Turning with 4WD on- '01 Suburban

[uffs]

Seems like the place to be if you got a prob with a suburban...

Anyway, this is the problem I'm having.. Whenever I have 4WD hi or Auto on, my truck has bucks when turning tightly in either direction. It actually increases the turning radius so I can't turn around in my cul-de-sac in without having to stop and reverse. It also feels like I'm spinning the tires slightly when I start accelerating from a complete stop. These problems dont occur at all when its in 2WD. Seems like this could occur alot, but haven't seen anyone post a similar prob..

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Mike

[Eggert]

Hi Mike,
I am sorry to say that the problem is that you are not following the instructions in the Owners Manual.
The car behaves exactly as it is designed to do.
Please STOP! You are ruining your Part Time 4WD really fast. :22yikes:

It is not an All Wheel Drive.
You can ONLY use the Part Time 4WD (not AWD) when there is wheel slip, as in mud or snow.
There is no slip in the transfer case, so the front and rear axle will go at the same speed.
When you make a turn, all 4 wheels will run at a different speed. Because of the locked transfer case, they can't and will have to buck and scrub.
This is different for the Denali trim level, as they do NOT have a transfer case and no pushbuttons either.
Take care, Eggert

[84fiero123]

why cant anyone with a 40 to 60 thousand dollar car have enuf brains, or common sence to read an owners manual. is there life that buissy that they cant spend 1 hour reading the manual to there own vehicle. well then let them pay the price for therre stupidity!

[utahawk]

[quote=84fiero123]why cant anyone with a 40 to 60 thousand dollar car have enuf brains, or common sence to read an owners manual. is there life that buissy that they cant spend 1 hour reading the manual to there own vehicle. well then let them pay the price for therre stupidity![/QUOTE

The price for your stupidity may just bring on sticker shock. Are you really that horrid of a speller or are you practicing for the school play? I think you are proof positive that someone's intelligence (or lack thereof) is hardly related to the cost of their car.
PS, the manual for my '03 Burb is lacking greatly in proper depth when it attempts to explain the different driving options regarding 4WD. But if you want to read about use of the seat belts it gives you about 5 pages worth.

[Eggert]

Hi 84 Fiero,
that really was not nice. People ask for help and not for insults. So far, nobody is perfect in every regard. Some people are challenged by reading manuals, some by spelling.
To get back to the automotive theme of this forum, the stupidity in my opinion is on the part of the consumers. They let GMC (probably Ford and Dodge, too) get away with an incomplete and cheap design.
If you have a transfer case, then you should have an open differential in it that can be locked when needed. 'Part Time' 4WD really does not cut it, especially in an upscale, expensive vehicle.
For fifty years, the Mercedes Unimog has had true 4WD with a transfer case and open differentials in the front, middle and back. They all can be locked independently, if needed.
We are talking early post WWII design.
Take care, Eggert

[abaird]

I don't know that Uffs question was even answered in all that. I'm not sure I understand Eggert's reply about going too fast for part time 4wd. Uffs said he had the problem when turning tight. Four wheel drive vehicles will always have problems truning tight when they are in 4wd. Because, like you said, the wheels are locked.

This is what I thought, correct me if I am wrong please. I thought that part time 4wd was for going down the highway because when the rear wheels start to slip, the transfer case sends power to the front wheels so the transfer case isn't locked in all the time. That is the way the that front wheel assist tractors work when they are in "part time" 4wd.

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by Eggert

Hi 84 Fiero and utahawk,
that really was not nice. People ask for help and not for insults. So far, nobody is perfect in every regard. Some people are challenged by reading manuals, some by spelling.

He's been told that already. It's a good thing you were born in '52, or he would be calling you a dumb kid right about now. Some people couldn't say "Nice weather we're having!" if there was a single cloud in the sky.

Sorry to say abaird, but you are wrong. (Now, notice how I left it at that. There are many adjectives I could mangle the spelling of, and add them in the wrong places, but that would be mean, not helpful.) Part time 4x4 (on trucks, anyway, I'm not familiar with tractors) is for using 4x4 when you need it. It should NEVER be engaged on dry pavement. Many people, including myself, say only to use it if you're stuck, or at a very low speed. Having 4x4 locked in makes handling on snow/ice worse, so if you lose control you're probably going to hit something.

There is no center differential with part time 4x4, so the front and rear axle WILL turn at the same speed. The only way you can turn is if something slips. Hopefully, this will continue to be the tires. Gears and chains will not slip, so to have a difference in axle speed, the gears or chain would have to break.

[utahawk]

Egg I was cracking on Fiero for cracking on uffs. Don't group me in with Fiero in the meanness department. I was getting on his case because he was mean to uffs. Lay off of me, I agree Fiero was mean. Know what I mean?

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by utahawk

Egg I was cracking on Fiero for cracking on uffs. Don't group me in with Fiero in the meanness department. I was getting on his case because he was mean to uffs. Lay off of me, I agree Fiero was mean. Know what I mean?

Sorry for the mixup, I read your post too fast (I don't really get the meaning when I read that fast), then I saw the next one, and I assumed it was mean. I edited my first post to exclude you. Sorry again, I feel bad for grouping you with him in that area.

[Eggert]

Hi guys,
I think we agree on
1) No part time 4wd on dry pavement - you WILL wreck it.
2) Part time 4wd should only be used when needed.
3) Part time 4wd is OK in snow, mud, gravel and similar surfaces, where the wheels can slip in turns.
Take care, Eggert

[uffs]

wow.. i haven't read the replies to my message until now.. didn't realize it created a storm of controversey..

to defend myself against 84fiero123-
"why cant anyone with a 40 to 60 thousand dollar car have enuf brains, or common sence to read an owners manual. is there life that buissy that they cant spend 1 hour reading the manual to there own vehicle. well then let them pay the price for therre stupidity!"

first of all, that was the first 4wd i've ever owned.. i bought that truck used for about 17k.. didnt spend 40-60k.. being used, there was no owners manual. I had enough common sense to not keep driving with the 4wd enabled.

i know its been over a year but i had to set the record straight..hehe