Do not use 4 wheel drive on tarmac.

[Darrell]

After another enquiry from somebody on Difflock I thought it may be useful to post this up. Lots of new people to off-roading don't know that Suzuki's are only part time 4wd and should not be used in 4wd on any grippy surface. Quite a well explained write-up

http://rubicon-trail.com/4WD101/driveline-bind.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/def_turnpart.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HuwJones]

"The image above is the transfer case of my anus Grand Cherokee after accidentally driving for about 150 miles in part time 4WD on the freeway. It exploded at about 70 mph."

Hmm.. I bet that the transfer box wasn't the only thing he had to change if he was doing 70mph!

Huw

[basil]

When i first got my 413 i put it in 4 wheel drive not knowing better and after only a short time noticed the steering was very odd,,,had a devil of a time getting it back to 2 wheel drive...
the stress on the components must have been immense
Basil

[ScottieJ]

If you accidentally drive in 4wd on a surface with too much traction and you get transmission wind up and it's hard to get out of 4wd. Just reverse in 4wd high for a few metres and it will help, if it still won't shift back in to 2wd, reverse again while pushing the lever forwards into 2wd.

[Anton]

The last time I accidentally ran 4wd on the road, when I realised I put my hazard lights on, mounted a kerb and put both left wheels on a grass verge - came out of 4wd really easy then. But I wouldn't recommend that if you have to do excessive steering to get to the grass - I was just lucky that I was right by a grass verge at the time!

[themac]

Does this include having the hubs in the "lock" position? I noticed when I brought my SJ home that she had been driven with one of the hubs in "lock" and one in "free" for God knows how long. I changed the oil on the diff and it doesn't seem like it has taken any damage, the side that hade been on "lock" I couldn't change back first but now after the oilchange and some WB40 on the knob itself it clicks in and out of place without any problems.

I have been wondering though, since not all SJ's was sold with manual hubs at all, if it is recomended to unlock them when you don't drive 4wd? I understand there being extra wear on the front axle and the oil there, but could it harm the axle?

[Anton]

Won't harm the axle either way, but running unlocked will save wear on components and save fuel.

Running in 4wd accidentally will also be harmless with unlocked hubs. In fact, having one side unlocked should be enough to prevent drivetrain windup, but both is better.

[r-nottz]

When I was new to the suzuki 4x4 world I was told to only 4WD as a panic option, my mate laughed at me when I give him the same advice when he got his vit, a diff later he never laughed again! I've always kept going in 2WD until I'm in a situation where 4WD is needed

[twiss]

Off roading is more fun in 2wd.... powersliding inbetween the trees haha

[CommVit]

I don't even think my 4x4 works, just got the truck and as it has sat in a field for years, it probably wont go in- scared to try ahha