4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Tahoe 4WD

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Expert: - 8/14/2011


Question
2008 Chevy Tahoe LTZ. Usually drive in 2WD on pavement. No off-road. Have tried 4WD on dry pavement out of curiosity and experienced noise from drive train (I presume) and steering characteristics change with front feels like its pushing and rears hopping on full lock. I am told this is normal and not to use 4WD on dry pavement. Do you agree with this and should I engage 4WD from time to time anyway for longevity of components.
Thanks
John

Answer
John,

You should use 4WD on occasion to make sure that it is working, and to help lubricate the components internally.  I have seen times when a vehicle has never been put into 4WD for years, and when it's needed, components have been frozen up due to lack of lubrication and internal corrosion.

As far as 4WD on hard surfaces, such as dry, or even damp pavement, this is true.  It is extremely hard on the transfer case and front differential components as this puts extreme stress on them, unless you have "full-time 4WD, or all wheel drive."  The pulling/pushing problem is due to the slight difference in the rotation of the front tires compared to the rear when turning.

You can go to an alley that is loose gravel, a nearby field with loose dirt, or a sandy area or beach to use 4WD once in a while, just to keep it working properly.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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