4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Nissan Titan

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Expert: - 2/1/2012


Question
When I put my truck in 4hi my rear tires lock up and don't turn unless I give it more gas is this suppose to happen.

Answer
Andrew,

I'm not sure what you mean when you say the rear tires lock up.  If they roll free when in 2-wheel drive, then they should be fine in 4hi.  It sounds like you have something binding in the transfer case.

Another issue is the surface you are driving on.  You should never put it into 4-wheel drive (hi or low) when on a hard or solid surface as this can cause the transfer case to bind up and is extremely hard on the running gear.

You might take the truck to a sandy area or an area with loose dirt or snow and see if it still seems to lock up.  

If it does, I would take it to a reputable shop that is familiar with 4x4's and have the transfer case, drive lines and rear end checked out

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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