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four wheel drive question

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Old 01-17-2009, 10:38 PM
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Hey guys. I have a question for you 4 wheel drive gurus. I was driving through town on ice and salt so switched the truck into 4 high. Stopped off for a soda and got back on the road and forgot that I still had it in 4 high. But didnt realize it until I had gone several miles down the highway at around 75-80 MPH. Once I realized that I was still in 4 high I flipped it back to 2 wd. Do you think I hurt anything?
 
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Old 01-17-2009, 11:02 PM
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Probably not because you were still able to drive, and you didn't mention you heard any loud, bad noises.
It's not good on the components though, as you know.
 
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Old 01-17-2009, 11:03 PM
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Chances are no you didnt. It would typically be obvious if something broke. The reason you don't want to drive in 4 wheel drive on a normal road is that the tranfer case locks the 2 axles together so they are forced to go the same speed, and when you take a turn the 2 axles need to go different speeds. Chances are all that happened were you pulled the tires around the turn, cause if you broke something you would have heard or felt something snap.
 
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Old 01-18-2009, 12:03 AM
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Yea, turning on dry pavement in 4WD... your drivetrain doesn't like that, and makes some weird noises. This I know.
But, no damage was done by this, in my case.
 
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Old 01-18-2009, 01:01 AM
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Like said above if you didnt hear or feel nothing most chances are you are okay.

Another reason why it is bad to drive on pavment in 4wd even if it is a straght line is because the tranfercase puts the front axles 50 50, and the diff gears have to be the same to turn. This meens that there is no room for a few varribles like if tires are differnt sized due to pressure. And the front axle ratio is not exactly the same as the rear. Even if it says so. For example if the rear is 3.55 the front is 3.56 or 3.57. Even if it says 3.55. The reason the do this is to make the rear turn faster then the front for turns. If it was exactly the same then the fronts would start binding up quick on turns, so this allows for some more slack. And any type of binding no matter how much is not good. So that is why when you engage it in 4wd it is best to driveing on a servace where the tires can slip a little if they have to, to lessin up the binding. Sorry for the long explantion I just rembered learning all of this is school.
 

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Old 01-18-2009, 01:11 AM
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Excellent. That is a relief! Thanks for the prompt and educational responses guys, honestly, thanks.
 



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