Is the front diff locked from the factory?

I don't think it is however my truck behaves as if it is locked. I have an 04 with an E Locker for the rear.

When in 4hi or 4lo (E Locker off) when i start to turn (only done this twice once by mistake and the other to demonstrate to a buddy) tightly the tires grab and start to chirp in front like a locked diff.

Now I have had people say that its because of the difference in distance the wheels travel inside vs outside (turn radius, tire track whatever) but on an open diff it wouldn't matter because of the spider gears, and the phenomenon wouldn't happen. Now if its a front wheels track different from the rear wheels (which they do) and its the transfer case causing the chirping etc. maybe but that seems like it too would be corrected by the open diffs.

Thoughts?

 

Thats how all 4wds ive been in with open diff act. I don't know why, but I can guarantee you that you'd know if you had a locked front diff. If you don't have a button for a front locker, then there's no locker. And I doubt someone welded it, but you'd know in 2wd if it was welded..

 

Someone who isn't drunk will explain this better than me:

Basically, in part-time 4wd your front tires turn at the same speed as you back tires, not as each other. This causes the front tires to do funny things in turns as they're moving either more or less distance than the back tires, while turning the same amount of revolutions.

In part time, you have a diff separating the front from each other, and a diff separating the rear from each other. You don't have a diff separating the rear from the front. In full time 4wd (think awd) you have that third diff. This allows the front and rear to move independent of each other.

 

It's a one owner, so no welding here. And no front locker installed by me. Its just the behavior of the vehicle during turns that I needed help visualizing.

It has to be a front rear thing as opposed to a left right thing on the front diff. Front and rears are forced to turn the same speed, and track differently (distance) through corners. I just thought that when the power was split right/left from there that the spider gears would allow each wheel to spin freely. But since the speeds must match from at least one front wheel to at least one rear wheel, I see where things get dicey.

Hard to visualize i suppose.

 

Yeahh its just 4wd, PCTaco explained it perfect

 

Lol I was searching for a post of mine and came across this. Oh man, what I've learned in the last 8 years or so. This seems so silly based on my knowledge today.

Testament to this forum and the people who help. Thanks for sharing your knowledge guys and gals...

 

Avoid tight turns while in 4wd on surfaces that provide good traction

 

Well I know that now , but there’s a lot just starting now who can’t, like I couldn’t at the time, visualize what’s happening. 10 years of wrenching on the taco, you learn some things.

Keep sharing the wealth!