Street Racing in 4WD

GTGallop

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Street racing is bad, dangerous, and ILLEGAL. Don't ever even think about it.

But if you do.... ;-)

Back in the early 2000's I had a Nissan Titan and frequented the "Titan Talk" forum. Guys there with 4x4 would street race them in 4WD HI. They ate up all sorts of cars. Apparently the way Nissan designed the 4WD system for the Titan, it wasn't a problem on pavement. They did report faster tire wear but never that there was any mechanical issues after doing this repeatedly.

Can our Fords do the same?
On a hypothetical track?
That isn't a public street?
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Lunchbox88

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Street racing is bad, dangerous, and ILLEGAL. Don't ever even think about it.

But if you do.... ;-)

Back in the early 2000's I had a Nissan Titan and frequented the "Titan Talk" forum. Guys there with 4x4 would street race them in 4WD HI. They ate up all sorts of cars. Apparently the way Nissan designed the 4WD system for the Titan, it wasn't a problem on pavement. They did report faster tire wear but never that there was any mechanical issues after doing this repeatedly.

Can our Fords do the same?
On a hypothetical track?
That isn't a public street?
I dont know if anyone has tested this much. But I would imagine while there is certainly more stain on the system, if you stay in a straight line there wouldnt be too much extra wear. Especially if you maybe launch in 4wd then switch to 2wd after 2nd gear or something. Just spit balling, I have no hard evidence to support this
 
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GTGallop

GTGallop

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I like spit balling. It's fun. It's also how we speculate and postulize new ideas. Thank you.
 

Dr. Zaius

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Going straight in 4x4 doesn't introduce any bind into the driveline since all tires are turning at the same speed.

When you start going around turns, where the inside tire and outside tire rotate at different speeds and the front and rear axles also need differential action between them, is where the 4x4 system will bind and you will discover the weakest link in the drivetrain when it goes boom.

All AWD systems have some type of clutch or viscous coupling in the transfer case so that the axles can turn independently without binding up.

In my AWD Grand Cherokee, it has a gerotor in the transfer case as well as in each axle.

It's in 2wd unless the rear starts to slip and then the speed differential spins up the gerotor which brings in the front driveline.

The V8 AWD GC will really jump off the line and REALLY surprise a lot of vehicles, if one were to indulge in such activities (honestly, I don't. I pay enough in vehicle insurance already)

Fun video of an Ecoboost F150 (launching in 4x4) embarrassing a collection of fast cars.

 
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SOHK_Alumni

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Been tempted to swap out the transfer case with an AWD case under the wife's FX4.

Find a limited slip solution for the front diff and have a full time AWD Ranger. Not as elegant as the on-demand AWD systems commonly in use, but better than the one wheel wonder even the e-locker offers 99% of the time.
 


commbubba19

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Been tempted to swap out the transfer case with an AWD case under the wife's FX4.

Find a limited slip solution for the front diff and have a full time AWD Ranger. Not as elegant as the on-demand AWD systems commonly in use, but better than the one wheel wonder even the e-locker offers 99% of the time.
you'd have better luck doing that on a 2wd vs trying to get the ecu to work with an awd tcase
 
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Langwilliams

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Glad this came up I'm thinking about going to the track. I have the E lock rear diff an 4x4. I figured I'd shut off the traction control but I'm not sure about the advanced traction control.
 

HoosierT

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Glad this came up I'm thinking about going to the track. I have the E lock rear diff an 4x4. I figured I'd shut off the traction control but I'm not sure about the advanced traction control.
For sure do the long hold and turn it all off. And for sure DO NOT turn on your locker, that’s only for off road use and will limit you to something like 20mph.
 

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For sure do the long hold and turn it all off. And for sure DO NOT turn on your locker, that’s only for off road use and will limit you to something like 20mph.
Does the locker actually limit you to 20mph?

Or does it just disengage when you hit 20mph?
 

Doc

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For sure do the long hold and turn it all off. And for sure DO NOT turn on your locker, that’s only for off road use and will limit you to something like 20mph.
How do you figure, I drag race my truck...the locker shuts off a 20 mph...and never race with traction control on, on the street...
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HoosierT

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How do you figure, I drag race my truck...the locker shuts off a 20 mph...and never race with traction control on, on the street...
Regards
Because I want my locker to last as that’s not remotely what they’re made for. And yes, I did state to turn all traction control off with the long press.
 

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Because I want my locker to last as that’s not remotely what they’re made for. And yes, I did state to turn all traction control off with the long press.
Good for you ...
Regards
 
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Robisten8

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There's a well known black F150 that launches in 4HI and switches a couple seconds into his quarter mile runs. He has a YouTube channel "Boosted F-150". I haven't been following him recently, but he was running 10's and chasing 9's.
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