Stupid Question about 4x4 system in GEN1s

[tenikiwon]

A co-worker (female) has a 91 and from the sounds of it has no clue how the 4x4 system is suppose to work. She said that in 4x4 she looses control of the rear end and doesn't enjoy driving the X (likes cars better) I said it was prolly 'cause cars are front wheel and they she should use 4-wheel. I assume she has manual hubs but can the 4x4 system be engauged while driving?


This also got me thinking that the FAQ section could use an update on how things "should" work. Because if you search all you find it people with problems. There aren't as many people that come here asking how it's suppose to work in the first place.

 

[zensius]

If your co worker has a standard 4x4 it's got a push button 4x4 system. Push the button on the dash, a solenoid in the transfer case moves and the front driveshaft is engaged. If it's like 90 percent of X's the from hubs are auto. Meaning, when the front driveshaft starts turning a cam in each front(the hub) wheel locks the wheel into the system. If the hubs aren't working anymore the front won't work. Even if only one is bad because the power is put to the wheel with least resistance.
All this being said I think that your coworker needs to learn how to drive a 4x4 properly. If the rear is kicking out it sounds like she needs to slow down. If the front axle wasn't working then it would slide. The front would slide out. Not happening.

 

[Fhantazm]

What he said....

I cant for the life of me see how she is getting the a$$ end to slide out, unless shes trying to pull a Mario Andretti on snow/ice covered roads.

 

[ahhjaws]

If the rear is sliding out, I don't think she is in 4WD. I leave it in 2WD to do doughnuts in the snow.

 

[tenikiwon]

Originally posted by ahhjaws
If the rear is sliding out, I don't think she is in 4WD. I leave it in 2WD to do doughnuts in the snow.

My thoughs exactally.


I looked and it is auto hubs. I'll see if she'll let me test drive it

 

[stoneyh]

This is a funny story

This reminds me of my friends dad telling me that he bought a Nissan 4wd truck, and the 4wd drive sucked. He never tested it and did not look it over, it ran back and forth to the bar and that was it. He said when it was in 4wd it made no difference. After further investigation we found out why THERE WAS NO FRONT DRIVESHAFT, it was missing. He traded it in and never mentioned it. God rest his soul He was a character.

 

[anchored]

When my 4wd used to work, I could never get it to engage on the fly, only when I was in neutral. That can't be normal, can it?

 

[tenikiwon]

4LO you have to be in neutral, but 4WD should work on-the-fly. Unless I'm mistaken.

 

[TwoToneX]

It only engages up to a certain speed, I believe, but yeah, 4 high should engage on the fly....mine does