what causes front binding in 4x4?

[purpony]

great info! thanks-

I replaced all the front u-joints a few year back, but i plan to change them again before the awd swap. Im thinking it would be worth while to have the front axles balanced as well? This is something a driveline shop can do- correct?

thanks again all for the input.

Also planning a 4" suspension lift, and 2" body lift with either 32" or 33" tires.

 

[Danger06Ranger]

All the older AWD trucks I've seen had a solid front axle, same with the jeeps through the 90's.

 

[4x4junkie]

There's no need to balance the axleshafts, their rotating mass is not far enough away from center to be significant at the RPM they spin at. If you're lifting it though, DO make sure the pitman arm's drop amount matches your lift (a bad linkage angle could show some of its effects on hard acceleration with AWD).

Well I guess I should have said, "Every vehicle with AWD I've seen"

I wasn't even around in the 70's.

And the part you didn't quote I told him he would be fine with a U-joint front end.

That's more or less the same thing, just differently.
I was just reinforcing the part about the u-joints is all

All the older AWD trucks I've seen had a solid front axle, same with the jeeps through the 90's.

What's that matter? A u-joint is a u-joint.

 

[tworanger]

I had a 1977 3500 GMC that had fulltime four wheel drive(yes i know the 1tons didn't come with the full time but this one did) and i never had a problem with the u-joints making noise or thumping, they did seem to wearout rather quickly though

 

[tanbuddy]

With the viscous drive to the front axle u should be fine wiht the u joints in the front end. Try to keep both arms of the ttb level to keep the center u jount in the ttb at as small of an angle as possible.
I was looking at some grand cherokees with the awd and some of them had a cv in the front axle like a fwd car?? I guess it depends on the modle. Another vehicle i checked out is my john deer 310 e backhoe lol. In 4wd its locked together like a truck, but in the front there are 2 u joints hooked together (double cardian??) to help the wheels cut more with out binding.

 

[projectnitemare]

The jerking you feel is from a u-joint. As in the post above mine, there is a reason to the cardian joints. A u-joint at an angle can't keep a consistant speed, it will speed up and slow down. That is where the cardian joint comes in, hence why is is sometimes called a constant velocity joint. That is one of the reasons you'll find CVs in front axles especially in AWD vehicles. The other binding has been covered pretty well.

Matt

 

[ejholmgren]

Stop making tight circles in parking lots with the case in 4x4 and the hubs locked?