Four Wheel Drive Functionality
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
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Four Wheel Drive Functionality
I recently became stuck in just 12" of hard snow while backing into an unplowed parking spot. My drive selection on my dash was AWD. When I got stuck, the left rear and right front wheel were the only ones spinning, so I switched my drive selection to 4LOCK. Again, only two diagonal wheels had power. I then tried 4LO with the same two wheels powered. I couldn't get power to all four wheels.
Naturally, I thought there was a malfunction with my four wheel drive system, so I sought service at my local Dodge dealer. They told me that while in AWD, the Durango is powered by one rear wheel most of the time, yet if that wheel slips, the diagonal front wheel is engaged making two drive wheels. They also said that while in 4LOCK and 4LO, two diagonal wheels are engaged full time, but still only two.
I have read specs, brochures, reviews, etc and nowhere does it say that I bought a one-wheel-drive car that can be, at best, two-wheel-drive. I had assumed all this time that I was driving an AWD car that could be switched to full time 4WD. I am disillusioned.
Can anyone shed some light on this? Are we all driving one-wheel-drive vehicles, or is my service advisor all wet? Thanks for comments!
Naturally, I thought there was a malfunction with my four wheel drive system, so I sought service at my local Dodge dealer. They told me that while in AWD, the Durango is powered by one rear wheel most of the time, yet if that wheel slips, the diagonal front wheel is engaged making two drive wheels. They also said that while in 4LOCK and 4LO, two diagonal wheels are engaged full time, but still only two.
I have read specs, brochures, reviews, etc and nowhere does it say that I bought a one-wheel-drive car that can be, at best, two-wheel-drive. I had assumed all this time that I was driving an AWD car that could be switched to full time 4WD. I am disillusioned.
Can anyone shed some light on this? Are we all driving one-wheel-drive vehicles, or is my service advisor all wet? Thanks for comments!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Fall River, MA
RE: Four Wheel Drive Functionality
That is pretty much how 4wd works and always has. You get drive in one wheel in the front and one in the rear.
You can install after market lockers or limited slip differentials which spread the power to both wheels on that particular differential. I had a vehicle with limited slip in the rear and it worked great.
As for dodge's AWD option on the selector. I never really quite understood how it worked. I always assumed that when the rear started slipping, the computer automatically switched the vehicle into 4wd for you. But others here say that is not the case and I believe that they are much more knowledgable than I am on the subject.
You can install after market lockers or limited slip differentials which spread the power to both wheels on that particular differential. I had a vehicle with limited slip in the rear and it worked great.
As for dodge's AWD option on the selector. I never really quite understood how it worked. I always assumed that when the rear started slipping, the computer automatically switched the vehicle into 4wd for you. But others here say that is not the case and I believe that they are much more knowledgable than I am on the subject.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8
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RE: Four Wheel Drive Functionality
ORIGINAL: BurleyQ
I recently became stuck in just 12" of hard snow while backing into an unplowed parking spot. My drive selection on my dash was AWD. When I got stuck, the left rear and right front wheel were the only ones spinning, so I switched my drive selection to 4LOCK. Again, only two diagonal wheels had power. I then tried 4LO with the same two wheels powered. I couldn't get power to all four wheels.
Naturally, I thought there was a malfunction with my four wheel drive system, so I sought service at my local Dodge dealer. They told me that while in AWD, the Durango is powered by one rear wheel most of the time, yet if that wheel slips, the diagonal front wheel is engaged making two drive wheels. They also said that while in 4LOCK and 4LO, two diagonal wheels are engaged full time, but still only two.
I have read specs, brochures, reviews, etc and nowhere does it say that I bought a one-wheel-drive car that can be, at best, two-wheel-drive. I had assumed all this time that I was driving an AWD car that could be switched to full time 4WD. I am disillusioned.
Can anyone shed some light on this? Are we all driving one-wheel-drive vehicles, or is my service advisor all wet? Thanks for comments!
I recently became stuck in just 12" of hard snow while backing into an unplowed parking spot. My drive selection on my dash was AWD. When I got stuck, the left rear and right front wheel were the only ones spinning, so I switched my drive selection to 4LOCK. Again, only two diagonal wheels had power. I then tried 4LO with the same two wheels powered. I couldn't get power to all four wheels.
Naturally, I thought there was a malfunction with my four wheel drive system, so I sought service at my local Dodge dealer. They told me that while in AWD, the Durango is powered by one rear wheel most of the time, yet if that wheel slips, the diagonal front wheel is engaged making two drive wheels. They also said that while in 4LOCK and 4LO, two diagonal wheels are engaged full time, but still only two.
I have read specs, brochures, reviews, etc and nowhere does it say that I bought a one-wheel-drive car that can be, at best, two-wheel-drive. I had assumed all this time that I was driving an AWD car that could be switched to full time 4WD. I am disillusioned.
Can anyone shed some light on this? Are we all driving one-wheel-drive vehicles, or is my service advisor all wet? Thanks for comments!
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
RE: Four Wheel Drive Functionality
Burley:
By nature, the carrier in our axles allows the wheel on one side to rotate faster or slower to make turning easier. A negative byproduct of this feature allows the wheel with the least traction to get all the power.
Think of all the tricks the quarter mile folks have used through the years to get equal power to both wheels. Limited Slip or Posi, Lockers, and also Spools which physically lock both shafts together, but don't work well for every day driving.
The axles in our Durangos are no different. There are hi tech 4WD/AWD systems that use computers and ABS/traction control systems in conjunction with braking to move power from one corner of a vehicle to another, but these cost more.
The stability control system available on our newer Durangos can help with some of this, but is more focused on accident avoidance than off road low speed prowess.
mpett:
While the Gen 1 Durango could be ordered with limited slip, the Gen 2 Durango 4x4's did not have that option. However, the 2WD units did.
I believe this was due to the traction system needing the open carrier to be most effective. One could certainly add an LS carrier as long as they don't have the stability system.
Don
By nature, the carrier in our axles allows the wheel on one side to rotate faster or slower to make turning easier. A negative byproduct of this feature allows the wheel with the least traction to get all the power.
Think of all the tricks the quarter mile folks have used through the years to get equal power to both wheels. Limited Slip or Posi, Lockers, and also Spools which physically lock both shafts together, but don't work well for every day driving.
The axles in our Durangos are no different. There are hi tech 4WD/AWD systems that use computers and ABS/traction control systems in conjunction with braking to move power from one corner of a vehicle to another, but these cost more.
The stability control system available on our newer Durangos can help with some of this, but is more focused on accident avoidance than off road low speed prowess.
mpett:
While the Gen 1 Durango could be ordered with limited slip, the Gen 2 Durango 4x4's did not have that option. However, the 2WD units did.
I believe this was due to the traction system needing the open carrier to be most effective. One could certainly add an LS carrier as long as they don't have the stability system.
Don