Looking for mechanical driveline insight.

[electro]

Hi Im looking to find some specs, details, etc on my driveline. Particularly my differentials.

2002 Suburban 4x4 4auto, 4hi/low, 2hi.

Do I have full locking differentials at both front and back?

Options code on glove box door read G80.

Are both diffs identical or similar? What about the transfer case? Does it lock both drive shafts into the same ratio at all times?

Any links, or write ups, etc would be helpful!

Thanks!

 

[ezdaar]

Hi Im looking to find some specs, details, etc on my driveline. Particularly my differentials.

2002 Suburban 4x4 4auto, 4hi/low, 2hi.

Do I have full locking differentials at both front and back? Only in the rear

Options code on glove box door read G80.

Are both diffs identical or similar? different

What about the transfer case?
Does it lock both drive shafts into the same ratio at all times? no

Any links, or write ups, etc would be helpful!

Thanks!

GL

 

[electro]

Thanks!

What can you tell me about the front diff? Is it a limit slip differential?

How does it behave in 2 hi and 4 hi and 4 low?

 

[ezdaar]

its open all the time. if it was limited slip, you would limited "slip" off the road when turning while in 4x4 beast mode or it would just break stuff.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

You don't want to lock the front on the street. Yeah it's fine if you have lock outs on the front axle but once locked it would be almost impossible to steer without hydro assist steering or full hydro. Would really suck in the snow too. 99.9% of all 4wd vehicles are actually only 2 or 3 wheel drive.

 

[Dave01]

And I believe that transfer case does lock in rotational speed of front and rear shafts. It's not an AWD case for full time 4WD, it's a part time 4WD case, not for running on a hard surface.

 

[electro]

Good insight gentlemen.. Thank you.

With all this snow around I've been using 4Hi in the city way more. With all the deep snow I've been spinning four tires for fun. The more i was driving like that I started to feel the front spin more, I didn't realize the front diff was an OPEN diff. I actually never thought about it.

I agree though, it would be a lot harder to drive with a locked front diff. I just assumed it locked when one of the front wheels started spinning out.

It doesn't seem as awesome anymore knowing theres an open diff. up there.

 

[Dave01]

It's still awesome! My '97 Sub was the best vehicle I've ever driven in snow. Put a 7,000 lb. vehicle, with wide stance, good tires, 4WD, and posi in a snowstorm and you've got an awesome vehicle for sure-footed traction!

Even though that front diff is open, you still get a ton of pulling traction from the front wheels. You have the engine weight over the wheels, and even when one slips a bit it's likely it will be grabbing enough to still have the other tire driving to some extent.

I used to be up in Kitchener a lot in the '90's, would be there on sales trips to sell Kaufman Footwear (owned Sorel boot brand for those that don't know Kaufman). I always knew there'd be snow and rough driving in the winter!

 

[oh1yukonslt]

Having both diffs lock makes for breaking stuff. I had a mud truck that had locked front and rear. And one day I had to drive it on the streets due to my other rig being broke down. Made it about 2 blocks went to turn tires barked an hopped an broke the front u-joint and axel. Had to remove the front driveline and limp it back home. It was a pain. Lesson to that story is you want to have open front diffs on the pavement.