4WD Problem - Ideas?

[bluesun]

I have never had 4 wd but I can't believe that this is normal. Today it was raining heavy so I switched to 4 HI. Everything works great, but when I'm in a parking lot and the wheel is turned, it's like the parking break is on. The truck just grinds and requires heavy throttle to even get moving.

This isn't normal for 4wd is it? Any ideas?

[Chilicat]

Originally Posted by bluesun

I have never had 4 wd but I can't believe that this is normal. Today it was raining heavy so I switched to 4 HI. Everything works great, but when I'm in a parking lot and the wheel is turned, it's like the parking break is on. The truck just grinds and requires heavy throttle to even get moving.

This isn't normal for 4wd is it? Any ideas?

Odds are that's totally normal. The Titan has old fashioned, wheel locking, 4WD. If you're in a parking lot, a place that requires tight turns, you're experiencing simple physics. Your outside tires want to turn faster than your inside tires during the turn due to the smaller radius required on the inside tires. This will cause your wheels to skip or hop, on dry pavement can even dig a chunk of rubber out of your tires. Turn your 4WD off in a wet parking lot.

We do not have "all wheel drive" or the sort. That system has a center differential with a viscous slip coupler that allows the wheels to turn at different rates. Our 4WD is made for low traction conditions...ice, snow, sand, mud, etc. Save 4WD for these conditions.

[pciley]

I wouldn't put the truck in 4HI unless it was a torential down poor, like a monsoon or hurricane rain. You're better off using 4wd only when the surface is loose. Even wet pavement has alot more traction than loose dirt, right? Maybe at those low speeds you might try switching back to 2Hi.

Keep in mind when the wheels are turned all the way in either direction, your front drive shafts are at higher angles to the front differential/txfr case and are slightly harder to turn in that position then when the wheels are straight.

I've never used 4Hi on pavement for more than a couple of feet, like when leaving a dirt road before I switch back to 2hi. I don't think the 4 Hi is meant as a "full time all wheel drive" system. I hope you don't damage the transfer case by using 4wd when there is too much traction. good luck.

[keane]

Both these earlier replys are correct...don't use 4wd in these situations. You will break somethings. Your tires have grip on wet pavement and this is what is causing the problem.

[bvstone1]

Originally Posted by bluesun

I have never had 4 wd but I can't believe that this is normal. Today it was raining heavy so I switched to 4 HI. Everything works great, but when I'm in a parking lot and the wheel is turned, it's like the parking break is on. The truck just grinds and requires heavy throttle to even get moving.

This isn't normal for 4wd is it? Any ideas?

Yes it is normal. Your hurting your truck by using 4wd on surfaces like that. Save it for gravel, dirt, mud or most important in our area, snow.

[FLfinfan]

ditto to all above

[goathead]

agreed, your binding up the 4wd system on pavement. if you have VDC thats more than enough help on wet pavement.

[Austin]

Originally Posted by FLfinfan

ditto to all above

Ditto to that.

[Colorado]

Absolutely! Using 4WD on pavement is a no-no. You should only use it if it's snow-packed or icy. (or, of course, off-road). Leave it in 2WD otherwise or you're gonna end up spending some money for repairs.