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4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 6:45 pm
by DCIV
Is it possible to use the low gear setting of 4wheel low, but only to the rear wheels? A 2 wheel low if you will? One of the issues when my cars do break down is they need to be dropped at the bottom of the driveway and then I need to tow them up to my driveway. When I did this with my VR4 we used my dads Tahoe. This caused it to puke some trans fluid, not that the vr4 was out of its weight limit, but the incline and everything just is super hard. But if you could use that lower set of gears it would help.

I think if you had locking hubs you could just unlock the fronts.....but could it be done any other way? An electronic center diff that you just bypass?

You all needed a thread to entertain you. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!!!!???


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 6:53 pm
by Monochrome
Did you see the "electric AWD" setup they tested on the Civic Type R a while back? I believe these setups have a purpose for hyper cars and trucks. Completely independent setup which would then have the added benefit of instant low speed torque.

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:06 pm
by ChargerX3
Coop you are theoretically correct on older 4x4 trucks with manual hubs. Put in 4 low and then not engage the front. It will still drive the TC and front DS but you could leave the hubs disengaged.

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:08 pm
by DCIV
[quote=""ChargerX3""]Coop you are theoretically correct on older 4x4 trucks with manual hubs. Put in 4 low and then not engage the front. It will still drive the TC and front DS but you could leave the hubs disengaged.[/quote]

So how do you make the avalanche do it?


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:31 pm
by Monochrome
[quote=""ChargerX3""]Coop you are theoretically correct on older 4x4 trucks with manual hubs. Put in 4 low and then not engage the front. It will still drive the TC and front DS but you could leave the hubs disengaged.[/quote]

Don’t the Chevys engage the front wheels inside the diff though? I thought the Ford disconnected the hubs?

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:35 pm
by DCIV
[quote=""Monochrome""]Don’t the Chevys engage the front wheels inside the diff though? I thought the Ford disconnected the hubs?[/quote]

I know chevys do by the exploited diagrams.


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:39 pm
by vr4
Why not just lock it into 4 low?

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:40 pm
by DCIV
[quote=""vr4""]Why not just lock it into 4 low?[/quote]

It doesn’t like 4wd on pavement I bet it really wouldn’t like 4low, I could get as strait as I could but there would still be the final turn into my driveway.


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 7:41 pm
by DCIV
I was just hoping there was a switch I could interrupt or something. If this isn’t possible then oh well but it would be handy if it were.


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:13 pm
by vr4
[quote=""DCIV""]It doesn’t like 4wd on pavement I bet it really wouldn’t like 4low, I could get as strait as I could but there would still be the final turn into my driveway.


Coop[/quote]

I thought your driveway was dirt and needed lockers?

No it definitely wouldn't like it on pavement and with new chain transfer cases it probably wouldn't like low range in 2wd

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:22 pm
by DCIV
[quote=""vr4""]I thought your driveway was dirt and needed lockers?

No it definitely wouldn't like it on pavement and with new chain transfer cases it probably wouldn't like low range in 2wd[/quote]

No it’s paved but so steep that it has the huge groves in it for traction and it’s steeper than cub cadet mowers say to drive a mower on.

Why wouldn’t it like low range in 2wd? If I could get it so I was just using the gearing and not the 4wd it would just be like a bull dog gear.


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:42 pm
by ChargerX3
Coop you do realize that you won’t get improved traction on pavement in 4 lo right. If you have open diffs already then just put it in 4 hi or low. Whichever works best with your truck.

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:53 pm
by DCIV
[quote=""ChargerX3""]Coop you do realize that you won’t get improved traction on pavement in 4 lo right. If you have open diffs already then just put it in 4 hi or low. Whichever works best with your truck.[/quote]

Don’t want traction. I want the gears. Easier to tow up a hill a short way. It Deff doesn’t like pavement in 4 wheel drive so something is connected and doesn’t let it.


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:58 pm
by ChargerX3
Get Jeffs Mighty Max then. Just dont drive it on public roads because tuna can Pinto Armageddon.

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 9:04 pm
by DCIV
Eh. Prob just gonna go with 4:56 gears and a different limited slip....but I am tempted to splurge on the electronic locker. Only about 500/600 more.


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 9:23 pm
by vr4
[quote=""ChargerX3""]Coop you do realize that you won’t get improved traction on pavement in 4 lo right. If you have open diffs already then just put it in 4 hi or low. Whichever works best with your truck.[/quote]

Actually in this case coop does have a good point and idea.

Why don't I think it'll be happy? You have a chain in the transfer case driving the front driveline. Having that front driveline being unloaded may not be an issue. But if it is it could be a big issue. I don't know enough of the internal workings of the transfer case to know. I can look into it.

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 10:10 pm
by DCIV
[quote=""vr4""]Actually in this case coop does have a good point and idea.

Why don't I think it'll be happy? You have a chain in the transfer case driving the front driveline. Having that front driveline being unloaded may not be an issue. But if it is it could be a big issue. I don't know enough of the internal workings of the transfer case to know. I can look into it.[/quote]

I don’t know a good way to search it so I would love some insight.


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 11:23 pm
by DCIV
This maybe More possible than I realize.

Page 4-333
The front axle control circuit consists of an electric motor which engages and disengages the front axle. The front axle actuator's motor consists of a Permanent Magnet (PM) motor, a worm gear controlled plunger, a front axle switch and an electronic control circuit all within the actuator assembly.

The front axle actuator has four circuits connected to a front axle feed circuit, front acle ground circuit, front acle control circuit, and a front axle switch circuit.

Whenever a shift to AUTO 4WD, 4HI, or 4LO is requested, the automatic transfer case control module engages the front axle by grounding the front axle control circuit though a current limiting driver.


Coop

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 11:35 pm
by Chris GTO TT
My Sequoia had a torsen center diff you could lock so you could put it in 4lo, not lock the center diff and drive on pavement. Sounds like you need a different truck.

Re: 4 wheel drive question

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2020 12:10 am
by DCIV
[quote=""Chris GTO TT""]My Sequoia had a torsen center diff you could lock so you could put it in 4lo, not lock the center diff and drive on pavement. Sounds like you need a different truck.[/quote]

The same 4wheel drive that was messing up and caused you to get rid of the truck?


Coop