'06 4x4 engagement/disengagement point?

[Rimjam]

Just moved up in the world - bought an '06 FX4 low miles, pristine shape. I know it's live axle so does the front diff turn all the time truck's moving? Front driveshaft? Where exactly is the 4wd engage/disengage point? All in the transfer case?

 

[SenorNoob]

AFAIK, yes just the transfer case.

 

[pjtoledo]

the front axles and driveshaft are always turning.
also the chain inside the transfer case is always turning via the front driveshaft.
inside the transfer case is a collar that couples the chain and the rear output thus engaging the front drive.

 

[Rimjam]

Thanks for response. There are some smart engineers out there, designing a system with all those extra moving parts (compared to my '88) without sacrificing gas mileage, even with a larger engine (4.0 vs 2.9). We'll see if all those moving parts last as long as the non-moving front drive system of the '88 when in normal 2wd mode.

 

[pjtoledo]

with no load there won't be much if any accelerated wear. a possible exception is the ring & pinion because the coast side of the ring is driving the pinion.

 

[SenorNoob]

I don't think I've heard of anyone wearing out gears on the newer style axles.

 

[pjtoledo]

I don't think I've heard of anyone wearing out gears on the newer style axles.

I bought a used 20?? front diff that definitely had the ring & pinion galled and gouged, history unknown.
several others I acquired were OK.