4x4 question

[Erek_97Sport]

Alright well my dad asked me how my 4x4 work and I said great never gotten stuck. He's like that's supriesing because when your in 4wheel drive its only 1front wheel and 1rear wheel unlike his jeep. Well I knew some 4x4 was like that but I didn't think the explorer was. Can anyone tell me if its acfual 4 wheel drive or if its that one in front one in back 4wheel drive. Thanks

 

[my98nnj]

Power does indeed go to all 4 wheels, but with open differentials if one wheel slips the other stays still. Most explorers have open differentials, but check the vin tag to verify your set up.

Does you dad know what the differential configuration is in his Jeep? I'm not a Chrysler guy, but he might have a very similar set up. Check his vin tag and do a little googling. Might be an interesting conversation next time you see him.

 

[Erek_97Sport]

Yeah he's a certified mechanic and he got stuck last weekend and all four wheels were just spinning so Ik he doesn't have open differentials. Do you know what #place I should check in my vin? I might just bottom out the frame in some deep snow throw it into four and have a friend tell me what wheels spin

 

[SoNic67]

Look on driver door jamb. A rear limited slip differential should have an "D" letter. Front diff is always open.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239360
http://www.fordf150.net/howto/decode.php
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/vin-decoder/

 

[1998Exp]

From a recent search to buy a second gen Explorer for an offspring, I found out that the lower trim XLS and XLT came with open diff as standard, but the ED and Limited came with limited slip. No idea about Sport. In any case, the telltatale is the axle code on the door, not the VIN.

Power does indeed go to all 4 wheels, but with open differentials if one wheel slips the other stays still. Most explorers have open differentials, but check the vin tag to verify your set up.

 

[Erek_97Sport]

Thanks and I do have a D. But im still confused what this means can you explain it please

 

[1998Exp]

With an open differential both wheels receive equal amount of torque. So if one has no resistance on the ground (sitting on ice, for example), there is zero torque applied to the other. You will see one wheel spinning and the other not moving at all.
Limited slip differential (D code) has a pair of spring-loaded clutches added to the mechanism. These provide a certain minimum amount of torque to the wheel that has traction before the other will spin. That's usually enough to start moving.
I am sure that someone will provide a more detailed and more scientific explanation, so stay tuned.

Thanks and I do have a D. But im still confused what this means can you explain it please

 

[SoNic67]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_(mechanical_device)#Loss_of_traction

A conventional "open" (non-locked or otherwise traction-aided) differential always supplies close to equal (because of limited internal friction) torque to each side

Therefore, on an open diff, if one of the wheels has zero torque (slips on ice, is suspended, missing CV axle) the other wheel will also receive a zero torque, no matter how fast the engine is turning.
That's why Limited Slip differentials are so useful on snow.

 

[wbdavid]

I will say my 99 sport all 4 wheels where spinning on the ice when I tried to go over the pile of ice the snow plow guy left in front of me.

 

[Erek_97Sport]

That's what confused me because I was pulling my dads jeep and I was on ice and all four moved but when I went bumper to bumper and tried pushing it into the new parking spot only two were spinning (was just moving it to plow and it doesnt run). But both pushing it and pulling it I was on ice....all ik it was working great bothways