4wd question

[ben01]

I have a pretty simple question.

On my 01 pathfinder, when it is positioned on 4wd lock

Is it the 4 wheels that have traction?I just tried mine in the snow, and i have only the 2 right wheels who as the traction, the left rear tire sounds like it wants to tract but does nothing

[fueler]

The 4wd lock locks the front drivetrain with the rear, 50/50 split. The problem you're having is a result of open differentials between the left and the right drivewheels. Most R50 Pathfinders and QX4's have open carriers, allowing the wheel on one side to spin twice as fast, while the other does not move at all. 99% of cars on the street are like this, but don't know it until they hit some snow or mud. Some R50's have an LSD equipped rear differential, you probably don't. You can purchase ARB air lockers for about $700 for one kit, to lock the left and right drive wheels by a pneumatic actuator (you need an on-board air compressor to run this kit) http://www.arbusa.com This website shows an in-depth installation on an R50 pathfinder http://www.xplorx4.com/pathfin...x.htm http://www.xplorx4.com/pathfin...2.htm I would like an ARB one day. It will make you unstoppable. For right now, all I can do is stomp on the skinny pedal and hope I make it.

[KoukiS14]

It splits the torque front and rear 50/50, whereas your AUTO setting, well, AUTOmatically does it.

It doesn't split torque left and right, however -- to do this you'd need locked differentials front and rear, or VLSD.

There are more experience 4wd guys here than myself -- hopefully one will offer a much better explanation.



EDIT: Fueler beat me to it. . haha. . didn't refresh before posting this.

[fueler]

hahah got you!! anyways, open diffs stink! I usually get opposite corners dug down to the point where they are spinning freely in the air, i have yet to try some soft sand wheeling with my larger tires and low PSI. I am ready to go back to Baja and try some more.

[KoukiS14]

Yeah it sure does -- I'm eyeing that ARB air locker I presume you could use that hose to air up tires as well too, right?

[fueler]

Yes, the ARB compressor actually comes with a hose equipped with a schrader valve, ready to fill up tires. It works slowly but surely. This is a photo of Dean Thayer's Pathfinder, in which he mounted the ARB compressor under the hood where the OEM airbox would normally be.

[nissandoms47]

yeah dean has a tank though, if you're wanting some kind of OBA system I would recommend getting a tank. or just get CO2.

[ben01]

Thanks every one for the info, i thought something was broken on my truck...

[fueler]

Dont worry Ben, your QX4 is fine. A lot of trucks are like this from the factory. Most Jeep guys buy lockers. Pathfinder's are not so easy to find parts for, but they are there. The trucks that come with rear LSD from the factory are junk. Someone told me that the optional LSD on Pathfinder is useless when a wheel comes off the ground, but I have yet to find out if that is true. My uncle has a turbo diesel Nissan Patrol in Poland, and he has the same problem with his open diffs. That is proof that even the beefiest trucks come with open diffs. I wonder if the Toyota Electric-locker is any good?? (4runners)

[vliou]

Yes, useless when it comes off the ground. Hell, it's even useless if one wheel has solid ice and and the other is just snowy...