Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club | Turning on Pavement while in 4wd

I'm new to the forum so excuse me if this has been covered, but I couldn't find it covered anywhere.

I just took a test drive with Butch over at CVI and when I put it in 4wd he warned against turning while on pavement because it won't allow the necessary wheels to slip (ie. when you are turning the wheels want to turn at different rates but when they are locked they can't and instead need to slip). I understand that the front and rear axles are locked, but shouldn't the differentials allow for the wheels to turn at difference rate? Or, are the front wheels completely locked?

I see this as being a potential problem in situations where you are coming out of a 4wd area and need to turn in order to get out of the way so you can have enough room to put it into reverse and get out of 4x4.

These are 4WD vehicles, not AWD - there is a difference. You should only use 4WD when there is the opportunity for the wheels to slip, otherwise you're going to drop your transfer case all over the pavement! It may not happen right a way, but it will and it won't be pretty.

Yes the differentials allow the wheels to turn at different speeds.

The problem is that you have locked the front and back differentials together with the transfer case (which is a part time system (full times have a coupling that allows it to slip but proves to be a problem when you need full traction since it slips)).

Now the front and rear wheels need to turn at different speeds, but they cannot since they are locked together.

something has to slip, if you are lucky it will slip a tire...if you are unlucky it will blow up a differential, or U-joint, or CV, or a locking hub, or the transfer case...

This is normal, it is a part time system (simple and effective).

Cheers

That answers my question. Thanks!

I was down in Moab this fall and considered taking the Deli out for a spin on some of the Slickrock trails- I was totally stoked to buzz around out there and hopefully get some cool pictures-

Then I remembered the advice I had read against 4wd on places with good traction (if you've never been, slickrock ain't slick- it's like driving on sandpaper). With the light back end on the van I had visions of getting stuck on something too steep or uneven for 2wd, but having 4wd cause the drivetrain to explode. I stayed off the slickrock trails. I guess the stock Delica wouldn't make an ideal rockcrawler

Almost all 4X4s on slick rock will be part time. If parts are in good shape it will slip a tire.

There just is no reason to wheel around a parking lot in 4x4.

If you're not running over snow, or ice, or sand, or soft dirt, or wet grass, or heated marshmellows with chocolate syrup you shouldn't be in 4WD (high or low) in your L300. I've seen a transfer case drop out of a Jeep on the highway - it ain't fun swerving to avoid that, let me tell you!

If you want an AWD setting, get an second generation Pajero ('91-'99) or an L400 with the Super Select 4WD transmission.

in slick rock you would just lock the hubs and put it back into 2H, slip it into 4h or 4L for tough sections or if you get stuck. not a problem.

The point that Mararmeisto speaks to is that you can shift-on-the-fly to 4-high as long as your hubs are already locked - I think that is important to remember.

Also, having done some steeper stuff in Delicas and other 4x4s in the past is that climbing provides opportunities for the wheels to unload by the shear nature of gravity (the reason you need all wheels driving) so I would generally be less concerned in a situation like that and you are driving much slower than you would on the road. A road surface is designed for all wheels to be on the ground, always, and thus provides less (or no) opportunity to release any mechanical pressure built up as a result of slight drive ratio differences front-to-back.

While off-roading, I generally drive in 2wd with hubs locked and shift into 4-high as needed or stop and shift into 4-low if you know you need it. You do have to pay attention though if you happen to reverse in 2wd as your auto-hubs will unlock themselves - for this reason, I am considering changing to manual hubs.

Every situation is different but as a general rule, don't run in 4wd on paved roads at all. You CAN run on pavement with hubs locked if you forget to unlock them though.

Happy wheeling!

And keep in mind (on another note) that if you don't have manual hubs
rocking your deli back and forth can produce a clunk.
Auto hubs actually unlock and lock when going forwards and backwards
in (4wd).
There was a huge thread on the uk group about this and it was proven
so.

FS

Yes... I can attest to that too... especially if you don't go backwards very far before going forwards again (like the rocking Firesong speaks of). Very unfriendly sounds... kinda like shifting a motorcycle or outboard boat motor into gear slowly. I have it on video (with wonderful audio) as well and it will be up on YouTube soon so I will be able to link to it for any who are interested. Switching to manuals very soon - even just to stop my cousin from laughing so damn hard when it happens...

Are you absolutely positive about this? because I never felt or heard anything at all to indicate this. When in 4wd the hubs stayed locked no matter which way I moved the vehicle. only by reversing in 2wd did I ever manage to unlock the hubs.

Absolutely sure.

It happens in both 4h and 4L. The rocking can produce a clunk.
Scares the crap out of you when it happens. You think something
broke. I was thinking my hubs were screwed and then went searching
for manual hubs to replace them. Came across the UK thread which was
huge on this. It's a proven fact, they had some info regarding it and
someone on the aussie site said they had found the same. It will
unlock and relock. I have it happen way too much when i push
the barriers of getting stuck while icefishing, geocaching in the winter.

I have been searching and searching for that thread but can't find it.
I do think I found the UK site that has the other manual hubs:
http://www.milneroffroad.com/categories ... D=9412&p=2

They should be able to do a across the atlantic sale. Or one of the
delica enthuasists maybe convinced to buy a couple and send them
with paypal coming his way. (If that's the case I might be in on 2 as well)

Firesong

I too am HIGHLY suspicious of this claim as I have reversed and rocked the vehicle in 4wd several times without hearing or feeling any evidence of it unlocking/relocking.