Four wheel drive issues.

[Adirk]

Alrighty there buds, so obviously have a 4x4 yukon xl, when i engage the 4wd high and low it engages the front wheels, but they can be stopped by putting low amounts of pressure on them, like a hand for example. So pretty much useless off-road because its like having just rwd. Now my question is, is this normal? and if so, or even not so, is there a way to strengthen the front ifs on my 04 or do I have to go all the way to the expensive solid axle swap.

 

[gmdrvr]

I would say that's normal, especially at idle. You probably wont be able to stop both at the same time when at a higher rpm.


Best way to tell is take it off road, even if it's just a level gravel road, and see how it does.

 

[01Konvict]

I'm assuming it's on a lift at idle. My awd Denali will rip the front tires off idle wide open throttle. Also my old Yukon would rip the front but not as hard. I'm sure it is perfectly fine

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

find a big soupy mud puddle like i did the otherday get down in it till yer rear wheels feel like there on snot stop and put it in 4wd
and if you see chunks of mud flying up from yer front tires and a sudden abundance of traction yer good

 

[Adirk]

Hey everyone, back again. I have read i just havent replied. So did some science and since its been kinda wet here theres some watery spots near my house, anyway so the other night i was dinking around in the mud figuring out whats going on and there wasnt a huge difference on 4wd to 2wd. my auto 4wd kicks in just fine but the rear wheels get less power so they dont spin aimlessly in auto4wd but my fronts dont grab that well but they do I can feel the power going to more than the rear. This morning I did some more, so again little but some difference in 2wd to 4hih and 4 lo just feels like the fronts more guided but how i did it this morning, pinning my front wheel against rocks to try and flex a little the rears dug down really well but especially in 4lo they could dig to china, but the front only felt locked in during auto 4wd but its auto and wnt give me that much power as 4hi would i think and especially not 4lo. sp 4hi and 4 low are engaging but only to a minimal degree.

 

[01Konvict]

They engage fine if working in all selections. The front diff is open so normal to see less power delivery to the wheels when in a bind. If those were bad the transfer case would be shot with gears grinding. It's working fine as designed, so if you want to upgrade buy a locker for front and rear.

 

[Adirk]

Even if it only engages fully in autp 4wd, and is weak, because i tried to climb a muddy sidewall of a two track and the back spin but the front odnt, i cant imagine nothing when im trying to crawl up a rock face cause not aired down and is there anything besides a whole new front diff thatll help, (rear diff is a limited slip and works great)

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

so what yer saying is is when 4wd is engaged and yer on a slick muddy surface you get no wheel spin in the front? just the back? okay then thats a problem
its possible there is a problem with you auto locking hubs

 

[Adirk]

exactly right, in 4wd front dont spin, butttttttt they do if im in auto 4wd coukd that still be locking hubs, (auto 4wd i can imagine being underpowered and not as usefull off road as 4 lo)

 

[01Konvict]

The hubs don't auto lock on these its just bearing and ABS tone ring in them. The transfer case controls all power delivered to the front wheels that's why it has an auto 4wd option which is essentially 30% of the power to the front. I'm sure it is working fine just part of the open diff design on the front. For example I had my old 01 Yukon stuck in a mud ditch with the right rear spinning in the mud in 2wd. Put in 4 hi and the rear was still spinning faster because of the rear posi locker diff kicking out in a bind but the front left started to spinning at half speed. Ended up pulling itself out of the ditch.