daw1@rduxb.UUCP (WILLIAMS) (07/02/85)
I posted this article about a week ago and received no replies. I don't think it got out onto the net (our machine was all confused last week!). If you saw it before, sorry. ..................... I have a question about 4 wheel drive operation and differentials. Does one really only have "two wheel drive" after shifting into four wheel drive and locking the hubs? I ask this because without a limited-slip differential at each end, power is not transferred optimally to each side of the vehicle. First of all, take your ordinary Chevy sedan without a posi rearend. With one tire on ice and the other on dry road, the one on ice will spin and the other does nothing. You are stuck! But with a posi rearend the tire on dry road does get power to it and you are not stuck. This is why posi is good(among other reasons). The only negative aspect some people may find is that by having power to both rear wheels, the rear of the vehicle can break loose easier, rather than only having one tire spin. Now take a Jeep CJ for example. Is the front differential of a different design than normal differentials? If it is a regular-type diff., and the rear happens to be a regular type too, what happens? I'd be stuck if one front and one rear tire are on slippery patches and the other two tire sit there useless. So, I'd really have "two wheel drive": one front and one rear! If this is wrong, please correct me. As it stands now, however, it seems like a limited slip rear diff. is a damn good investment. And, only Ford offers a limited slip for the front (but maybe their standard front diff. is lousier than most). Any responses relating to modern 4x4 systems would be greatly appreciated. Doug Williams Reading, PA mhuxt!rduxb!daw1 -or- mhuxt!rduxb!williams