1999 Awd??
- Thread starter ericdg16
- Start date
thanks everyone. I don't have a rear locker and I'm not sure what a c-clip rear axle is, or what the alternative is. I suppose it's possible that when my wife was on the throttle that I couldn't see the diagonal wheel and I could have actually had 2 wheels spinning, but for the life of me I don't think it was. Don't think it's a busted front hub because one would still spin (was getting power, right?) when we didn't have decent traction under it. Have to admit, more and more it looks like I probably had 2 wheels spinning. Man, you cats are thorough. On the bright side, at least this sounds like everything was working as it should have. Rear diff locker would be nice now that I know how significant it can be in that situation.
To clarify
With a standard 4wd system when you shift the transfer case (truck) into 4wd it splits the power 50/50 between the front and rear driveshafts going to the axles.
Once the power gets to the axles, if you have an "open diff" setup, which most stock 4wd's are, the power within each axle will only go to the wheel with the least traction. So worst case scenario in a standard 4wd setup, you could have one front and one rear tire spinning.
This is why we prefer the locker, so that once power gets to the rear axle it is split 50/50 no matter the situation.
If you followed the above conversation about the center differential that you 2000 model guys have, then you understand that if you had only pushed your multi-mode 4wd button then the situation you mentioned about "only one tire spinning" could have been a possibility, but since you said you engaged the 4wd with the lever it should have split the power 50/50 to the front and rear like said above.
When I busted the hub in the nissan I drove for miles never knowing anything was wrong, it never made a bad sound or drove any different, however when I engaged the 4wd in the ravine (which was just slick concrete ) the power to the front tires was only going to the busted hub not allowing the other tire to spin and pull me out. If neither of the front tires had any traction u are correct , i think, that even with the busted hub the other tire might have turned a little, but it would have been very weak.
I was hoping p-nut had a reply for this one, but lets see if I can explain
This is my first 4runner and my previous experience is with a 2000 model ford ranger with the 8.8" rear axle. The 8.8 refers to the size of the ring gear inside the differential. It is generally thought that the larger the ring gear the stronger the axle.
Anyway, when power comes into the differential (from the driveshaft) it drives the ring and pinion gears which transfers the power to the "half shafts" ( which is a fancy name for the axle shaft that goes to the wheels ) The ring and pinion are mounted in the center of the axle so you can't have one tube that goes to both tires, instead you have two, one for the right and one for the left (half shafts). This setup of two seperate shafts connected by a center ring and pinion is what allows the wheels to turn independently of each other when going around a corner. When u hear people say they installed a locker. They installed a device that locks the ring and pinion together so that both tires must turn in unison.
In the ford 8.8 axle the two half shafts are held in place by a c-clip (think a large bobbypin). If you remove or break the c-clip the half shafts (wheel, tire and all) slide right out the end of the axle tube (not a good thing if you break one on the trail). The 8.8 is really a very solid axle, but alot of hardcore trail guys will run c-clip eliminator kits to help strengthen this weak link.
I'm not sure what the alternative is either, I just know the c-clip is not the optimal setup.
With a standard 4wd system when you shift the transfer case (truck) into 4wd it splits the power 50/50 between the front and rear driveshafts going to the axles.
Once the power gets to the axles, if you have an "open diff" setup, which most stock 4wd's are, the power within each axle will only go to the wheel with the least traction. So worst case scenario in a standard 4wd setup, you could have one front and one rear tire spinning.
This is why we prefer the locker, so that once power gets to the rear axle it is split 50/50 no matter the situation.
If you followed the above conversation about the center differential that you 2000 model guys have, then you understand that if you had only pushed your multi-mode 4wd button then the situation you mentioned about "only one tire spinning" could have been a possibility, but since you said you engaged the 4wd with the lever it should have split the power 50/50 to the front and rear like said above.
When I busted the hub in the nissan I drove for miles never knowing anything was wrong, it never made a bad sound or drove any different, however when I engaged the 4wd in the ravine (which was just slick concrete ) the power to the front tires was only going to the busted hub not allowing the other tire to spin and pull me out. If neither of the front tires had any traction u are correct , i think, that even with the busted hub the other tire might have turned a little, but it would have been very weak.
I was hoping p-nut had a reply for this one, but lets see if I can explain
This is my first 4runner and my previous experience is with a 2000 model ford ranger with the 8.8" rear axle. The 8.8 refers to the size of the ring gear inside the differential. It is generally thought that the larger the ring gear the stronger the axle.
Anyway, when power comes into the differential (from the driveshaft) it drives the ring and pinion gears which transfers the power to the "half shafts" ( which is a fancy name for the axle shaft that goes to the wheels ) The ring and pinion are mounted in the center of the axle so you can't have one tube that goes to both tires, instead you have two, one for the right and one for the left (half shafts). This setup of two seperate shafts connected by a center ring and pinion is what allows the wheels to turn independently of each other when going around a corner. When u hear people say they installed a locker. They installed a device that locks the ring and pinion together so that both tires must turn in unison.
In the ford 8.8 axle the two half shafts are held in place by a c-clip (think a large bobbypin). If you remove or break the c-clip the half shafts (wheel, tire and all) slide right out the end of the axle tube (not a good thing if you break one on the trail). The 8.8 is really a very solid axle, but alot of hardcore trail guys will run c-clip eliminator kits to help strengthen this weak link.
I'm not sure what the alternative is either, I just know the c-clip is not the optimal setup.
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I'm thinking I can keep my life a lot simpler (but less exciting) by just keeping it on the road 
To clarify, I'm sure the front hubs are still A-OK. The only thing that makes sense is that I got it wrong in the first place and I actually had a front and rear wheel spinning.
I can certainly see the advantages to the locker and when we get a brother for our current Runner it will definitely be equipped. Locker or not, this is still my favorite vehicle I've ever owned.
Thanks again for all the input and explanations (and patience). I'm relatively new to a lot of this but I'm soaking it up like a sponge.
To clarify, I'm sure the front hubs are still A-OK. The only thing that makes sense is that I got it wrong in the first place and I actually had a front and rear wheel spinning. I can certainly see the advantages to the locker and when we get a brother for our current Runner it will definitely be equipped. Locker or not, this is still my favorite vehicle I've ever owned.
Thanks again for all the input and explanations (and patience). I'm relatively new to a lot of this but I'm soaking it up like a sponge.
We all started somewhere. The more you wheel the more you learn. Hope I made it clear as mud. LOL
I have only had my runner a week and I love it. You will also learn alot by lurking on the forums. I owned my ranger for 7 years before I found out about all the truck forums. I've learned more in the past year about that truck than I did the first 7yrs of ownership.
I have only had my runner a week and I love it. You will also learn alot by lurking on the forums. I owned my ranger for 7 years before I found out about all the truck forums. I've learned more in the past year about that truck than I did the first 7yrs of ownership.
