I always wondered why the 3rg gen dakotas said 4x4 LOCK instead of 4x4 High.. I assume they are the same thing. Are they any diffrent?

 

The 4X4 Lock is the same as the 4X4 HI. The 4X4 Lock is associated with the new option of having all wheel drive (AWD) which is not quite true 4X4 since the front wheels can spin at a different rate than the rear wheels. When the 4X4 Lock/HI is chosen, this locks the front and rear wheels to spin at the same rate.

 

Hence the reason these things don't like having 4lock enguaged when the wheels dont slip. Try throwing it in 4lock in a parking lot and reverse into a parking spot....It'll start to feel like the brakes are on, also you get to see how hard it KLUNKS when you disengage it...Or maybe I just got a lemon?

 

hendrixx, I also understand that the front and rear axles spin at the same rate on 4x4 lock.

Rivan, you just aren't supposed to drive it in 4 lock on dry pavement. When you turn into a parking spot all 4 tires need to travel a different distance. On a solid surface when locked in, turning your truck creates tension in the drive-train. The clunk on disengage is the energy being released. RTFM.
On ice/mud you can turn and tires slip a little, no big deal.

 

Hahaha.....My gf was the one driving.....it was slicker-than-**** out but a little dry where she was parking.

I'm well aware and fully understand the mechanical end of how it all works. The front & rear are supposed to spin at the same speed. You can feel the tension build up in 4lock even though the differentials are open.....and thats on our muddy & gravel driveway.

The clunk would be from a bit of tension on the driveline from the front-rear turning at slightly different......I get that.

The Dakota is my gf's truck....I drive a 3/4ton.....full size is the only way I roll. My gf always gets mad if I touch anything when she's driving, so I leave the x-fer case alone....even if I think it's hard on the truck. What can I say......she drives like a girl LOL If she breaks it, thats her tough luck. I'll end up doing the repair on it, but she can suffer without the truck until I have the time.

FYI, in case you ever have to change the clutch on your 3rd Gen dakota.....it's a real PITA....but apperently a little easier than the 2nd generation.......Effffin thowout bearing.

 

I don't think I quite got it from reading above,

I don't have AWD, but the switch says "4WD LOCK"
this means my front tires spin at a different rate, right? and the same for the rear?

Sorry just trying to fully understand

The AWD Dak gets the option of locking all the tires to spin together.front/Rear

 

On a Dakota with the all wheel drive (AWD) option setup like I have, there is no two wheel drive setting. Instead, the AWD setting provides power to all four wheels at variable rates rather than just the rear two wheels. This is achieved by variable rate posi-traction differentials (front to back). With the AWD option, I still have the 4 wheel hi/locked and 4 wheel low/locked settings. The AWD gives you more traction compared to two wheel drive in all conditions but if the going gets tough, then you can still slap the truck into 4 wheel drive lock. If you do not have the AWD option, then you have these settings: two wheel drive only on the rear wheels just like a regular car. Next, you have 4 wheel lock (or high which is the same thing). Then there is 4 wheel low. Both the 4 wheel high and 4 wheel low locks all four wheels into a 4 wheel drive situation where all the wheels will spin at the same rate. The 4 wheel low is only used for speeds lest than about 20 MPH and mainly for pulling out another vehicle or other low speed heavy duty pulling requirements.

The 4 wheel drive locked position (4 wheel high) should only be used when conditions are slippery or in mud or snow where you need the extra traction otherwise driving in the 4 wheel drive locked position on hard surfaces is rather hard on the drive train especially when making sharp 90 degree corners. In this situation, all the wheels will attempt to turn at the same speed and radius when in fact the outside wheels will have to travel greater distance than the inner wheels around a corner. When all four wheels are locked, it is rather hard on the system unless on snow or mud. In two wheel drive, there is an unlocked differential which allows the rear wheels to turn at different rates during cornering even on dry pavement so there is no strain on the drive train. I hope this clears up the confusion for you.

 

It confused me because i allways understood that 4WD on all "street" vehicles were realy only 2WD. Like if 1 front wheel and 1 rear wheel had traction they would spin... Am i right?

 

kind of... if you were in 4wd lock and had open diffs front and rear ... a 4x4 in 2wd will only put power to the rear axle, the awd, when in 4hi has a differential in the t-case that splits power to the front and rear, but in bad conditions, (mud, ice, ect.) works just like an oped diff in the rear axle and will only put power to one axle (which ever one has the least traction) and when the awd is in 4wd lock its exactly the same as the non-awd trucks in 4 lock