buying a 4x4 -- how to test said 4wd works..?

[naynay]

So i owned a 97 tahoe 4x4 a few years back but never once engaged the 4wd. When i sold it i remember the guy engaging it and like driving in reverse in a circle or something weird to make sure the 4wd was working properly.. anyone know what exactly he was doing? Can anyone tell me the best way to make sure the hubs/axles what not are in proper working order?

Buying a Bronco as a fun toy/ driver for the wife (she has a 10 mile round trip commute)

Also anyone who knows much about broncos feel free to chime in with any heads ups i maybe should know.

tia,

count blackula

[ram57ta]

If you never used the 4x4 on your Tahoe and don't even know how to test it....why would you waste the money buying another if your never going to use it? Save your money and buy a non 4x4 truck...cheaper up front, less parts to break, less maintenance.

[Cooter]

when you need 4wd, it's priceless

what year Bronco? just curious

when you put a truck in 4wd and turn even a moderately tight turn, you'll feel the wheels chirping as the turn radius of the front wheels is shorter than the rear, so it puts the transfer case in a bind. It's not good for any of the components, but you'll know/feel it quickly

[yellowstang]

Turn the front wheels a little and peel out real good. Get out, look at the black marks on the pavement and see how many there are. Easy peasy...

[Sean88gt]

Engage 4wd, crank wheel, if it binds on pavement, it works.

[asphaltjunkie]

While not the quickest/simplest way, cant you just take the rear driveshaft out, throw it in 4lo, and see if the front wheels'll pull you 'round?

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[Sean88gt]

While not the quickest/simplest way, cant you just take the rear driveshaft out, throw it in 4lo, and see if the front wheels'll pull you 'round?

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Or use jack's and a jack stand to lift it up....

[71chevellejohn]

Find a sloppy hole and sling some mud.

[FreightTrain]

Engage 4wd, crank wheel, if it binds on pavement, it works.

X2

[Baron Von Crowder]

If you never used the 4x4 on your Tahoe and don't even know how to test it....why would you waste the money buying another if your never going to use it? Save your money and buy a non 4x4 truck...cheaper up front, less parts to break, less maintenance.

He wants a bronco... they happen to be 4wd.

[2011GT]

I had a 94 bronco. Sweet suv. Front end sucks on them and gas mileage is horrible. What year and size engine?

[naynay]

looking at 3 next week, a 96 (obd2-hate it), a 94 (its teal-i love it, she hates it) and an 89 (c6 trans-i hear is the best to have) all 351W and all but the 96 have manual transfer cases.. leaning towards the '89 as its tan/brown/tan interior and i havent found another like it.. very time period correct and very very clean!


and when i had the tahoe i was a young punk living in north dallas.. now im a responsible man with a baby on the way and im looking to find something that can be a family "camping/weekend/fun" vehicle. besides, SHE is the one who wants it. and again MPG doesnt mean a lot to me. they raise beer prices all the time and we all still buy it, right? i buy more beer than i do gas!

[Baron Von Crowder]

The front end is a split axle setup, and while serious off roaders don't care dont care for them, they aren't known for having too many issues and aren't bad for some trail rides. Most of the street driven trucks don't get taken out of 2 wheel drive. The ones with the manually shifted tcases have manual locking hubs, but they did have auto hubs. The auto hubs aren't the best and would be the only point of failure that I can recall being common. Even with that said, they usually work until loaded so it is hard to test for.

Warn makes a replacement that is manual and works great.

[2011GT]

I would go with the 96. I remember something about the engine blocks being different. Maybe they're roller blocks? My second choice would be the 94, mine was an Eddie Bauer edition with a manual transfer case the auto hubs didn't work though. Easy fix just put warn premium hubs on it. My last choice would be the 89 because I don't like the body style.

[naynay]

i like vintage.. i've been DD'ing an '84 bmw