Your AWD is not controlled by a computer. Within the transfer case there is a self-contained disk pac with half of the disks connected to the front and half to the rear (every other one). The disks have holes through-out, and the entire pac is within a sealed container filled with a silicone based fluid that has a very high (low?) sheer. When one set of axles slips in relation to the other, the silicone gets VERY THICK almost instantly, transferring torque to the the front. You cannot remove the front drive shaft to improve economy. Ford went to AWD vice selectable 4x4 with the V-8 because the V-8 model was introduced to compete with Jeep's GC V-8, and Ford didn't have a V-8 in the Explorer. There was not enought room to install the hardware (transmission and transfer case) of a V-8 in the existing floor pan without extensive re-engineering, something Ford was not willing to do at the time. Proof will be if the new Explorer 4.6 V-8 has a selectible 4x4 system. Many of us hope that happens. FYI, Audi found with their Quattro (4x4) model that, at speeds above about 40 MPH, the loss in efficiency when driving the non-driven wheels as opposed to dragging or pushing the non-driven wheels, is only about 5%. Any increase in fuel economy would not be worth the added expense of replacing the transfer case and adding locking hubs on the front. I don't think anyone make locking hubs for the new Explorers. Jim
