How much abuse will AWD take?

[BA96GT]

I have a 97 EB with 5.0 and AWD. I got the car as a steal, $1000, because it was a trade in to a dealer and the transfer case was junk. So replaced with a used one and now the truck drives great with 140K. It was bought as something to drive in the winter. But, now I wouldn't mind doing some mild off roading with some friends. How does this AWD compare in strength to a typical 4x4? Am I going to go out once and blow up this transfer case or can it take some mild punishment? thanks

 

[stang99x]

I wouldn't even take it offroad personally. You have no low range. My Nav has the AWD feature, but also a selector for 4wd high and low. I can't remember the exact numbers, but years ago I read the distributions was i think either 80/20 or 70/30 back to front

 

[410Fortune]

mild punishment is fine, but it is just an AWD system, in the 5.0L explorer the AWD case is like 70/30 split, with a clutch allowing the front end to slip.

However it will do far better then a 2wd in the slippery stuff, mud, snow, sand, on or off road.

But do not pretend its a 4x4 and you will be okay.
You said mild punishment and thats a good idea.

 

[chrisis]

AWD will never be capable as a 4x4 will be.

that is because you have at all times 35% of power in front and a 65% power in the rear.

4x4 has 50% in front and 50% in rear at 4wd high and i think 70% in front and 30% in the rear at 4wd low.

now with those ratios you understand that 4x4 has the advandage.

if you get some good tires and with some skills you can easily make your AWD offroad capable and outperform a lot 4x4.

a locker at the rear is going to help big time.

good luck

 

[410Fortune]

Some of us on the forum have removed our AWD cases in favor of a true 4x4 case from a F-150.
So now I have 2wd, 4hi and 4 low in my 5.0L Explorer.
This conversion is a bolt in deal if you can collect the parts.
it will pay for itself in gas mileage, and give you a true 4x4 that can take more then just mild abuse off road

 

[BA96GT]

Some of us on the forum have removed our AWD cases in favor of a true 4x4 case from a F-150.
So now I have 2wd, 4hi and 4 low in my 5.0L Explorer.
This conversion is a bolt in deal if you can collect the parts.
it will pay for itself in gas mileage, and give you a true 4x4 that can take more then just mild abuse off road

That was exactly what I was considering. My dad runs a service department at a Ford dealership so I'll have to wait to find a junk truck that become a donor. Will a stock 4x4 from an F-150 take abuse or will it still need some modification? I was pretty sure the AWD was a bad idea to off-road but wanted to check.

 

[stang99x]

4x4 has 50% in front and 50% in rear at 4wd high and i think 70% in front and 30% in the rear at 4wd low.

not quite

try this:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/four-wheel-drive.htm

 

[chrisis]

stang99x do you know the exact ratio for 4wd low?

 

[MCDavis]

Chrisis is right, 65/35. I have had my AWD in some pretty unforgiving stuff. Mostly axle deep mud on old hunting trails. It performs pretty well, but I wouldn't "wheel" it for the lack of going 50/50 or 30/70 rear to front. But as a fun vehicle to test some minor limits, it'll do the job. I've thrown the bearing on CV on the front shaft about a year ago, but I think the Kubota tractor I was pulling had something to do with that.

 

[stang99x]

It depends, based on the rear gears and transfer case. The ratios are based on some long formula, but the basics are gear size, gear reduction in the transfer case, divide by something else and thats what you got. I'll look it up and post it in a few minutes

 

[410Fortune]

the Borg Warner 4406 transfer case I installed in my truck will take ALOT more abuse then my Explorer drivetrain will throw at it, the thing is a monster.

the truck feels VERY solid with this transfer case installed.

 

[stang99x]

There is some good reading here
http://www.4x4now.com/bd0599.htm

and this one explains it reallllllly deeply
http://www.bb4wa.com/articles/TransferCase.htm
Here is the formula I was looking for

 

[ExploringNC]

Are you all talking about a true All Wheel Drive or are you talking Automatic Four Wheel Drive. My '98 will automatically switch into four wheel if the backs start to slip but I can also switch into 4h or 4l.

 

[BA96GT]

Are you all talking about a true All Wheel Drive or are you talking Automatic Four Wheel Drive. My '98 will automatically switch into four wheel if the backs start to slip but I can also switch into 4h or 4l.

Its a true AWD. From everything I've found on it its a 30/70 split until a tire starts to lose traction. And the gas milage sucks on it because of it. The thing drives through crap weather like its a joke though and I only drive it in the winter so its great.

 

[410Fortune]

it is a full time AWD system in the 5.0L V8 trucks.
There is no dash switch on our trucks at all, no gears for the transfer case.

Your truck has a more advanced AWD system then our full time case

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Jaime, is the 4406 controlled manually (lever) or electricly? In the future I would like to do this swap. I had thougt about an Atlas t-case but the 4406 sounds easier & I'm sure alot cheaper.

 

[410Fortune]

its all covered in my signature
Both the elecitric shift version and manual shift version have been done, I went with the manual shift

Picture still does not do it justice but here is a pic of the full time AWD case (fore) next to the new 4406 F-150 case (aft)
the 4406 is a huge *****, the AWD case I could throw if I wanted to

 

[stang99x]

Did you have to replace the driveshaft as well?

 

[410Fortune]

yup the 4406 is a slip yoke tail housing the awd is a fixed.
again there is my conversion thread, there are 4 others and then there is a how to step by step conversion thread for the AWD to 4406 conversion.

 

[SploderXLT]

my 4.0l has the awd with the 4l/4h switch, can i beat on this pretty good or no?