Forum:
I thought I'd try out the 4WD just driving around town and all was well until I tried to turn left into a parking space. As I turned at very low speed it was as though the brakes had come on and it wouldn't go any further. Changing back to 2WD cured it.
Again being new to this 4x4 business I don't know whther it's supposed to be like that? Is it how the auto hubs work?
All help gratefully received.
Thanks
4x.
Don't 'force' the car's steering wheel into full lock when in 4w drive. Take off the 4wheel drive because it is not meant for day-to-day driving. Use only as specified.
No 4Wheel Driving
Four wheel drive should not be used on tarmac or other solid surfaced roads unless the system is fitted with viscous couplings or similar electronically or manually controlled clutches.
When turning one wheel travels further than the other in two wheel drive, this is why axles are fitted with differentials, these allow this disconnection through a series of gears, usually sun and planetary gears. When four wheel drive is engaged, all four wheels, and the front and rear axles rotate at differing speeds, this is because the steering wheels travel less distance than the driven rear wheels.
Engaging four wheel drive on a Daihatsu simply moves an internally splined gear to connect the rear prop shaft drive to the front prop shaft, this means both axles are solidly locked together. Having four wheel engaged and driving on a solid surface induces a problem called "transmission wind up", which in real terms means the transfer case explodes as this is where the prop shafts lock together.
Slippery surfaces such as mud, dirt roads or tracks, grass, and snow allows the wheels travelling the lesser distances to slip on them, thus giving the surplus power somewhere to go. Solid surfaces such as roads do not allow the wheels to slip, and this power has to go somewhere, usually destroying the transfer case.