Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Giving the transfer a workout in prep for my trip on thurs. Changed the oil in the transfer and diffs.

Now this is a recurring problem, but I haven't really taken it seriously before

Shifting from 2wd to 4H is nice and smooth, but after driving in 4H for a bit, shifting back to 2WD is almost impossible. Have to really wrench the stick into 2WD (and I don't mean a bit of force, like smashing it!! ) for it to move, and it makes a huge BANG sound when it does shift.

Also sort of sticks inbetween 2 and 4H, and then if you drive it in/bw in pops back into 2WD on its own, again with a bang.

Anyone know what this is? Do I need a rebuild?

Also - going lower transfer gears (eg calmini kit), does this lower the top end gearing of the car (ie, and I going to be doing 5000RPM at 90Kph)?

Ado

Sounds like driveline windup. Try this. Next time you shirt from 4H to 2H, do so at a slow walking pace, clutch in and push stick from 4H to 2H gently. It should got easy. Technicaly you should be able to shift from 2H and 4H on the move in a straight line (within reason ). Thats if you hubs are locked in.

Layto....

Yeah apparently so, but I have never been able to do it, ever since I bought the car. It hasn't been thrashed and the oil kept up so I wouldn't think it would be hammered, but then again who knows.

I will try that now Lay80n, thanks for the advice.

Ado

yep I agree with Layto but may also need to look at your shifter sheet which could be worn and not helping matters but the bang usually means windup. Calmini gears will give you a reduction in high range to offet the effect of bigger tyres. Calmini 5.14's give 18% reduction i think...so what revs and your top speed can be managed depending what size tyres your running. Anything above 31's should see you sitting on 100 fairly comfy at about 3000-3300 rpm at a guess.

ado250 wrote:
Shifting from 2wd to 4H is nice and smooth, but after driving in 4H for a bit, shifting back to 2WD is almost impossible. Have to really wrench the stick into 2WD (and I don't mean a bit of force, like smashing it!! ) for it to move, and it makes a huge BANG sound when it does shift.

your not testing on tarmac are you?

JrZook wrote:

ado250 wrote:
Shifting from 2wd to 4H is nice and smooth, but after driving in 4H for a bit, shifting back to 2WD is almost impossible. Have to really wrench the stick into 2WD (and I don't mean a bit of force, like smashing it!! ) for it to move, and it makes a huge BANG sound when it does shift.

your not testing on tarmac are you?

Good point. Didnt think of that. If you are STOP STOP STOP. Only engage 4wd with the hubs locked on lower traction surfaces such as gravel etc. You can even wind drive train up on very hard packed dirt roads. If you dont need 4wd, dont use it is the best advice. Once you learn to shift between 2H and 4H on the fly, its all the more easier. I hardly use 4H, but i also have rear diff lock.

Layto....

Ooops

Yeah I was testing it on tarmac!! I do have the problem on dirt/offroad also, although from memory maybe it's not as bad.

I've been a bit of a dumb S***E when it comes to the gearing, ofcourse, lower high range offsets larger tyres (essentially tyres make high range higher).

I'm pretty sure I will go 31's pretty soon, so will see how it goes with them on before I think of any gearing.

Ado

ado250 wrote:Ooops

Yeah I was testing it on tarmac!! I do have the problem on dirt/offroad also, although from memory maybe it's not as bad.

Ado

Ouch!!!!
shouldnt be a prob on dirt as long as you are goin straight and dont accelerate/decelerate hard. Lucky ya havent distroyed anything yet.

sorry to get off track but i just herd u could change on the go ?? i never knew this and have only been changing from 2h to 4L when i go off road stoped. which is a pain.

also is there any harm in having the hubs locked when u are in 2h driving onroad ? i thaught it is spinning the shhafts and the front diff but that wasnt connected to the transfer ? sorry if this is wrong iv only tuaght myself how to use it.

vicelore:

We have never changed from 2High - 4Low with any of our 4x4's while moving, but 2high - 4high while moving has never been a problem.

ado250:

We have been expirencing this problem recently with the S4 Rockhoppers but only when the vehicle is stopped. Either rolling the zook forward or back will usually unload the driveline enough to permit us changing back to 2High. It was never a problem before the S4's. It may also have something to do with the rear diff lock as well since we installed both on the same weekend.


Cheers

Thanks for all the advice

Testing the new Hiace/VS commodore shocks and EFS springs today, went out onto some loose dirt, ran around a bit in 4H, stopped, rolled and changed (while rolling). Bang not as bad but still was loud enough to draw a "F**K what was that?" from my mate in the passenger seat.

Not sure if I should just be happy with a smaller bang or look into it. Definately don't have gears or a locker.

Oh well, if I ripp the transfer to shreds it's just an excuse to rebuild with rockhoppers!!

Ado

NEVER change from high to low or low to high moving. But from 2H to 4H shouldnt be a problem as long as you are going straight and not doing warps speed 9. What locker you using hottuna, if its an auto locker thes can hold pressure on the driveline, and when you shift it releases the pressure, kinda like mini windup . Ado250, what was the gound you were wheeling on like, as i said you can generate mild windup even on dirt roads. ITs find to drive in 2H with front hubs locked too, but will shew a bit more fuel, and wear parts that dont need to be.

Layto....

lay80n

Yeah the diff lock is a Detroit EZ Locker and I have to agree about wearing out parts that you dont need to with keeping the hubs always locked in.

Cheers

ado250 wrote:Thanks for all the advice

Testing the new Hiace/VS commodore shocks and EFS springs today....

Ado

Excuse the hijack but how did the shocks go?