Kenihemi, the more I think about your reply, the confused I get....
IF you had a 4x4 with a posi rear, you'd agree that in rwd mode, the rear is still mostly locked, right?
In 4x4 with a 'non-posi' front diff, you'd still be able to slip the front wheels and over-spin a rear, right? Therefore, you shouldn't buck or bind in a turn, right?
But this doesn't happen... My LSD rear Rams have not bucked or binded in RWD, but god forbid I hit some firm dirt off road in 4wd, I know it right quick. There's no feasible explanation for this other than the front diff being locked. Even if the front and rear shafts where forced to rotate at the same speed (which we agree they are) an unlocked diff should still allow an outside to spin faster than the shaft... right?
Again, I throw in my disclaimer about being wrong before, and knowing I probably will in the future..
Aww crap... this is making my head hurt.
Let me know if my thought process is flawed.... I'm gonna go get my truck muddy and do some field testing. [:@]

 

[deleted... double posted somehow]

 

k, my rear has the limited slip diff

i am even more confused now

k, lets put it this way, "trx 4 offroad" i guess is made better for offroad couple of skid plates and extra cooling

what if i am traing to get out of a situation, but its not possible doing so by going straightm does that mean my 4x4 is usless?
but withought it i can't get out

and why won't it work noraly

when u are in 2w mode your diff in the back allowes your wheels to spin in diffrent speeds
why won't the front diff do the same? they are both the same( i don't mean the diff is exectly the same, i know it ain't) ohh and don't forget 2006 model has independent front, both have drive shafts, both coming from the transfer case

or is it cuze the front wheels don't have a diff like front wheel cars, so it is limited in the amount of slip it will alow?


also a note( maybe i need to see the dealer) when i engaged 4wd to test, then i shut it off back to 2wd, the 4wd light comes off but when i try to turn i still feel like its engaed and won't turn( testing only at slow speed so i won't break anything) but when the light comes off i still can't turn, shouldn't the light come off after it completely went back to 2wd?

 

My understanding is that in a "locked" differential, you cannot spin a wheel SLOWER than the minimum speed dictated by the input shaft times the gear ratio.

Basically, if the input shaft says "I'm spinning this fast, therefore the tires should spin X fast" they will spin X fast unless they are the outside wheel in a turn. Basically, lsd or posi will force wheels to spin at shaft speed times gear ratio, but they're still free to spin faster if needed, as in a turn.

In a 4x4 setup, by design, the front diff was only intended to be engaged in an off-road scenario, where you want as many wheels pulling as possible, and therefore no need to have ANY wheels slip independantly of each other. Since you weren't intendended to engage it on a high-traction surface, the front diff is totally locked, and the front and rears are bound together when the transfer case is engaged... Worst-case, with a slipping rear = 3wd, and a truck that still stands a good chance of getting out of trouble. Best-case, you have 4 wheels locked at the same speed.... But you need big steel to pull this off with durability.

Personally, I engage my 4wd once a week, but do it on a patch of my pasture. I won't engage it on pavement unless it has at least 6" of snow over it.

 

so basicly 4x4 is to be used to get out of situations, and not to drive every day in the snow, cuze even 6" snow has some patches where u won't slip? cuze if u use it then u gona pay big,
i guess i'll check it when winter comes

i had one's on a miniven when an uphill road was snowed little and i could not get up, i had to turn around and take another way(thank good i can drive), demn it i guess i'll leave with it, next time awd vehicle,

never knew that about 4x4

now any idea why my truck doesn't have any markings(don't realy mind just want to know) only makr i have in the back is a dodge name, and slt with a red line under it, and trx sticker on the side
any idea?

 

Guys,

As Kenni was trying to describe, you either have an open rear end or a limited slip (LSD) rear end. They never truly "lock". That is why when the rear wheels turn at different rates they don't buck, or you would eventually blow them apart. What happens in 4wd on pavement is the rated of turn between the front and the rear are never exactly the same, and you end up with shaft and gear and chain binding in your transfer case---the weak link in the whole drivetrain issue, and eventually you end up with it all over the ground, or itty bitty peices in the bottom of the transfer case. Talk about some serious bucking
!!!! Actually, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe our drive trains are essentially engaged all the time, clear back to the transfer case "Full time 4 wheel dr" but not all wheel drive, as that is a different monster in itself.

If you really what to know what a "locked" rear end is---check out the Detroit Locker site where they can give you a great explanation. The Detroit Locker Rear, and/or front differential is the upgrade to your current setup. In fact, that is what is installed in the new Power Wagon, plus it has a beefier diff to start with.

 

ehh found an article wich explained it all to me

http://4x4abc.com/4WD101/def_turnpart.html

now i am scared, i will not use 4x4 unless i have too

i guess one component that might have helped is a central diff and then everythign would work fine

are there any transfer cases for my dodge that have a central diff?

 

4wd should only be used in low traction situations.
Dodge trucks without LSD or anti spin are 1wd (generally the passenger side rear tire)... when you put them in 4wd they are 2wd (pax rear, driver front)... search this forum and you will find references to how much the non LSD 4wd suck in the snow.
If you have the LSD you move up to 3 wd.
If you get lockers you get 4 wd.
The problem with turning any 4wd system whilst on dry surfaces is that the front and rear wheels want to turn at different speeds to allow the turn but are geting the same imput speeds from their half shafts (front driver rear pax locked together).
If you are driving on snow the roads are almost certainly wet enough to allow enough slippage to buffer the driveline.
An LSD diff will spin a wheel if it is off the ground.

 

can i replace my transfer case with the full time 4wd transfer case? or does that involve alot of work changing exels and drive shafts? mine is an slt if that makes any diffrance with limited slip option (trx 4)

 

Why would you want to?