I have an 06 3.7 litre Dakota quad cab 4x4. When I have the 4 wheel drive ingaged and make turns the truck seems to grab and jerk. The dealer said this was normal. I question this myself...... Thanks

 

Don't do it on Dry ground. The jerking is due to forces building up in the drivetrain. While it is normal, it should be avoided if possible.

 

Do you have 4x4 engaged on dry pavement? If so, yes, that is what it will do, which is why you aren't supposed to use 4x4 on the road.

Reason is, in 4x4, the front and rear axles are locked together. This means that 1 front and 1 rear tire must always spin at the same rate. When you turn, all 4 tires take a different path through the turn, so they are all spinning at different rates. On snow, dirt, sand, etc. you will not notice the 1 tire slipping through a turn, but on a hard surface, something has to give. You will either pull one tire through the turn causing excessive tire wear, or you will break a u-joint, cv axle, snap the chain, etc. Basically, something has to give.

 

I never use the 4wd in dry conditions. I used it Saturday evening. The street condition was wet & snowy... Now, I will add I parked in a covered garage. It was engaged then and it did jerk and grab. I disengaged the 4wd and it still seemed to jerk some after this. I know this has to be done in park. Not while the vehicle is in motion.

 

I had a 5.0 Litre 98 Explorer. It was AWD. What is the difference between AWD & 4WD? The AWD never had an issue with that..

 

AWD has some sort of differential between the front and rear axles so they are able to spin at different rates for turning, 4x4 is fully locked between the front and rear axles.

And you can shift in and out of 4x4 while moving.

 

Thanks for info.......

 

Jed54, I am being serious and not a smart a$$, please go read your manual about 4x4 operation. It is all in there. You can engage 4 wheel while driving straight even at high speeds (up to a limit), 4 low is different though. It will also explain why you shouldn't drive on dry pavement (including parking garages), and how it takes a few feet of rolling for 4 wheel to lock and unlock which is why you see it flash a few times while engaging or disengaging.

 

thanks for the explanation. i have had the same noise, probably hitting dry spots in the recent snow. would tru trac lockers or some other locker take the strain of the cv joints as i am sure theyh are as low quality as dodge could find?

 

Sometimes the 4x4 doesnt fully disingage so maybe thats why your feeling the jerking after you put it back in 2x4