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97dak
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
09:49:33
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 Subject: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
I went our wheeling this morning before work (sorry boss, but I was late cause the traffic was bad), and I put my Dakota in some pretty deep and thick mud. I was in 4Hi, but I noticed that my front tires weren't spinning. Now, I'm paranoid on a lot of things, and my passenger side front tire could have been spinning (I could not see and that damn open diff), but it didn't feel like it was. After I got out (sorry, but it took a 3/4 Shivvy tow truck to winch and hoist me out) I put the truck in 4Lo and I could tell that it was in low gear, but since I was on pavement I could not tell if the front ires were spinning or not. I was thinking maybe the transfer case chain was streched? Anyway, what I was originally going to ask was how can you tell if you are in 4wd on pavement? This is my first 4wd and I have only had it about two months. I've heard that you can pull up to a curb, keep it in 2wd, and slowly release the clutch. They say that it probably won't climb the curb with no gas being applied in 2wd. Next, put the truck in 4wd and do the same thing. The 4wd should pull the truck over the curb. Does this work? Are there any better ways? I need something to try on my lunch break (no mud for miles from work) or I will just have to find a mud hole later (and maybe a tow). Any information to help out a new guy would be appreciated.
97dak
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Knobbyman
GenIII
11/29/2001
10:05:16
|  RE: 4wd broken or not?
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Message:
Crank you wheels in 4x4 on pavement.. If it feels like it's grinding and it's hard to move then it's working. *the front wheels are locked* or :) go on someones lawn and pop the clutch in 4x4 if you tear up grass in 4 places it's working.. if only 2 then it's not.
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
http://www.knobbyman.com
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97dak
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
10:17:19
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
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Message:
Thanks. I'll try cranking the wheels. I would test it out on the lawn, but our landscape guy (and boss) probably would not like it:).
97dak
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Knobbyman
GenIII
11/29/2001
10:36:27
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
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Message:
Maybe the next time you go 4wheeling you can try it on some dirt.. that works also :)
Anyone else have a normal way of doing this? Becides lifting the whole truck up and seing what wheels spin..
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
http://www.knobbyman.com
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97dak
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
10:52:35
|  RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
I'll do that:). If anybody else knows any other ways I'd like to know them for future reference.
97Dak
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
11:59:05
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
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Message:
The same thing happened to me about a month ago. I have a 1989 4x4, so I dont know if theres a huge difference between our trucks. Anyways, I found out that my steering stabilizer has been knocking hard into the 4wd shifter and ruined the shifter. It wouldnt lock the front diff anymore. It was trash. I picked up a new one for $80 from the dealer and had a 4x4 shop put it in with 1.5 qts of fresh oil. Runs like new!!! You might get that checked by a 4x4 shop locally. They also repositined my steering stabilizer so it doenst happen again.
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robert
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
12:09:32
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
The test in the grass was not explained very well. It is quite possible to only have two dig marks. If you have a LSD in the back, you MAY have two marks in the rear. The front is an open diff, so only one front tire may spin.
Without lockers, you are only guranteed the one front and one rear will get power.
This is a very common mis-understanding with 4x4s. The transfer case only locks the front drive shaft and the rear drive shaft together. There are still differentials at the front and rear that allows the left or right wheel to slip. This is what allows you to turn. The 'binding' you feel when you are in 4wd on pavement is the drive shafts not being allowed to turn at different rates. Full time 4wd units have this third differential... located in the transfer case.
Also, LSD are not lockers. They will still allow one tire to slip if the force is great enough... like in a turn.
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Knobbyman
GenIII
11/29/2001
12:22:16
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
That was just a joke but.. Still say you leave a mark front left & rear right.. your 4x4 is working correctly you just need to get a locker.. or 2 if a air locker is available in the front.
What's your idea of testing to see if it's a working 4x4? I said my answers weren't the best way.. but I still haven't heard any other ideas.
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
http://www.knobbyman.com
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97dak
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
12:35:23
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
I don't think that it is a problem with the shifter because I can put the transfer case in Neutral, and when I go to 4LO I am in low gear (just crawling along). Its probably just me being paranoid. I'll find out soon because its almost lunch time.
Question: Are Powertrax differentials any good? They say that they are not lockers or posi's, but they work as both. Is that true? Are they worth the $450 (quoted to me by auto parts store)?
97dak
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Knobbyman
GenIII
11/29/2001
12:38:22
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
Don't know .. never tried um.. anyone here that has?
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
http://www.knobbyman.com
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robert
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
15:01:20
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
One easy way is to put the truck in 4wd, jack one of the front tires off of the ground and try and turn it (with the tranny in park for auto or in gear for manual -- engine OFF). If you can turn the tire, 4wd is not working. If you can't, it is. Of course, this only works with an open diff up front. Also, if you have an electronically engaged transfer case, make sure it is switched into 4wd before turning off the engine.
