4wd sticky bind up

Crikey people - Calm the heck down!

I know it says you can change into 4WD up to 50mph but don't.

It will wind up on a wet road, or anything that is not particularly slippy.

If you have been driving any distance, even at low speed, you have been creating wind up and may well have damaged something already.

Without seeing the car and feeling / listening to it, I don't think there is anyone on the internet that can say whether it is damaged or not.

Kirkynut

I've driven on dry roads at 50-60mph in 4wd without issue, albeit only briefly. Before I had a 2-low switch, I also did lots of maneuvering on hard surfaces in 4wd but never had windup as bad as you describe. Is you Jimny modified? It sounds like you have bigger issues than just windup.

Being in 4wd won't offer you any more stability at those speeds- it's a traction aid, not stability control! There's no chance of the engine having enough umph to break traction at 60mph in 2wd, even in the wet, so 4wd makes no difference, and the potential of windup possibly makes it less stable. It will not stop aquaplaning, skidding etc.

Woo hoo, I'm very thankful for your input. I will bare what you have said in mind when on duel cartridge ways/motor ways etc. I never use the 4wd often on Tarmac or motorways - I was just very curious as the weather here can change into harsh rain and snow in an instant and I wanted to know if the 4wd would be ok to use.

no she's not modified. IF there is any wind up do you have any suggestions as to how I could check that or solutions? I'm going to book her into a 4x4 specialist and I don't want a labour bill just to be told "there's nothing wrong with it"

Windup is, in theory, a temporary thing. As the axles try to travel at different speeds, the opposing forces bind up the gears in the transfer case and cause the symptoms you describe. As soon as the pressure is relieved- normally by a wheel skipping/scuffing, the windup is gone. However, if the wheels can't skip easily the pressure build up can be pretty extreme and either the engine will stall or things will get damaged.

I have never experienced it as bad as you describe, especially in low traction situations, so I don't really know what to suggest. It does sound like you are using 4wd in some situations where you shouldn't though, so avoiding using it unless necessary would be a good start.

Re-reading your first post, it sounds like wear and tear is making the windup more prominent. I'd presume that as everything wears slightly over time, things won't be meshing together as smoothly as they did so any extra resistance is will be much more obvious.

Also, thinking laterally, you haven't had any work done on the axles have you? Diffs replaced possibly?
Or different tyre sizes/types/levels of wear front to rear?

thanks again, taken on board your information. Googled how to unwind it and will try that, seems to be ok as I don't have a problem getting in and out of 2wd/4wd