4 x 4 Not working???

Whoops sorry

1995 Dodge Ram 4x4
318 short box
5 speed
slt laramie

On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 05:57:32 GMT, "TBone" <tboneNOSPAM.RemoveThis@nc.rr.com>
wrote:

>The year and specific vehicle might help.
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

All right, that's a part time 4X4. What conditions are you driving it in
while in 4 wheel drive? You do know that you shouldn't be using it on dry
roads that way, right? Please explain more clearly what you mean by
hesitation in second gear? Are you talking about hesitation or binding? I
hope that you are talking about second gear on the transmission and are not
trying to shift into low range while driving. Also make sure that ALL of
your tires are the same size. Part time 4X4's have a hard time if any of
them are different. As for the hydroplaning feeling, that is normal in
slippery conditions because now the speed of your front wheels are now being
controlled by the drive train instead of free wheeling at the speed of the
truck and may be sliding or spinning, especially in a turn. It takes a
little getting used to playing with the throttle to stop it from doing that
but that is all part of the fun.

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving
"Johnathon Aaron Steel" <me DeleteThis @u.ca> wrote in message
news:rvmcq1l12hcn1jgcrlm62evo75jiqdibtu@4ax.com...
> Whoops sorry
>
> 1995 Dodge Ram 4x4
> 318 short box
> 5 speed
> slt laramie
>
> On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 05:57:32 GMT, "TBone" <tboneNOSPAM DeleteThis @nc.rr.com>
> wrote:
>
> >The year and specific vehicle might help.
>
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

Ok it is in snow and very slippery road.

well when in second gear I give it gass and the rear spins then
"clunk" and it feels like it goes into four wheel driver, ( i have
already engaged it)

Nope just in 4 wheel high range.

tires are all the same size.

Never really felt the hydroplanning though before. Maybe cuz I am more
leary.

yes I agree its fun.

Thanx for the input.....



On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 07:37:43 GMT, "TBone" <tboneNOSPAM DeleteThis @nc.rr.com>
wrote:

>All right, that's a part time 4X4. What conditions are you driving it in
>while in 4 wheel drive? You do know that you shouldn't be using it on dry
>roads that way, right? Please explain more clearly what you mean by
>hesitation in second gear? Are you talking about hesitation or binding? I
>hope that you are talking about second gear on the transmission and are not
>trying to shift into low range while driving. Also make sure that ALL of
>your tires are the same size. Part time 4X4's have a hard time if any of
>them are different. As for the hydroplaning feeling, that is normal in
>slippery conditions because now the speed of your front wheels are now being
>controlled by the drive train instead of free wheeling at the speed of the
>truck and may be sliding or spinning, especially in a turn. It takes a
>little getting used to playing with the throttle to stop it from doing that
>but that is all part of the fun.
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

How many miles are on your tires? Are they oversize ( if you went wider
than stock)? Is the snow especially wet as compared to a dry snow?

These are all factors in the hydroplaning feeling:

Worn out tread = reduced traction.

Wider tread = reduced contact patch pressure ( the tire tries to
"float" on top the snow instead of digging in a bit for traction)

Wet vs dry snow = wet snow is just plain more slippery.

Budd

Johnathon Aaron Steel wrote:
> Ok it is in snow and very slippery road.
>
> well when in second gear I give it gass and the rear spins then
> "clunk" and it feels like it goes into four wheel driver, ( i have
> already engaged it)
>
> Nope just in 4 wheel high range.
>
> tires are all the same size.
>
> Never really felt the hydroplanning though before. Maybe cuz I am more
> leary.
>
> yes I agree its fun.
>
> Thanx for the input.....
>
>
>
> On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 07:37:43 GMT, "TBone" <tboneNOSPAM.RemoveThis@nc.rr.com>
> wrote:
>
> >All right, that's a part time 4X4. What conditions are you driving it in
> >while in 4 wheel drive? You do know that you shouldn't be using it on dry
> >roads that way, right? Please explain more clearly what you mean by
> >hesitation in second gear? Are you talking about hesitation or binding? I
> >hope that you are talking about second gear on the transmission and are not
> >trying to shift into low range while driving. Also make sure that ALL of
> >your tires are the same size. Part time 4X4's have a hard time if any of
> >them are different. As for the hydroplaning feeling, that is normal in
> >slippery conditions because now the speed of your front wheels are now being
> >controlled by the drive train instead of free wheeling at the speed of the
> >truck and may be sliding or spinning, especially in a turn. It takes a
> >little getting used to playing with the throttle to stop it from doing that
> >but that is all part of the fun.
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

