Questions about the 4 wheel drives in 02 to 05 Ford Explorers.
I posted this on three Explorer Facebook and one web site:
My Explorer is a 03 4Wheel Drive with a 4.6.
My 03 Has a limited slip rear end so what is the front differential??
I find when taking turns in 4WD I hear noises, groins like.
Can we switch in and out of 4WD drive at any speed?
Can we run in 4 Wheel High on city streets?
I got a number of people giving more of less the same answer:
NO: You can but it’s not desirable. 4w d, 4 winter ( ice) driving only. very bad for your transfer case chain to run on dry pavement or without mud,river gravel, dirt or sand, also VERY expensive to fix. 4 w d helps you go better but it doesn’t stop any better on ice. Still better to stop before switching over and switching out requires backing up for the front hubs to unlock. Better to read an owners Manuel first.
But for this answer:
Jon Glass
All of the newer 4wheelers run the same gear ratios front and rear I have run thousands of miles on pavement with my vehicles and have never had a transfer case issue, I have even switched my bronco II in and out of 4 wheel drive at 70+ mph before, also with my diesel I made a winter trip from Oregon to Minnesota pulling a trailer running most of the way in 4 high due to roads
I asked: Jon Glass Does that apple to 03 Fords with their Electronic control auto 4 WD and their button 4WD High??
And got this:
Richard A. Coyle my B II was an electronic 4x4 and so is my gen 1 explorer
So I am not sure which is right, some 14 people said no…one says yes…
Rats, so I fear that 4 wheel drive in a 03 Explorer is a lot of weight and fuss but more or less worthless except in very bad weather...
So if it ever gives me any problem I think ripping it out makes total sense for my use.
I never go off road and have hit bad weather about 6 times in my 55 years of driving were it would be needed.
Rich
I posted this on three Explorer Facebook and one web site:
My Explorer is a 03 4Wheel Drive with a 4.6.
My 03 Has a limited slip rear end so what is the front differential??
I find when taking turns in 4WD I hear noises, groins like.
Can we switch in and out of 4WD drive at any speed?
Can we run in 4 Wheel High on city streets?
I got a number of people giving more of less the same answer:
NO: You can but it’s not desirable. 4w d, 4 winter ( ice) driving only. very bad for your transfer case chain to run on dry pavement or without mud,river gravel, dirt or sand, also VERY expensive to fix. 4 w d helps you go better but it doesn’t stop any better on ice. Still better to stop before switching over and switching out requires backing up for the front hubs to unlock. Better to read an owners Manuel first.
But for this answer:
Jon Glass
All of the newer 4wheelers run the same gear ratios front and rear I have run thousands of miles on pavement with my vehicles and have never had a transfer case issue, I have even switched my bronco II in and out of 4 wheel drive at 70+ mph before, also with my diesel I made a winter trip from Oregon to Minnesota pulling a trailer running most of the way in 4 high due to roads
I asked: Jon Glass Does that apple to 03 Fords with their Electronic control auto 4 WD and their button 4WD High??
And got this:
Richard A. Coyle my B II was an electronic 4x4 and so is my gen 1 explorer
So I am not sure which is right, some 14 people said no…one says yes…
Rats, so I fear that 4 wheel drive in a 03 Explorer is a lot of weight and fuss but more or less worthless except in very bad weather...
So if it ever gives me any problem I think ripping it out makes total sense for my use.
I never go off road and have hit bad weather about 6 times in my 55 years of driving were it would be needed.
Rich
