I was thinking about this as I was driving through the snow. If I have a non-lsd and I am in 4wd, does that mean I really only have 3wd? I did a dead stop short run in the snow to look at the tracks and it is too hard to tell. It looked like all 4 wheels spun in the snow but without lsd I would think it should only be 3. Can someone enligthen me on this? Thanks.

 

my best understanding is that 4wd with open diffs front and rear only gives you 2wd (total)... cause least grip rear, and least grip front will get all the power... 4wd doesn't lock your diffs, it will only send power to the front differential... if that diff is also open (which i believe stock is), you'll have the same situation that you have at the back, only 1 tire getting full power... you'd need a locker or lsd to get a more effective 3wd.

 

They are both anti-slip. Sometimes they all spin tho.

If you are ever stuck you can always engage the E brake slightly to make the power go to the other rear wheel. Just a hint of advise.

Here is some great info: https://dodgeforum.com/m_574544/tm.htm

 

Hydra, you saying the front diff is limited slip as well? I think I'm gonna change the fluid in the diffs this weekend, dont know if i need one or two bottles of friction modifier...

 

Thanks for the lesson guys. The link to the other post was great, good contributions by both you guys.

 

I'd like to clarify... Hydra, is the front diff IS LOCKED in 4wd HI/LO, thats why its intended for slippery surfaces only, otherwise you get axle bind...

I read the other thread but there is so much other crap in there, and I'm just looking for one specific answer. With the NV233 is the front diff locked?

 

Pretty sure the front end is locked. My driveway is 1/4 mile long and covered with ice and snow. Yesterday after reading this thread I went out and did a dynamic test (donuts in the driveway). My '01 was churning stuff up over both sides of the hood under power and I had a good layer of crud caked up in both rear wells too.
Also, when in 2wd I could swear I feel a little bind with the wheel cranked to the lock.

 

i thought it was locked, cause of all the snow driving I do, but when reading the service manual i couldn't uncoveranything about the locked/openess of the fornt diff...

 

Nobody here has a locked front differential, unless they put one in aftermarket. They are all open. 2wd is really 1wd and 4wd is really 2wd, unless you have a limited slip or locker in the rear, then you're 3wd.

Just because all four tires have power in the ice or snow doesn't mean the diffs are locked. It happens when no tires have traction. But as soon as 1 tire gets traction, it will stop and the opposite one will keep spinning and you'll continue to go nowhere.

 

so

I have the nv144 transfer case

on myswitch I only have a 2wd and 4 lock

so what does that mean?

some thing must lock up

cause man one day on dry pavement I put in 4 lock and I could not even turn

and the snow is like it is not even there, my buddy durango with the 4 hi/lo switch was spinning the tires in 4wd mine will not at all zero!! even if I try

2002 durango SXT 4.7 48000 miles