4WD reliability vs 2WD

[JS4024]

No special maintenance. Do not worry about it. If you drive it through high water or a lot of mud, it is advisable to service both differentials. The transfer case is probably good to 60k, check the manual. Nothing wrong with good preventive care but no “additional extra” service needed.

 

[CVX20]

I never mentioned hubs.

The front driveshaft is stationary while in 2wd. Explain how that gets up to 2000+ rpm from 0 instantly without a clutch.

What you are missing is the fact that the t-case shifts before the frt axle hooks up.The power or vacuum passes through a switch in the t-case (only after it's in 4WD)to the frt axle actuator.So both shafts are turning the same speed.The only way you will get a grind out of the frt axle is by having the power on(rear spinning).If you give it a couple of seconds to shift there is no issue whatsoever.

NP241's have a synchronizer which is likely the "clutch" surrogate that brings the bottom half of the transfer case and the front differential carrier up to speed so that the axle disconnect doesn't have a speed difference to deal with.

Presumably an electrically actuated transfer case could have that - I had a S10 Blazer with an electrically actuated transfer case but I don't remember the specifics of when it did or didn't permit 2wd>4wd shifts.

My other vehicle is a Jeep Patriot and it uses an electrically operated clutch a bit like the 44-44 except it's located in the rear axle and I read somewhere it's rated for 1800 ft-lbs which is way more than the vehicle can produce even when multiplied through the 1st gear of the transmission (165 ft-lbs from engine times 4.21 first gear is <700 ft-lbs) - so it's as good as a mechanical lock as far as I'm concerned.

That syncro/clutch is only there to appease the people that aren't smart enough to give the frt axle a chance to shift and are spinning the rear.No spin no wheel speed difference frt to rr.Other than that totally unecessary.They've done without for 20 plus years.All that is needed is an understanding of how it works,which some don't obviously.

 

[kurek]

What you are missing is .

What you're missing is any explanation for how the bottom half of the transfer case, the driveshaft and the front differential carrier accelerate from 0 rpm to 2000+ rpm instantly without a friction component.

 

[CVX20]

Yes there always was a friction component, a syncronizer.A far more reliable set up then a clutch pack.The way you were talking at first I thought you meant that there was always a clutch pack and wouldn't work without it.

 

[ram1500rsm]

I found these schematics from the Mopar parts, maybe both transfer cases use the same part number for the clutch pack, but definetely the internals seem way different and the clutch pack arrangement seems different too. I wouldn't worry about the 44-45 burning the clutch pack. They may have changed the clutch material after 2016, hopefully they made stronger who knows.
This is the 44-45 TC, #17 in the diagram is the clutch kit for the 44-45




The 44-44 have a bunch of them? #18 in the print screen, and they're a lot more expensive as well

 

[BlownGP]

This ended being a real informative thread.

Thanks guys

 

[CVX20]

Don't let my comments about the clutch packs talk you out of a 4WD.Personally I wouldn't own a 2WD where I live.And at the end of the day resale on a 4WD is much higher.At least where I live it is.

 

[miles01]

What is a 2WD truck????
I haven't seen one in over 20 years.
Last 2WD truck I had was in 1986, I've only owed 4WDs since then and have had more issues with rear differential then with the front diff and transfer case (none). Only issue I had was a front U-joint broke on me when crossing ditch on a 1992 truck 25 years ago.

PS; I live in Alberta Canada 4WD truck Country.

 

[BlownGP]

What is a 2WD truck????
I haven't seen one in over 20 years.
Last 2WD truck I had was in 1986, I've only owed 4WDs since then and have had more issues with rear differential then with the front diff and transfer case (none). Only issue I had was a front U-joint broke on me when crossing ditch on a 1992 truck 25 years ago.

PS; I live in Alberta Canada 4WD truck Country.

LOL, Yeah, you really don't need it much around her unless you want to go off road. Even with rain RWD is fine.

But speaking of Canada, I've been finding a lot of RAMs that have been imported here. I worry about them having a lot or rust with how harsh the winters are. Do they a put that rust under body coating on the trucks going to Canada?

 

[jws123]

I will never own a 2wd truck ever again I had one and sold it 2 months later was hard to sell to they are also worth less in most places who the hell wants a 2wd truck ahaha might aswell drive a Prius at that point.

 

[Wild one]

LOL, Yeah, you really don't need it much around her unless you want to go off road. Even with rain RWD is fine.

But speaking of Canada, I've been finding a lot of RAMs that have been imported here. I worry about them having a lot or rust with how harsh the winters are. Do they a put that rust under body coating on the trucks going to Canada?

Only if you pay for it,it's usually done at the time of the sale if they've suckered you into purchasing the undercoating package.

 

[Wild one]

What is a 2WD truck????
I haven't seen one in over 20 years.
Last 2WD truck I had was in 1986, I've only owed 4WDs since then and have had more issues with rear differential then with the front diff and transfer case (none). Only issue I had was a front U-joint broke on me when crossing ditch on a 1992 truck 25 years ago.

PS; I live in Alberta Canada 4WD truck Country.

What part of Alberta you in,there's a few of us Albertans on here.I'm in Airdrie,but there's a few Calgarians and Edmontonians kicking around.My old truck was a 2X4,lol

 

[CVX20]

LOL, Yeah, you really don't need it much around her unless you want to go off road. Even with rain RWD is fine.

But speaking of Canada, I've been finding a lot of RAMs that have been imported here. I worry about them having a lot or rust with how harsh the winters are. Do they a put that rust under body coating on the trucks going to Canada?

Most of us up here that keep a truck for a few years get some kind of rust protection before the first winter.I use Krown on my vehicles.

 

[pacofortacos]

LOL, Yeah, you really don't need it much around her unless you want to go off road. Even with rain RWD is fine.

But speaking of Canada, I've been finding a lot of RAMs that have been imported here. I worry about them having a lot or rust with how harsh the winters are. Do they a put that rust under body coating on the trucks going to Canada?

Be careful buying a Canadian truck - most times they do not have a warranty, most are not eligible for a warranty transfer OR the Mopar extended warranty.
Price is usually good, the fine print often not so much.

This is for canadian sold truck bought used in the U.S..
Canada trucks for Canada are good to go

 

[BlownGP]

Be careful buying a Canadian truck - most times they do not have a warranty, most are not eligible for a warranty transfer OR the Mopar extended warranty.
Price is usually good, the fine print often not so much.

This is for canadian sold truck bought used in the U.S..
Canada trucks for Canada are good to go

ohhh wow. Do you mean the factory warranty?

That's good to know. I've been finding a bunch with decent prices.

 

[pacofortacos]

Yeah, the factory warranty. Most are also not able to get the MOPAR extended service contract coverage either - so you would be limited to aftermarket only.