How does the 4wd work?

Hi All,

Was thinking about the 4wd on the jimny. Im used to landrovers so I'm getting a bit confused about how the 4wd works in the jimny but i think I have now figured it out and thought I would check.

So when the vehicle is in 2wd, the drive comes from the engine through the gear box into the tranmission where it drives both prop shafts but only the rear axle as the front hubs are not locked in? If this is the case then there is a lot of wasted energy with the vehicle in 2wd with the front axle spinning?

So when its in 4wd, the front hubs are locked in and so drive the wheels?

So what happens if you fit manual locking hubs like off a SJ or after market kits? If the locking hubs are disengaged then youll have the ability to have 2wd low? but to put the vehicle into 4wd you have to hop out of the vehicle and click the manual hubs into the locked position?

wrong when in 2wd it has drive to the rear only then in 4wd hubd lock and drive to front and rear

and you are right about the manual hubs

thanks markyp2000, so whens its in standard drive, the front axle prop shaft and half shafts still rotate but just dont drive?

No only the rear prop shaft turns. 4wd engages the front prop and vacuum hubs.
Note you cannot drive on tarmac wet or dry in 4wd as there is no centre diff. Only drive on gravel/mud/snow etc. i.e. slippery surfaces.

So what is in the transmission which engages it to drive both front and rear prop when you put it in 4wd?

I thought the transmission permanently drive both rear and front props and when you lock it into 4wd it just locks the hubs to teh half shafts to engage 4wd?

There is a simple sliding collar (red) that locks the front shaft (blue) to the twirling gubbins inside the transfer box.

The drive is via a hy-vo chain from the top flange, all the sectioned gubbins is an epycyclic reduction gear to give low range.