4x4 system lubricants?

[92exp4x4]

Ok I’m not familiar with all these numbers 4404, 4405,, 1354, 1356....I guess all I need to know is mine is push button thank goodness no setting manually. My xfer case has a chain in it and don’t turn on /use 4x4 on the pavement. Once on you must be stopped to use low.
Gears I’m changing fluid this weekend just going to suction both out. Replace with Valvoline 80/90 then use good Mercon fluid for xfer case.
Now begs the question here. In the rare event it snows here in Atlanta and we have icy roads. (Not patches) I assume then I could use 4x4 mode on the roads so long there is no visible or extremely little visible road. Rare but does happen especially some back seldom used roads

Basically you don't want to lock in 4wd on dry pavement. The high traction will cause the system to bind up while in a turn. You could go straight down the road with no issue, but as soon as you turn, wheels begin to travel at different speeds. The t case has no differential in it like the axles do, it's solidly locked together, front to rear. It's considered a part time 4WD.

Pretty much any other surface will allow the tires to slip when the system begins to bind up. You may notice slight binding even on dry hard packed dirt, but it won't be near as severe as pavement. You're best to use caution first while driving instead of relying on 4wd to keep the vehicle on the road. 4wd does nothing else but to get you moving from a stop and keep the front wheels from locking up as fast when hitting the brakes on slick road surfaces. However off road, it has way more benefit.

This is why so many vehicles have changed over to AWD or full time 4WD. The system better copes with on road driving for which 99% of people use the vehicles. We are that rare bunch that actually use our vehicles off road.

The 1354 etc, are model numbers of the cases built by a company called Borg Warner. There have been many types over the years. With all sorts of different features and torque strengths. The first gens had one of two types of the 1354 case, electric or manual shift. The 4404 is the later (I think) full time, 2 speed, 4WD case that could differentiate through means of an electronically controlled viscous clutch. I haven't read up on it yet, but i vaguely remember looking into them several years ago. The Aerostar vans had a similar setup, just without low range. I'm not sure what model it was.

 

[92exp4x4]

The 1356, is not like the 1354. It does have a clutch. The 1354 in both configurations does not. The front driveline does not have to be spun up since with the hubs not locked it isn't moving anyway.

The 4405 is ONLY t-case between 1st and 2nd gens that had an electromagnetic clutch. Not even the 4404 AWD T-case used one.

I'm sorry my friend, but it does work this way. Here is the threoy of operation as explained in the Ford books. The 2nd gen front axle always spins with the wheels eliminating the need for hubs and spin-up and such. This system was introduced so as to allow for full time 4wd, either 2 speed or otherwise. It just made it easier on the driver.

 

[MrQ]

I stand corrected.

 

[Scorpius68]

All I can say.....

Front axle - man was it dirty, easy to drain/refill with the cheap siphon you find for like $10 at any auto parts store.

Transfer case - easy off dampener, then drain man it was pretty black. Easy to fill back up

Rear case. OMG what a total pain in the ###.
Didn’t want to remove the cover so used the oil dipstick tube the from cheap I siphon. I got a good bit out, total PITA to refill. Even had purchased the little pump thingy like on shampoo bottles, not pleased that thing shoved out down the pump stem almost as much as you were putting in. (Same issue refilling xfer case). There has got to be some better way to siphon out or put back in with my air compressor or something....sheesh.

Anyhow. Good for awhile at least now.