of the brake and slowly allow your truck to move forward without pressing the accelerator. You will feel the drivetrain tighten and begin to bind - the binding builds gradually, but in just a short distance. Then, without moving the steering wheel, back up and you will feel and realize that the drivetrain is "unwrapping"!
2) a tire or tires "hop" up off of the pavement and counter-rotate to relieve the wrap, or
3) something breaks.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Providence, RI
Originally Posted by Monsta
The wheel hops due to the use of a U-joint at the axle shaft. On a tight turn it binds up. Just the nature of the beast. If there were CV joints instead there wouldn't be any binding.
Since the front DIFFERENTIAL is open, the hopping has absolutely NOTHING to do with wheel speed differences.
Since the front DIFFERENTIAL is open, the hopping has absolutely NOTHING to do with wheel speed differences.
As noted just above, it is the fact that the sum of the wheel-rotation in the front-axle differs from the sum of the wheel-rotation in the rear-axle, so when they are locked together through the transfer-case being engaged, the difference in wheel-speeds has to work itself out somewhere, and that somewhere is usually in the front wheels hopping and skipping (or driveshaft or axle-parts breaking
). The differential in each axle only accounts for the differences in rotation between the two wheels on that axle. When there is a center differential on the full-time transfer-cases, the driveshafts are able to turn at different speeds and there is no binding. Unfortunately, that never seemed to be an option for the Excursions. 
Post Fiend
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You CAN use 4x4 if u are going straight or on a surface that will give, like dirt or heavy snow...
what u will find is u won't NEED it 95% of the time...
and yes, u CAN take an ex to the track MANY do !
and that big boat will SHOCK as many as are there...
what u will find is u won't NEED it 95% of the time...
and yes, u CAN take an ex to the track
MANY do !and that big boat will SHOCK as many as are there...