No not true. If you take MAX torque output of say a 5.9 V8. 350ftlbs, so in theory (Without counting transmission gears or the rear end gears) you got 350 at the rear axle in 2wd.

Now in 4wd low you have a 2.72 gear reduction so 952 then divide by 2 = 476ftlb. Way more than 2wd and near 1,000ftlb of torque at the transfercase.
Now do the math to add in the transmissions 1st gear and the axle ratio then you will be at a good 1,300ftlb or so at the transfercase and 650 per axle.


No EVERYTHING sees more stress in 4low like I described above.


It depends on which wheels your talking about but no if you lift one side wheel then 100% of that axles power goes to the tire IN the air vs not on the ground. So you don't have to worry about braking it when it is in the air. That is if it is an open gear assembly like 99% of vehicles do. Even if you got a locker or LSD then you will still only get 50% or less on LSD on the tire that is on the ground and the rest in the air. You will never get 100% of power to the tire on the ground when one is up in the air.

If your lifting one axle entirely then you get 100% of that axles power still trying to drive the axle. The transfercase stays in 50/50.

 

In theory that's 36% more. Not that much and well within safety margins of design.

In reality, you really don't get full engine torque in 4lo. Not when you punch it with no load. That's clear because my peak acceleration was hardly higher (0.65g vs 0.5g) in 4lo vs 2hi. Also I easily get wheelspin in 2hi, but the rear wheels don't spin at all in 4lo. If the rear axle was getting more torque in 4lo, the rear wheels would spin briefly.

Most any truck I know of with modern electronics dials things back (more aggressive torque management) when 4lo is engaged to protect the driveline.



Luckily the T-case is designed for this!

Let's say you lift a rear wheel and you have an open rear differential. As you said, the wheel in the air no longer has any traction. It also gets all the torque for that axle but cannot apply anything to the ground. However, now the front axle has the potential to get 100% torque as the rear axle no longer offers any drive.

I'm not saying launching in 4lo is easy on the car, I just don't feel it's something that's likely to cause a failure - unless something was already on its way out. I'm cool if you disagree.

Have you ever heard of anyone busting something (with stock or relatively close to stock) power levels?

 

The tcase is not designed for that and you can twist it anyway you want but when they say dont go over 25-35 mph in 4 low, you dont do it unless you dont care to spend some $$$$. I guarantee if you did that a bit more times you would find out.

 

You don't think the transfer case is deisgned to accept the torque produced by the engine? Interesting theory, but I don't agree with you.

Pulling out a stump or stuck truck in 4-lo is going to put a whole lot more strain on it.

How many times is "a bit more"? 5? 10? 25? 100? I sense a bet coming on!

 

LOL! Please do, I want to see some transfercase CARNAGE!! And if it don't then sure prove us wrong. Video tape each one to prove it. 4low 60mph, I love it. LOL

See how fast you can get, and see how much more speed you can get to, 80 or 100mph?

 

It is the speed that kills...not the torque except for other things in the drivetrain when on dry pavement. But all means be our guinea pig

 

Cant believe I missed this! It might take awhile to bust it doing 4lo launches but it wont last near as long as it should. Remember how a transfer case works its chain driven. In a normal case under proper use the chain will never stretch so they rarely fail. Under hard acceleration in 4wd puts lots of torque on the chain. You can wear the chain down fast and cause metal pieces to literally grind your internals down to nothing till one day the case just gives up and can explode. Most cases fail when in 4wd and when there is a heavy load on it. Thats one thing but yet full throttle launches put the same amount of stress on the unit. I knew one guy whose transfer case locked up on his durango. The case locked up this caused the rear end to lock up and chipped off teeth and that ruined all the gears. He would of been fine if the drive shaft didnt break but once it broke it let the rear end spin freely and all the metal in the rear chewed up all the gears that in turn of both systems locking up caused his drive shaft to twist and break. So is it worth it... no might as well just save some money for some mods instead.

 

transfer case rebuild....$750, plus a day to take out and remove and reinstall..just sayin, but that is enlightening never knew we could go so fast in 4 low LOL, but it sounds cool as hell muahaha, I"m brave but, I'd never try it

 

Yeah to be honest if you feel like there is nothing wrong with doing this i say keep doing it. make it an experiment :]

 

Yup, if there is nothing wrong with it then you will have no problem doing it a dozen or so more times.