Okay, so I N3ELZ and I have been talking about tranny's and such and I had an idea.. The only problem is I have a feeling it would be just plain bad...

We were talking about launching with the brake and gas combo in an auto trans 02 ranger. What I was thinking was since I have no weight in the rear end and a 4WD system with the auto hubs, what would happen if you switched on 4wd, held the gas and brake to say, uh, 1750-rpm.. Then launched the truck and before you hit 45mph switched back to 2wd.. Then you would get the benifit of an all-wheel-drive launch with the added power back when you dropped the front wheels and sent all the power to the back..

Just a thought, rough at best.. I know, but Im curious about a lot of things with this 4wd system.. I never owned a 4wd vehicle before so I just got to ask. Im sure there are several reasons why this is bad, but if you think about it.. It does make sense in the fact-of-the-matter sense.

 

The truck is dog slow in 4wd mode, at least from my playing around with it. I don't think you would go any faster. I think damage may be a factor as they want you to be on a slippery surface to use 4wd.

If launching is the goal, get some good traction bars and some meaty soft tires. If you want to go further get some drag shocks in the front and back. It will keep the front from lifting and the back from squatting. This keeps the rear planted longer while taking off. Get that done and then get a higher stall for the tranny and start launching at 2,5000 rpm.

That is the description of my s-10. I am currently in the 2.0x range 60' time. I would think 2.2 to 2.6 would be the 60' range of most trucks straight from the showroom. Plenty have gotten under the 2 sec mark, and I am working towards that goal.

 

probably not a good idea.
I have turn on 4x4 and messed around with launching, and it is much slower in 4wd then 2wd.
plus switching to and from 4wd while on the gas probably isnt good.
I always lay off the gas and slow down before i switch to 4x4

 

Yea dont do that!!! It does launch hard, I spun all 4s in mine at the track, im not bragging, your front diff will not take it for long, and if you are at the track with no trailer, you will be better off driving it home with just the front diff(if you break something in the rear) than having to wait on the dredded tow truck

 

sounds like someones having too much fun with their explorer express supercharger.

 

Thanks for the info... Like I said, I never tried it cause I just don't know what the deal with 4wd is.. I had some serious confusion over the proper use of 4wd mode.. I read the owners manual but it just said not to leave the truck in 4wd.. I use to take it out on late Summer nights and toss it in 4wd and whip the corners something feerse!! I thought it was just like a WRX only you could switch the transfer case at will.. Though SUPERGILDO explained to me that the transfer case is infact NOT an AWD setup and it can damage the truck by doing so..

I see how 4wd would make the truck slower cause the second drive-line would takeup more power. I don't race, I just like to have fun and whip the truck.. It's loud, it's fast and fun as hell to drive cause it really pulls in the corners! As much as I want a WRX or an EVO my friend has a built up WRX and couldn't believe that I took a corner faster and handled it better then he could.. It may have been lack of on his part, I don't know.. I just have the stones to take a corner hard in a truck.. I know my truck and I know the risks.. Thats why I don't do it very often and if I do it's only me in the truck. and private roads.. A stupid macho need to race off the track should only involve risk of injuring myself, not inocent people...

 

theres no center diff like an AWD to take up for differences in traction. it'll launch hard but ur universal joints and rears wont like u much after that.

 

If you enjoy the sound of your drivetrain exploding, by all means go for it.

 

Yea you are right, but I had to beat this Mach 1.... I did it!!!!!!!!!!

 

So... I have to play devils advocate, since I did this before.

If I am on a snowy/wet road and i want to pull out in-front of someone because, say...by lane is ending 100 yards ahead, I would go to 4x4 for the added traction, get to about 30-40 and then let off, relax the driveline tension and then switch to 2wd. NEVER, EVER would I switch from 2wd to 4x4 while under power.

I see no damage that doing what I described can amount. Just be sensible, and you'll be ok.

For dry pavement, or something of the sorts, 4x4 ain't gonna help you get outta your own way compaired to 4x4.

 

what?

 

the newer ones? That is too cool! What kind of 1/4 mile times have you gotten and what do you expect with new motor?

 

even if it wasnt hard on the truck it wouldnt go out of 4x4 with power applied, you would have to let off the gas for 4x4 to disengage.

 

Oops. 4x4 vs. 2wd.

 

Not sure if this would be used as an example, but a buddy of mine at a local track runs the 1/8 mile in his Silverado Z71 in a whopping 8.02 seconds with full interior, bed, extended cab. He has a Powerdyne Supercharger and launches in four wheel drive EVERY time. Although I am almost positive he has done some drivetrain upgrades. Our trucks manual FIRMLY states to NEVER use the four wheel drive system on dry pavement under any circumstances. I will just leave it at that.

Stephen

PS: By the way I'm new on this board, I used to spend most of my time over at RPS but I have found that this board provides more useful information to me!

 

And that is mainly because of steering issues. In a straight line, if you can KEEP it in a straight line, it shouldn't matter.

But I personally would avoid it -- not being much of a racer anyway.

 

I tried launching both ways today. With my bigger tires a 2wd drive launch is much better. I would say that unless you cant get traction within a few feet of your launch that a 2wd drive launch ls best. You loose less torque through your drivetrain so more of it ends up on the ground.

 

wow... thats karma...

Like I said before in other posts I work at autozone.. Well today this guy came in looking for a T-Case for a chevy p/u... I asked what happened and he said that he likes to drive arround in 4wd all the time.. He said that he was screwing arround with his buddy and tried to do a burnout with 4wd and the next thing he knew the front-end of his truck was locked up. and the CEL came on.. He said it was a T-Case failure..

Guess that answered my question huh.. If it's not Loose, Wet, or white... DONT USE 4WD EVER!!!

 

So is it ok to drive in 4wd for a long time in snowy/slush/ice roads ? its just some roads get plowed and then others still have a decent snow drift.

 

From all the things I have gathered here on this board.. I would have to say yes.. (If I am wrong here then someone is more then welcome to correct me..)

It is now my understanding that the truck needs some kind of cushion.. Something to allow the four tires to slip a little bit when making a corner or turning.. Wet, Icey, Snow covered, mud, or sandy roads provide this amount of give and if the wheels NEED to slip to prevent the transfercase from binding then this kind of road condition will work...

My guage is now ABS... If I take the truck up to 15mph in 2WD and hit the the brakes mid-pressure and ABS engauges then I know there is enough slip to use 4wd and I go for...

Im still not sure just where to use 4wd low.... I got stuck in some nasty freaking snow and ice mix and I tossed it in 4x4low then used second gear and I don't think a frieght train could have stopped me. But as soon as I cleared it I went to neutral, and put the truck back into 2wd.. BAcked up to unbind the transfer case and went on my way..