When I have my Jeep in 4h and I make a sharp turn onto some dry pavement the steering wheel seems to go back and forth. I don't drive the Jeep in 4 wheel drive on dry pavement because I know its bad for it, for all of you that will tell me that is the problem. I just want to know if this is normal. It doesn't seem to do it in snow or gravel.
But also when I 1st test drove it was in 4 wheel drive in the dealerships parking lot. I made a sharp turn and it did it. I stopped and realize what was going on put it back in 2 wheel high and it seemed fine.

 

In 4H the two front wheels are locked together. When you turn, the outer wheel has to travel faster than the inside wheel because it has to cover more ground in a turn (the arc is larger on the outer wheel).

But it doesn't. So the outer wheel gets dragged in the larger arc and the steering wheel pulls back and forth. Like when your dog refuses to walk on its leash and you drag it. Same thing.

 

I thought that was only the case if you had a locker on front. I don't think my Bronco does it.

 

its going to do the jerkin around on dry pavement.. thats normal

 

The simple fix is to shift into 2wd BEFORE you get back on the pavement, not as you drive away.

 

Yes, please do not drive around in 4HI on pavement. When it is in 4wd, Hi or Lo, the front and rear axles are locked into spinning at the same speed. When you make a turn the front and rear axles turn at different speeds because they are on different arcs.

 

Totally normal. Shift into 2wd next time when you hit pavement.

 

Just talking to a guy last night and I like his opinion. Go as far as you can in 2wd, use 4wd to back out!

I like to see how far I can go in 2wd, 4wd is not necessarily safer if you are on a snow packed road. But, definately take it out before hitting the dry pavement. There are a lot of forces hitting when you don't. Basically, you are (without limite slip or lockers) driving with one back tire and one front. They are not traveling the same distance when you are turning. So something has to give. Tires bind until they slip. That binding is on the gears and steering components.

 

New to jeeps, and 4 wheels drive for that matter, so I have a follow up question to the initial question (I too experienced the same thing this past weekend).

Is is okay to drive on snow covered pavement in 4Hi? If so, at what point do I need to get back into 2Hi?

Newbie question for sure!

 

if its snow covered your fine. or icy conditions..

if the road has wet spots,.... you should'nt need 4wd..

I havent needed 4wd yet. the ESP is amazing in this jeep..