Driving on Pavement

It's all about the transfer case.

The Transfer case can't *differentiate* the differences in front/rear driveshaft rotations. It's hard to explain.

Your front & rear differentials (OPEN DIFFS) can differentiate speed/distance variances side-to-side in the axle shafts via the spider gears in the carrier.

When there are differences in front to rear driveshaft speed/distance - the transfer case doesn't have any way of allowing that binding to dissipate (so to speak). You get driveline bind IN the transfer case. If it gets too bad - you could cause harm to your transfer case.

All-Wheel-drive vehicles have a Center Differential, along with front & rear differentials. All differentials will allow to dissipate driveline bind when it occurs - side to side or front to back.

 

Correct but we were speaking about the locking rear diff, not being in 4wd.

 

Same thing.....

When you make a turn, the inside wheels don't turn as far as the outside wheels. An OPEN diff can dissipate those differences in distance (so to speak).

If you're locked...the only way to dissipate the differences when turning, is to be on a somewhat slippery surface where the tires can SPIN (on their own) to dissipate those differences.

When you're locked while driving on pavement (or other high traction surface) - the tires can't slip to dissipate the differences in a turn. That creates driveline bind inside your diff and can actually transfer that bind into the transfer case.

 

I dont' know how to make multiple quotes so if you would just go back and read some you will see that we covered what you are speaking about and understand it, but we have older vehicles that run spools on the road everyday without fail.