Posted: Mar 15 2007 at 2:00pm | IP Logged

Newbie question... This is the first time I've owned a 4x4 vehicle ('07 SE Crew), so some of the responses feel strange to me.  When I have the truck in 4x4 high and the wheel cranked to enter / exit a parking spot, it feels like the truck is kind of "in a bind"... it just wants to stop and not roll at all.  Can someone tell me if this is normal?  Is there a solid, no-slip arrangement between left and right wheels where, when cranked hard either way, the inside wheel is travelling less distance than the outside wheel so one of them needs to slip?

Broader question... I know the manual says not to use 4x4 mode on dry pavement.  Is this because the wheels need to slip occasionally so as not to do damage?  What happens if I (er, let's say my wife) forget one day and leave it in 4x4 high for too long?

Gord

Posted: Mar 15 2007 at 11:25pm | IP Logged

..

Gordo

... A bind in a turn, in 2WD is caused by the LSD or differential locker. My Frontier does this. I swing wider in turns when safe to do so to reduce wear on my LSD clutches.

... A bind 4WD in a turn is the front wheels are traveling a longer distance (larger circle) than the rear wheels plus the bind from lockers.

Slippage in 4WD is desired to reduce wear in the all of the running gear.

The front and rear differential gear ratios are the same but the static rolling radius of the tire/wheel (actual rolling circumference) varies with loads (front to rear), tire air pressure/size and, as stated above, tire travel distance in turns.

Hope this helps... 

Oh!... and don't let your wife drive this vehicle...  ... Don't forget proper auto front hub un-locking.

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Posted: Mar 19 2007 at 10:03am | IP Logged

Lakota, thanks for the explanation; it makes sense.  Unfortunately my wife loves the truck too, so it's difficult to keep her in the passenger's seat.  I asked her what color to get and then picked something other, hoping that would do the trick.  But she got over that one pretty quick.  Any  suggestions? 

Oh, and I was wondering what is "proper auto hub unlocking"?  Maybe I should finish reading the manual.  (But who wants to read when you can ride?)