Hello all,

A few weeks I wrote a message regarding what I thought was some kind of binding going on in my transfer case. A couple of you told me to check my fluid level etc.. I changed the fluid and it looked fine so I took it for a ride and noticed that it kept doing it except it only does it while my wheels are turned in either direction and in either 4L and 4H! When my wheels are straight in any gear it does not happen. It also does not happen in 2wd at all! It also happens in reverse! So somehow something in the front drive system is binding when in 4wd and the wheels are turned in either direction in both forward and reverse. I don't know if it is relevant or not but the rear end was rebuilt a year ago and I had a trac-lock type locker installed while my front end still has 200k miles on it. For some reason it almost feels as if the rear wheels are the ones that stop turning. Is it possible that the front and rear wheels are not working in harmony since I have a locker in the rear and factory gearing in the front? Is it possible that the trac-loc is working too well or out of adjustment or defective? I hope I haven't confused anyone with all the info. Much appreciated!

 

no a locker in the rear wont cause the wheels to lock up...it sounds like some one swapped axles on you with the wrong gear ration....which would cause the 4wd issue you are having........Check into it.

 

If it only does it in part-time 4WD and not in 2WD I think it's okay. JMO
And if the front and rear axles had different gear ratios the problem would show itself in 4WD going straight, which you say it doesn't. It only happens when turning in 4wd.JMO
Dan

 

im thinking front driveshaft u joints or axle joints... axle joints more then likely... thats why i does it when turning...

 

So if those were bad it would only happen in 4wd and not 2wd?

 

Thanks for the suggestions. It is a very weird situation. It's as if the brakes are applied as soon as you turn the steering wheel in 4wd. The tires will actually start chirping because they are not turning and the vehicle will start hopping if you push it which I try not to do.

 

u may would only feel it in 4x4... because of the extra torque... makes it worse...

 

no it doesnt have to do with that stuff


its not binding, that happens to all of us when in 4 wheel drive and turning semi hard.

Its the tires fighting eachother because all 4 (well,3 sometimes) are contributing to driving. when you are going straight they work together but when you turn, the tires on the inside have to travel less distance while the outside tires cover more distance. they are putting out the same work though. this means that the tires are kind of hopping and fighting eachother. its normal

dont sweat it

heres another explanation
ABS works as designed as long as a part time 4WD vehicle stays in 2WD mode. In 2WD all 4 wheels are able to rotate at different speeds (made possible by the differentials) and more importantly in 2WD both axles are allowed to turn at different speeds because the drive shafts feeding power to the axles are not connected.
As soon as you shift into part time 4WD (find out which kind of 4WD you have) the two drive shafts become connected inside the transfer case and both axles would be forced to turn at the same speed.

 

Troth-Thanks! I was suspicious of something like that. It feels very violent as if something is going to break. It feels like I am driving with the e-brake on. This is my first 4wd vehicle so I am ignorant of this. It has a NP 231 in it.

 

You're only supposed to use 2WD on dry pavement I hear.

 

yeah pretty much... 4x4 on pavement is baaadd.... deff if your trying to pull one another... theres a 06 King Ranch in the diesel shop with a busted tranny and front axle because he thought he could out pull a cummins on concrete... both are idiots...

 

Ya! It all makes sense now thanks to TROTH! I am so happy because I bought the thing in early Dec. 08 and a few weeks later I got laid off. Except for the rear end being rebuilt, the thing has been sitting there staring at me because I thought the transfercase was bad and I was afraid to spend the money because of my employment situation. Thanks again TROTH! Now I can register it and take it off road in 4wd only!