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97dak
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
16:06:43
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
Thanks everyone for your input. I tested it on my lunch break and everything seems to be working just fine. I pulled up to our sidewalk in front of the office, kept in in 2wd, and tried to climb the curb without touching the gas. Didn't work. Next, I tried the same thing in 4hi and it climbed right up. Tried it again in 4lo, and it climbed up again. I also tried cranking the wheels in 4wd and there was some grinding. So, it seems to be working. Maybe I'll test it out tonight in the same hole I got stuck in this morning. Maybe if it hit it a litle faster....
97dak
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Knobbyman
GenIII
11/29/2001
16:09:45
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
Something I learned earlier...
Speed only breaks stuff faster.
If you can creep threw it .. YOU ROCK .. if you can't get different tires :-)
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
http://www.knobbyman.com
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97dak
Dodge Dakota
11/29/2001
16:13:36
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
True words to live by!
97dak
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jimmeyjack
Dodge Dakota
11/30/2001
00:03:57
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
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Message:
Crawl through a mudd hole? lol. 2 places speed is your friend, mudd and sand. Just check for logs,rocks,etc. Crawl through a mudd hole hehehehe.
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sreding
Dodge Dakota
11/30/2001
12:08:07
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
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Message:
I wanted to check out my 4x4 since I bought my truck used, 98 5.2L, 5spd. Just went on a patch of gravel put it in 4 hi and reverse so I could see if my front was digging in before the back ran it over. Left 4 nice holes... One other thing I noticed was that in 4 hi if I started out in second, as I usually do the truck really bogged down instead of just spinn' the rear as I am used to. Good luck,
Shawn
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got mopar
Dodge Dakota
11/30/2001
15:04:27
|  RE: 4wd broken or not?
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Message:
When i went wheeling one day i crald up the side of this one trail and my suspention was maxed then i aplied some resistance whit my brake then my tire was off the grond and it kep on truckin but when i backed down the truck made a one solid pop sound (then i cringed) then i went back up and did it again i couldn't tell where it came from does any one else herd of this oh and it's a 97 dakota club cab 4x4 5.2 i thoght it cam from the bed area.
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97dak
Dodge Dakota
11/30/2001
17:02:28
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
Have you checked you bed mounts? They could be bad, causing the bed to shift, or rub.
97dak
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doch80
Dodge Dakota
12/01/2001
02:37:18
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
One thing these trucks do is make a popping sound when the suspension is maxed out like that. It comes from the leaf springs popping each other when going through the different arcs of articulation. No big deal, just annoying. This come from one of the magizines that did a story on a 97' dak 4x4.
Doch80
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Got mopar
Dodge Dakota
12/05/2001
13:16:36
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
Does any one know who's killer truck that is in the pic album it's the first one i want to talk to him about what he did to his truck.
thx.
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97dak
Dodge Dakota
12/06/2001
12:25:03
|  RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
Yeah, i would also like some info on that Dak. Is it a solid front axle swap? I found a site that tells how to put a solid front with leaf springs under a Dakota, but nothing about coils springs. What is the setup on this truck?
97dak
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got mopar
Dodge Dakota
12/06/2001
16:38:19
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
Not the one with the straght stright axle i think the truck is gray it's got a camper behind it i think he's A hunter.
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old dodge
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/27/2002
12:24:35
| 4x4 shifting problems
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 1991 dodge dakota 4x4 with a 5.2 v8.i have no problems shifting from 2wd to 4h or to 4l.when i accelerate i hear a popping sound from the front i think.it only pops a few times,then it pulls fine.if i stop then accelerate again i get the same results.also when shifter is put back in 2wd the indicator light stays in 4wd.there is also noise when driving on asphalt.the interior gets hot around the transfer.it seems like it is still in 4wd but i can spin the rear wheels. it has done this several times before but always comes out by itself. any help would be appreciated.
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89Dakota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/09/2003
22:15:07
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 89 Dakota. when i bought it the guy took the shafts that go from the front axle transfer case to the tires off and sold them to a friend. and i was wondering how much would it cost to get 2 shafts for it and where i could get them. thanks
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patindahat
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/17/2003
01:29:06
| RE: 4wd broken or not?
IP: Logged
Message:
Can you two last guys start new threads? Cause those are completely new questions..... As for the first one sounds like your t-case is having problems.... Start by replacing the fluid in the t-case and both diffs, if that doesn't do it take it to a local 4x4 shop.
Pat - Ex nihilo nihilus
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