AnswerID: 57112 Submitted: Monday, May 03, 2004 at 23:15
Member - Roachie (SA)
replied:
My suggestion is to leave them unlocked all the time. Only need to lock them in when you're about to do some 4 wheel driving. It saves wear on front drive components.
I usually lock them say in a car park or at camp etc just before heading into any rough stuff etc.
However, I also believe in having them locked and using 4 wheel drive when driving on gravel roads at normal speeds too. (eg: going up the
Birdsville Track @ 80kph or so). A lot of people will say this is stupid, but I like the sure-footed feeling it gives and it's also safer if you have to brake in an emergency on the gravel. The reason for that is that the front and rear drive shafts have to turn at the same speed. With the vehicle in 4 wheel drive mode (centre diff lock engaged in a full-time 4x4), if you have to hit the skids in a hurry, the front wheels will be less likely to lock up as the rears would have to do so too. In part-time 2 wheel drive this is not the case. It also gives you a better chance at "steering around" a potential catastrophe too.
Just my 2 bob's worth.
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Reply 2 of 7
FollowupID: 318888 Submitted:
Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 11:31
Member - Roachie (SA) posted:
Rod,
Yeh sorry for the apparent contradiction...it was past my bed time when I wrote all that stuff.
What I meant to add to the 1st sentence was "when you're on the bitumen".
I am a firm believer in using 4WD when I go on gravel roads.
It doesn't really hurt to leave the hubs locked even when driving on the bitumen (as long as the transfer case is still in 2WD); it's just that there may be a minute amount of additional wear and tear on the front drive and an equally minute amount of increased fuel consumption (probably not even measurable).
Sorry for the confusion.
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| There's only one thing more painful than learning from experience and that is NOT learning from experience! |
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 318979 Submitted:
Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 22:07
Slammin posted:
As above.
Also if you lock them on gravel you will get less chipping and wear on the rear
tyres. I can't measure any difference in fuel consumption.
I've also gotta agree on the emergency handling I would rather have a surefooted understeer than a nasty set of fishtails and a rollover. Which is the most common cause of death out here, single car accident ending in a rollover.........
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