4x4 question

[tbranger97]

I have a 97 ranger 4.0 5 speed 4 wheel drive and I heard that when it's in 4 wheel drive both tires don't turn? Is this true?

 

[straycat]

Both front tires on my 4x4's turn at the same time when engaged in 4x4. Who told you that?

 

[tbranger97]

Well I got stuck one day and it was in 4 wheel drive and neither tire would spin but I checked the drive shaft and it will not turn in 4 wheel drive but both tires didn't spin

 

[adsm08]

Both wheels turn. Both front wheels turn when you aren't in 4x4. As long as you are moving all 4 wheels should be turning.

Now it is true that your front axle is open just like the rear one. If one wheel is on a hard surface and one is in a sloppy mud pit that gets zero traction, you are gonna sit and fling mud with one wheel while the other one sits still.

Both wheels have power available to them, but you will only get as much pushing force as the wheel with the least amount of traction can give you, same as with the rear axle. The only difference with being in 4x4 is that there is a second axle available for more surface area trying to move the truck.

 

[tbranger97]

If I'm stuck in mud shouldn't both tired in the front be spinning? Maybe I need to educate myself a little more about this lol

 

[4.0B2]

If I'm stuck in mud shouldn't both tired in the front be spinning? Maybe I need to educate myself a little more about this lol

not with an open diff no.
if you have an open diff front and rear... 4 wheel drive will only make 1 front tire and 1 rear tire spin.. if you add lockers, both will spin. look at aussie lockers. good locker for the money... a rear aussie will change road manners slightly tho. a front aussie on an axle without lockouts can be annoying to, i think?

with an open diff, you're screwed pretty much, even in 4 wheel drive sometimes.

 

[tbranger97]

How can I check if I have a open diff

 

[simonsays]

How can I check if I have a open diff

Jack up the truck so both tires on the axle are in this air, spin one tire, if the other tire spins the opposite direction its an open dif, if they spin the same direction its got a posi. Or just read the tag on the diff. It if reads 37321LS its a 3.73 Limited Slip.

sent by another dumbass using Tapatalk.

 

[tbranger97]

Do I do this for the front when it's in 4 wheel drive?

 

[4.0B2]

what's the axle code on your door sticker?

 

[tbranger97]

I don't know. I would have to go down stairs and look

 

[4x4junkie]

This page should help explain open diffs and why only one wheel spins if you're stuck or lose traction:
http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Feb 06/tech.htm

Jack up the truck so both tires on the axle are in this air, spin one tire, if the other tire spins the opposite direction its an open dif, if they spin the same direction its got a posi. Or just read the tag on the diff. It if reads 37321LS its a 3.73 Limited Slip.

sent by another dumbass using Tapatalk.

Also make sure the trans is in Neutral if you do this, otherwise you can still force a limited slip (posi) diff to turn the wheel in the opposite direction.

 

[adsm08]

If I'm stuck in mud shouldn't both tired in the front be spinning? Maybe I need to educate myself a little more about this lol

No, that will just make the one-wheeled hero effect worse. It always always always goes to the wheel with less traction to the ground. In bad conditions, especially mud and snow, a tiny difference in grip will make a huge difference in tire spin.

Even running cars on the lift at work, if it has an open rear we usually get one wheel going really fast and one that is just kinda along for the ride.

 

[509lifted]

to tell u the truth if u bought it new u probably wont have any locker and if u bought it from someone else and they didnt tell u chances are u dont got anything

 

[tbranger97]

Still all stock from what I know. So the 4 wheel drive is pretty much useless unless you have lockers. Fords bright ideas.