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4x4 axle question

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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 05:23 PM
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4x4 axle question

On a 4x4, without a locking axle front or rear, what wheels have power? How does a locking axle in front and or/rear change the equation? Is there a configuration when all 4 wheels have power to them (locking axle in both front and rear)?
 
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 05:28 PM
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If you have lockers in the front and rear, and the truck is in four wheel drive, each wheel should receive an equal amount of power.

If the front and rear axles are unlocked and the truck is in four wheel drive, on the rear axle, the wheel with the least amount of traction gets the power, and the same in the front.

Correct me if I screwed it up, anybody. I am pretty sick and the medicine is kicking my butt.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by nobodyspecial
If you have lockers in the front and rear, and the truck is in four wheel drive, each wheel should receive an equal amount of power.

If the front and rear axles are unlocked and the truck is in four wheel drive, on the rear axle, the wheel with the least amount of traction gets the power, and the same in the front.

Correct me if I screwed it up, anybody. I am pretty sick and the medicine is kicking my butt.
I think you got it right, hope you feel better. My question is, is he actually reffering to LOCKERS or limited slip?

Tim
 
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 06:06 PM
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well, he used the word "lock" so, thats what I went with, if he is referring to a limited slip, then its still pretty close, except that a limited slip will not lock completely together, but attempt to deliver torque to the wheels with less traction.

Thanks for the well wishes, too. I was getting better till I spent a lot of time outside yesterday working, getting cold and hot, cold and hot. Should have taken it easy for another day or so.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 08:46 PM
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Sorry, I meant limited slip. I'm looking at the 1992 Ford Truck order guide and it was an option for both front and rear. I'm new to 4 wheel drives and I assumed that having a 4x4 meant that all 4 wheels have power, but when I saw the limited slip option for both axles, it got me thinking since my truck has neither. Is there any advantage to having limited slip as opposed to not in either or both axles? Thanks everyone for their help and I also hope you feel better.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 10:24 PM
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4x4 will get you out of situations that most of us would not of have gotten into! I am not aware of any options allowing the front axle to be locked unless you own an army vehicle; ford hasn't offered a limited slip on the front for quite a while also; use your vehicle carefully as the wheel that you need may no longer have traction! All wheels are driven equally until a slip condition occurs in the front...you still get rear traction, better if posi! What you see on tv costs a lot of money and doesn't work real well in real life when you have to drive to the grocery store.
 
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by nobodyspecial
well, he used the word "lock" so, thats what I went with, if he is referring to a limited slip, then its still pretty close, except that a limited slip will not lock completely together, but attempt to deliver torque to the wheels with less traction.

Thanks for the well wishes, too. I was getting better till I spent a lot of time outside yesterday working, getting cold and hot, cold and hot. Should have taken it easy for another day or so.
You bet! We don't learn to fast do we? I get sick sometimes and never slow down to take care of myself.

Chicken soup and Hot tea and truck trend as a good read.

Tim
 
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