Hey everyone. So prior to today, I've only used the 4 low on my truck once, today being twice. Both times I've used it, the lever would grind gears trying to get into 4 lo. Should it do that? I had the gear selector on the column in neutral and I tried park. I finally had to shut the truck off to get locked in there. To me, that isn't right that I have to shut it off to get it into that, or is it? It's an automatic tranny. Does anybody else experience this? Ideas? Thanks guys!

 

you're shifting it wrong.

to shift in/out of 4-LO, shift transmission to neutral. be either stopped, or rolling about 1 mph. load up your arm muscle and shift the SOB as hard and fast as you can, all the way through neutral to the next notch. do NOT pause in neutral. shift that SOB like you mean it.

if you stop in neutral, now you're stuck and you have to turn the engine off and finish the shift. this is because there are no synchronizers in the t-case.

 

wow ok good to know, I definently paused or went about it too slow! I didn't even think about there not being synchros in the t case. So how good or bad is it to shift into 4 lo real fast and hard? that sounds like a potential to break something. Thank you much!

 

the shift in/out of 4Lo should be hard and fast. just remember that its not a shift on the fly and you must be at 0-3 mph. you'll only hurt things by shifting too slow, or traveling too fast.

on my 01 there's a shift information card on the top of the sun visor, driver or passenger side, i can't remember. i didn't find it until about 2 years after i got the truck and learned how to shift by grinding the hell out of it a few times and having to ask. LOL.

 

ok so on a curious note now, I know 4 wheel low is designed to give you better traction, power, lower gearing or however you want to put it, but how much more power is being put to the ground when in 4 low as compared to 4 high or 2 high, if any? I know my engine is rated at 330 ft lbs torque at the crank but that number is never seen at the wheels, will 4 low make that number at the wheel closer to 330? Sorry for all the questions I'm just curious and trying to learn! thanks!

 

2.72 times more... the trick is the gearing. Low range provides a 2.72 to 1 gear reduction, so it locks up the drive train at an ideal rpm of about 2000, as opposed to losing all your power in clutch or transmission slip

http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/tranfer_case.htm

as a test, load up your truck with something. firewood, lumber, trash, etc and try to drive up the steepest hill you can find. then do it again in Low and be impressed with the difference.

 

Also, check your fluid level. I was shifting right and it did something like that. Fluid was low, so I changed it and fixed the problem.

 

ive had the grind once, and it was because i shifted to slow....since then i always do it hard and fast....never had a problem....truck has 204K, and my 4x4 is perfect....well will be later today lol, my front diff took on water, and thats because i off-road ALOT, and i use 4x4 ALOT

 

You're actually always putting more toque to the ground than at the flywheel because of gear reduction... In theory, my stock 5.2 can put down 11,000+ ft lbs in low range and 1st gear, actual horsepower to the ground doesn't change. The biggest advantage of low range is more precise control when in tight situations, it put less stress on the transmission and/or clutch for pulling things or crawling over things, ect.

I've never had to shift my transfer case fast...

With and auto I'd try shifting in park, in neutral the output shaft can still spin I believe.

 

i always shift in neutral, and never a problem.