Rough Turning in 4x4

[BillAK]

I have a 2024 Ram 2500 Rebel. There is no Auto 4x4 on these. I noticed that when I am in 4 wheel drive and I turn sharply the front end bounces like I'm driving over a boulder pile. That wasn't uncommon back in the old days when you had you hubs locked, but now? Is this normal or is the axle lock engaged (the axle lock light works and is not illuminated). Thanks for any input.

 

[rzr6-4]

No, things aren't fully locked like old locking hubs, but the transfer case is locked so the front and rear are still going to be fighting each other. If you have enough grip to cause binding, you have enough grip you don't need 4wd/you need to take it out of 4wd.

 

[DILLIGAF]

That's your truck telling you to turn off the four wheel drive

 

[dieselscout80]

No, things aren't fully locked like old locking hubs,

I think they a just as locked up cause there isn’t a manual locking hub to let go.

That said you shouldn’t be using 4wd on a hard surface like pavement or concrete. If you’re on gravel, grass or dirt the tires should scrub/slip so it doesn’t bind.

 

[Burla]

It is sending power to both front wheels, it doesn't adjust power to compensate obviously, so bottom line don't do it again. The reason why it doesn't happen in 2wd is because the wheels are free wheeling. It wont take long to break something operating a 4wd on pavement.

 

[BillAK]

Thanks everyone for your help. For the record, I was in a parking lot that was solid ice.

 

[olyelr]

Yeaaa thats very normal. Even on grass/dirt/mud i can feel some hopping.

Now my half ton with 4 auto…i have accidentally driven that for an entire day in 4wd on pavement because it is so smooth you dont even know its engaged. Its a different animal…there is a differential in the tcase basically.

 

[4xdad]

What you are experiencing is called bump steer. If you’re using 4x4 on dry roads you can break the front differential or the axle. If it’s a auto 4x4 it should have a little bit of forgiveness

 

[RamDiver]

Thanks everyone for your help. For the record, I was in a parking lot that was solid ice.

It may have been solid ice, but your tires must have had enough grip to create driveline torsion. Both front and rear wheels in 4WD, attempting to rotate at the same speed, is a battle while turning.

The inside tires will be turning at the same rate as the outside tires when in 4WD.
And, while turning, the energy is somewhat absorbed by the driveline, and periodically, the inside tires slip, and the driveline torsion escapes, which creates a hopping or bouncing behaviour.

I don't use 4WD on the roads unless there's deep snow. The curvy rural highway I drive almost daily often has a mix of snow and dry pavement. Unless you have the luxury of 4WD Auto, 2WD and slowing down is the only solution.

Driving on pavement in 4WD with intermittent traction will damage the driveline components.

The same thing applies to parking lots, especially with large full turns. Unless you have slicks or the ice is extremely slippery.

My BFGs have enough grip and sipes to not tolerate parking lot ice while turning in 4WD.

.

 

[olyelr]

While yes, damage could possibly occur using 4wd on dry pavement, it is very highly unlikely. If you somehow got into a scenario when just simply driving around in 4wd on a flat paved road that exhibited enough force to actually break something, it would have to be extreme.

Think of the force on the driveline/u-joints etc. when spinning the tires and high rates of speed, off road bouncing your way up a steep hill with large boulders all around, with wheels going back and forth between slipping and gripping and such…its WAY harder on components compared to simply driving on flat paved road and turning.

I have driven my power wagon for 10 winters now, often in 4wd going 50/60 mph down paved roads with minimal snow coverage. Done it with all my vehicles for the last 28 years. Never once had an issue.

 

[Burla]

I disagree, when you are on the trail your tires give up traction when needed such as slipping on dirt, on the pavement it grabs way more dangerous to suspension.. crazy it was ice, must be some good tires.

 

[4xdad]

I’m just going by experience I have seen it before Maybe those joints were weak dunno but I do know it’s not good

 

[Docwagon1776]

I think some people are confusing the locking of the hubs with the locking of the differential. The Rebel is still an open front diff, you aren't locking the front wheels together (nor were you with the old manual hubs if you didn't have a locking diff). Power is not always evenly split between the front wheels and they can turn at different rates. Get stuck and watch.

RAM 1500 Off-Road 4WD LOCK TEST (With Open Diff's) | Not Really a 4x4...

Today we are once again testing my RAM 1500 4WD LOCK off-road. I high center my truck over a little ditch and show how 4x4 Lock doesn't necessarily mean all ...

www.youtube.com

Shows it at the very beginning. 1500, but same thing.

What's "locked" is one wheel on the front and one wheel on the rear, whichever has the least traction. On a turn, the front is tracking the outside of the circle while the rear is tracking a curve much closer to the inside of the circle, so they are covering different distances but forced to turn at the same rpm.

 

[4xdad]

And even then it’s only the tire with the least amount of traction that drives

 

[migander]

Assuming in 4wd and on slick surface.
All my 4wd trucks with ujoints at outer ends if front axle "hop". All depends on how sharp you turn. The RAM 2500 has this setup. Sucks for a plow truck.
What kind of front end does a 1500 have? CV joints. This will be smooth.