"Johnathon Aaron Steel" <me.TakeThisOut@u.ca> wrote in message
news:15pcq19uj7bu3v1hi5l87d0gdhlep5343i@4ax.com...
> Ok it is in snow and very slippery road.
>
> well when in second gear I give it gass and the rear spins then
> "clunk" and it feels like it goes into four wheel driver, ( i have
> already engaged it)

If you have limited slip what you might be hearing is it coupleing up.

Roy
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

I'm not sure when you feel the "clunk", but its possible its taking longer
than you expect to engage. One note, on the NV transfer cases, maintaining
proper fluid level is essential, as it has its own oil pump. Too little
fluid, and operation can be sluggish or stuck in 2wd.

I'm also not sure why it feels like its hydroplaning. In 4wd, you should be
able to feel the front end grip, at least some of the time. If it were
actually hydroplaning (As Tbone suggests) you would be out of control and
4wd would be useless. If it is indeed hydroplaning, the likely cause is
something other than the 4wd operation, such as tires, road conditions or
speed.

--
Max

"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)


"Johnathon Aaron Steel" <me.DeleteThis@u.ca> wrote in message
news:utfcq1pvaiqch7070gjik8k0h10oq923l9@4ax.com...
> Ok so now the winter is among us I am running in 4x4 but am having an
> issue.
>
> When in 4x4 and in second gear I give it gas and it seems to hesitate
> and then "clunk" into 4x4.
>
> Is this because one of my hubs is not engaging? I have a 318 5 speed
> standard.
>
>
> Also in 4x4 it feels like I am hydroplaning.
>
> Thanx Help
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

> When in 4x4 and in second gear I give it gas and it seems to hesitate
> and then "clunk" into 4x4.

Are you shifting into 4WD when stopped? It's possible the front axle isn't
engaging. Try engaging 4WD while rolling (let off the throttle some). Or,
if you have to engage while stopped (stuck, for example). Shift it into
4WD, then SLOWLY let the clutch out. You want to give the front axle a
chance to engage before hammering on it.
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

Only does it in second gear ???, never third-or first?? If any chance of
other gears doing same thing-check the front slider coupling (I'm assuming
you have an old process front diff- (Dana 44??) actuator for vacuum loss (
hoses-etc) hydroplaning- check that all tires are nearly same rolling radius
( remove one -make a mark on the ground-roll exactly one revolution-make
another mark-check all others, ) if you have very much difference (even
though tires say they are same size) your truck will try to squiggle and
catch up whenever it gets the chance...( side to side -sometimes front to
rear)
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

yeah sounds like it would be the fron slider coupling or the vaccum switch
on the transfer case.
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

yeah sounds like it would be the fron slider coupling or the vaccum switch
on the transfer case.
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

Howdy folks sorry it took so long Christmas got to me.

Ok here we go.

1. Tires have about 22k on them.
2. They are stock size.
3. Either case of snow.
4. Fluid level is perfect and clean.
5. Either stopped or running I shift into 4x4.
6. I let the clutch out slow as I am real anal about my truck.
7. The clutch is brand new (10 months old).
8. Just second gear it seems to.
9. Is the coupling and vacuum switch easy to replace and or
expensive?

Thanx again all HUGELY appreciated.

JAS

On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 19:32:38 -0500, "scrapir" <scrapir RemoveThis @gmail.com>
wrote:

>yeah sounds like it would be the fron slider coupling or the vaccum switch
>on the transfer case.
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

Alright - here's an important question: will it only clunk once, when first
shifting into 4WD, or can you make it clunk anytime when in 2nd gear?
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working??? 

Anytime....

Thanx



On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 01:35:51 GMT, "Tom Lawrence"
<tNlOaSwPrAeMnMcIeN5G.RemoveThis@earthlink.net> wrote:

>Alright - here's an important question: will it only clunk once, when first
>shifting into 4WD, or can you make it clunk anytime when in 2nd gear?
>
 >> Stay informed about: 4 x 4 Not working???