Driving in 4x4

Finally took my truck in the mountains the other day, after upgrading my suspension/wheels/tires. Putting it in 4x4 steering got stiff and almost felt like there was rubbing on sharp turns. Truck didn’t feel this way in 4x4 when it was still stock. There is plenty of clearance and rides totally smooth in 2WD. Anyone else experience this?

 

Were you driving on pavement? You might be binding the axles and diffs

 

Pavement at times and off road.

 

What size wheel and tire did you go up to? Could be the additional weight of everything that feels different to you.

 

17 methods with 0 offset, and 35 tire.

 

My guess is you are now turning heavier and wider tires hence it feeling heavier and wider.

 

You should never be in 4WD on dry pavement.

 

Hopefully that’s it. Just read up on driveline bind, hoping I wasn’t damaging my truck

 

I don't want to insult your offroad experience. If you're feeling resistance in 4wd while turning but not in 2wd, you're binding up. Avoid sharp turns on hard surfaces in 4wd. I avoid sharp turns all together while in 4wd

 

You can be in 4wd on dry pavement. People do it all the time to make sure they are engaging 4WD per the users manual. It is better to lube the system on dirt or wet roads and not make sharp turns, but it is done often.

 

Yeah, sometimes I do it on long straight roads just to get the min monthly recommendation of 4wd miles. I understand the people who make a rule to never do it, though. Would hate to need to suddenly swerve while in 4wd on a paved road due to something unforeseen.

 

Yes BUT only In straight lines... definitely NOT sharp turns.... I avoid 4x4 on pavement, better safe them sorry... just my 2 cents

 

Not insulted. I went from having Land Rover that’s always in 4wd, that you could simply change setting to snow/gravel/rock climb. Never had a part-time 4wd vehicle. So it’s all new to me. For the record I was only in 4wd on areas of pavement that were icy/slushy, probably never exceeding 15-20 mph.

 

Fairly inexperienced with part time 4x4 myself...I try to only exercise the 4wd on fairly straight stretches of wet roads with 35-45 mph speed limits. However, there’s not many stretches of road that don’t have some curve. How much curve is too much?

 

Land Rovers are awesome. That's more of an AWD system. You'll find true 4wd to be much more powerful and versatile but has a learning curve. I will use 4hi coming down a windy icy mountain but I won't make a sharp left, if that makes sense. That's a beautiful setup you have there btw. Nice job

 

YOUR TRUCK WILL NOT BLOW UP IF YOU TURN ON PAVEMENT IN 4WD. Holy shit you guys drive me insane. These trucks aren't tooth picks, your tcase won't explode, you don't magically get so much wear that nothing works, your tires beads won't pop off. These threads drive me insane, I've done hundreds or thousands of miles on dry pavement from pulling onto dry pavement, forgetting to put it back to 2wd, driving in intermittent conditions where it's dry or sandy or snowy, etc. And every vehicle I've ever been in has been fine, and everyone else I know. 4WD ON PAVEMENT WILL NOT DESTROY YOUR VEHICLE. the most that happens is it bucks for a second and the tires slip, and that's when you're fully fucking cranked going slow.

 

I drive on pavement all the time in 4WD

Don't turn at 90 degrees and you'll be fine. In fact, it would probably take a lot of effort to force it to turn that sharp in 4WD. You'll feel it.

You don't have to wait for rain or snow or gravel.

 

@JimboSlice413 sorry if I misquoted you, I was trying to grab the handful of posts I saw that assumed pavement is akin to holding the truck at redline for a few years.

Also I have nothing productive to add to OP, besides your offset and larger tires probably enhance the resistance in the steering normally and that's magnified in 4wd

 

Get over yourself. I never said his transfer case would explode. The guy seemed to be a bit of a newb (no offense intended op). He also said he was in the mountains. Of course I know you can be in 4wd on straight stretches of dry pavement. I do it sometimes. I also know the manual clearly states you should not do it. Do as you please with your truck. I don’t fucking care.

 

Uuuhhhhhhh. I've practiced this ^^^ since 1986. My sh!t has never blown up. And has given faithful 4WD service for hundreds of thousands of miles.

 

Guys thank you for all the input! Sorry if it stirred a bit of debate, but yes I am a newbie with part time 4wd vehicle, so no offense was taken....
with that said, I’m gonna be driving up the mountain again, this time we’re getting a lot of snow. If you guys could please “simply” explain what situations I should engage 4high and 4low. The windy highway going up the mountain will most likely be snow chain req’d. I did little research, but everything goes too much into all the technicalities. Please explain in Layman’s terms. The trucks already well equipped with good r/t tires. Thanks in advance guys!