Switching From 2wd to 4wd Constantly

No only the inside front wheel will try to turn faster in 4WD because it's being driven by the rear outside wheel. The outside front is turning the same as the outside rear it's the same radius.

 

I am pretty sure ratios are different between front and rear by like fraction. 0.001 or something crazy. its there to adjust for different weight on front and rear thus difference in number of rotation of front and rear tires.

 

Long time somebody was explaining how they do this.
Reason was that if you measure from center of axle to ground at the front and at the rear, there is a difference straight from factory. Different Radius means different circumference which means number of rotations per mile is different too. Hence slight difference in the gears. Its not much but supposed to be there.

 

The gears would have to be as fine as watch gears.

 

I think a lot of people here either failed, forgot, or just didn't take high school math classes? Think of it this way, if the front was rotating more than the rear the tires would wear quicker, right? Like a poster above said, it's not driving straight that causes binding, it's the turning. When you turn the inside tire travels less than the outside so the outside tire needs to spin faster to keep . When the front is engaged the 2 sides are locked so the outside tire can't move fast enough so you get binding.

 

I think yall need to stop... and read these two articles.

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/def_turn.html

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

 

It should but the parts are a lot tougher that most people give them credit for. With a locked diff it has to slip the outside wheel to make a turn or break some thing if it has enough traction. Years ago welded spider gears were pretty popular at the drag strips I watched a full size Chevy turn nearly 180 when he broke an axle at the line that was why they outlawed them on the strips.

 

Front is rotating always faster than rear. Just measure distance from center of the axle to the ground. at both rear and front. you will see there is difference there. Because engine weights front down, even with one or two psi higher pressure in the front still is below empty rear.
So front will always have to rotate faster
Dont believe me
if
x is number of rotations per mile
and
y is circumference of the wheel touching the ground
r is distance from axle to the ground when truck is parked.

1 miles = x1 *y1 where y1 = pi*2r1
and for rear
1 miles = x2*y2 where y2 =pi*2r2

Because r2 > r1 (rear is lighter so distance from ground to center of axle is greater)

Than y2 > y1 and x2 < x1

Its a simple math.

 

The more the better. Keep it in use and you will keep it working. I switch while moving. 4L is the only one where you switch at a full stop or slow roll. 4H can be done on the fly.

 

Hub height does not effect wheel/tire RPM unless the difference in height is due to a difference in wheel/tire circumference.

However:

Your tires do not travel the same distance when turning. The front tires travel a shorter distance than the rear tires, and the tires on the inside of the turn travel a shorter distance than the tires on the outside of the turn.

Because angles.

Here's a picture:




Could someone be a dear and explain to me why we're suddenly bumping all these 2+ year old 4wd threads to discuss the stuff already covered in the thread?

 

And that is really all that needs to be said on the matter

 

This would properly go under 1st gen thread but my search landed me here. Recent experience may be of some value to 4 wheelers. I was over near Beatty NV up behind Rhyolite poking around tailings just for fun. When I came out I forgot to switch back to 2 by. Ran some miles back to CA in 4 wheel. Noticed the tightness when going down the backside of the range. Switch back to 2 by and brakes were horrible. Pulsing radically when braking. Finally, I pulled over in Panamint Valley and did the old back up and brake in reverse. That adjusted the brakes back to normal! I was so relieved. Thought I was in deep do do. I think I'll remember to get out of 4 by from now on! Hope this is useful, relevant.