understanding Awd

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BigDawg99

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I am usually a truck Person..Been Through the Dodge Ram 1500,,,Ford F-150 FX4 and the GMC Sierra 2500HD...This is the first AWD vehicle that i ever have owned...a 02 Yukon Denali..Can someone Explain to me how the AWD works from a regular 4x4..i just built a new House/Cottage thats deep in the woods and Plow trucks rarely go there..would the AWD get me through the deep snow and Mud when needed to get me in and out from my house..I have read that its a Full time 4 wheel drive system..just not too sure about it..thanks for any info you can give me..

Peter
 
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BigDawg99

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just what i was looking for...thanks for the link..it was very helpful in what i needed to know..
 

Jay

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Need to augment that info for you to fully understand what you have. Below is from a word document i created a while back.

FULL TIME AWD
NP3 (NV 149, BW 4473 viscous clutch): uses center viscous clutch to give front/back torque bias.
NV-149: 01-07 classic Sierra Denali, 03-05.5 Silverado SS, 02-older Yukon Denali and Escalade
BW 4473: 02+ Savana/Express AWD Vans... problematic, terrible design. DO NOT USE

NR3 (BW 4476, 4481, 4485, open differential): uses open center (planetary) differential with traction control (wheel-brakes) to transfer power.
BW 4476: 03/04+ Cadillac SRX
BW 4481: 03-06 Yukon Denali and Escalade
BW 4485: 07-current Escalde, Sierra/Yukon Denali


NR4/NR6 (BW 4493, 4494 open differential): Used in Hummer H3.


BW 4472 used in S-series stuff: Astro/safari, typhoon, syclone




FULL TIME 4WD
NR4 (BW 4482): AWD transfer case with the 4LO option. Has open center differential, uses traction control (wheel brakes) to transfer power to front wheels. Center diff locks when in 4LO.

Full size SUVs, H2

NR4 - Transfer case, 2.64:1, 2-speed, button-actuated full-time 4WD
JL4 - StabiliTrak, stability control system

RPO NR4 - AWD with 4WD Low
RPO NR3 - AWD with out 4WD Low (Denali)
RPO NP8 - Auto 4WD, 4WD, 2WD, 4WD Low

NR4 and NR3 use the same software algorithm to detect rear wheel slipage and put power to the front wheels, typically with in 300 ms.

Yukons come standard with limited slip rear unless the vehicle is equiped with Stabilitrac (begining in MY05, you can have limited slip with Stabilitrac).

Denalis come standard with Stabilitrac thus removing the limited slip rear and Stabilitrac is a option on the Yukons.
If your vehicle has Stabilitrak (RPO JL4) then you have the same drive system as in a Denali with the added 4WD low feature



PART TIME 4WD
NP1 (NV 233, 243, 263, and T-150 push button)

NP2 (NV 231, 241,261, BW 4401, 4470 shift lever).

Both are 2HI/N/4HI/4LO



AUTOMATIC TRANSFER CASE
NP8 (NVG 226, 236, 246, 246 EAU): 5-position t-case 2hi/A4WD/4hi/4lo/N. The A4wd is demand-based... locks center clutch pack to send power to front wheels when rear traction lost.

Also, to understand the New Venture gear nomenclature, study this:

Example = NV-149

1st two digits
NV = New Venture Gear

1st number
Number of speeds/gears (1= high range only, 2 = high and low ranges

2nd number
Strength (range from 1 to 7, don't have the torque ranges handy... in this example 4 means middle of the design envelope of NVG designs. 1 is weakest, 7 is strongest)

3rd number
Type of transfer case
1= part time
2= full time all wheel drive
3= electronic shift
5= torsen differential
6= computer controlled wet clutch
7= GeroDisc
9= viscous coupling

there is no 4 or 8, don't know why.

So you see that the NV-149 is a single range, medium strength, viscous coupling design (doesn't need the wheel brakes to transfer torque to other axle)
 

Physh1

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Ok so I have RPO NP8 in my 03 Tahoe. Does this mean if I leave it in Auto 4wd I technically have an active AWD system?
 
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BigDawg99

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Mines is the 02 yukon Denali..Love the truck By the way...thanks for the post Jay...
 

Max

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You have the best awd tcase, the nvg-149. The newer cases use abs input for activation where our trucks use a viscous coupler which continuously varies torque output from front to rear. You'll have no issue getting through mud and snow with decent tires.
 

TALL00TAHOE

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My auto isnt working anyone have any problems with theirs? Sounds like the solinoid is engaging when i hit the button but doesnt seem to be picking up any traction. Ideas? -thanks-
 

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