I have an 06 megacab 4x4. It finally snowed here, and in 4x4hi (lock) it hops a lot while turning. I'm assuming this is normal, but thought I'd check. My last vehicle (Land Rover) had a posi front end and didn't do it at all.

 

by hop do you mean HOP?? previous owner must have put hydrolics in it. if you mean a slight chatter like the tires slipping sideways thats normal, especially when 4x4 is engaged. its even more noticeable with a bigger/wider tire

 

Its normal. When turning the front wheels aren't turning at the same rate as the rear so it hops.

 

That's what I figured. Its been a while since I've driven a real 4x4. Our old Ford Exploder had a locking front diff and it had a chatter, but this is a bigger heavier truck, so I can see why its pronounced.

 

you shouldnt' really be turning on dry stuff in 4x4 though! you could break something. I always turn my 4x4 off if turning hard on anything that is dry at all, but I know sometimes you can't help it like coming off a snowy logging road up onto a dry road or whatever, but they defentily "fight" when turning.

 

Why wouldnt the front tires be turning as fast as the rear tires when you are in four wheel drive?

Im thinking this is a normal trait for a pickup, especially whwen it has the rear end "locked" up. Reason being is because the traction is loose, and your inside tire is wanting to turn slower than the outside radius tire. This is what I believe the hop to be caused by.

As far as the front tires spinning slower than the rear ones, maybe warranty covers it?

I apologize in advance... im feeling a little confrontational tonight.

 

i think he meant the front is turning at a different rate (inside/outside wheel).

 

Yea i worded that poorly. Like you said 04, the different rates between the two front wheels is what causes it. I should have said that the front wheels aren't turning at (an equal rate) like the back.

 

If the wheels hopping, you shouldn't be in 4x4. Your truck sounds like its a part time 4x4. Only for use on loose or slippery low traction surfaces. The hop is caused by the different wheels turning different speeds, which causes different speeds of rotation between front and rear differentials. This "hop" is the pressure trying release... if it can't hop to release something breaks to release the pressure. So please, be careful or you may damage something. On the other hand, your Rover was likely a full-time 4x4 system. This is similar to all-wheel drive in that there is a viscous coupling between the drive to front and rear differentials. This allows slippage so that wheel hop doesn't take place.

Hope that makes sense... this is my laymans understanding of it.

 

Something I never fully comprehended yet though. These trucks have an open front diff, Aka, Really only one of the front wheels is getting any actual power at any given time. In reality, Most our trucks our either 2wd or 2.5 wheel drive if you have the crappy LSD.

So My comprehension of why it is a problem to have the 4wd on in dry pavement is because the front wheel that is getting power is moving at different speed than the rear wheel that is getting power, causing binding in the driveline. As opposed the the idea that the issue is the 2 front wheels moving at different speeds.

Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, Im preparing for finals tommorrow and I may have had one to many swallows of the Jägermeister.