Hey guys. Was just wondering what the turning radius was while in 4x4? I ask because i remember when my dad had a new 96 ranger 4x4 and you couldn't turn it all the way while in 4x4. It would make a pop noise and would kinda jump like it didn't wanna go forward while the wheel was cut sharply. Haven't tried mine been a lil scer'd!! Just wondering.

 

yea, dont do that! haha

it binds stuff up, in mud it should be fine, but don't do it on anything solid with good traction.

 

Don't worry about it because don't do it. You can damage the drivetrain like that. Take it out of 4wd when making a sharp turn.

 

ok thats what i thought but i figured i ask the pros!!

 

i was kinda wondering the same thing, also stupid question, why does it do this? is it locked up front or is it just the geometry of it (im a newb with 4x4s)

 

When you turn the front and rear wheels spin in different speeds. The two wheels on the same axle also spin at different speeds but that doesn't matter since your truck has no lockers. So when you are in 4wd the front and rear axles lock at 50/50. The front and rear tires can't spin at different speeds so the drivetrain binds up.

 

is that why you shouldnt run 4x4 hi on dry pavement too?

 

Well your tires will have more grip in the dry so less chance that a wheel will skip to relieve the strain.

 

aka ***** gonna break

 

ok, so in otherwords, its an open diff up front either way

 

Ranger's never came with anything other than an open diff up front.

 

thanks!! :) i suspected so but was told that it might be otherwise

 

If they are talking about the FX4 package then all it had was a Torsen limited slip in the back.

 

no, they were talkin about up front and how it drove when engaged

sorry to change, but would it be worth it to ad a locker up front or would that break stuff way too much (when mudding only)

 

I though about it but since the front diff spins at all times it could cause problems since the only locker available is a automatic locker. Some people have lockers in the front with no problems but other have had problems with it locking during a low speed turn like in a parking lot or something.

 

you wont break much unless your really aggressive and have way too big of tires on the stock driveline

 

a locker wont break stuff up front if you are careful most of the time when things break people have the wheel turned all the way in one direction and they are on the gas and it binds up and the weakest thing breaks. if you are careful you wont break things if you get stuck and your spinning stop that's the other time you break things because when you start turning the wheels back and forth and its hopping it stresses stuff and will break just use your head and you wont break stuff

 

well i see i asked a good question. gettin so good info here!!

 

im suprised you didnt get told to search i hate that answer so i will just tell you straight up if i know the answer

 

yep, the ends of the steering are the weak links

thats why on the new FJs the locker automatically disables it self when the wheels are at lock and/or fully drooped too possibly? i know when your turned sharp it disables it.

 

The FJ doesn't have a front locker though.