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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Trucks / September 2004

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How does GMC-Checy 4x4 really work?

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P L - 22 Sep 2004 08:04 GMT
Hello,
.
On a friends 1996 Yukon 4x4, he was parked on a hill facing across the hill.
Over night, some snow fell, not more than a foot or two..  When he went to
move in four wheel drive, both uphill tires rotated and he could not move.
I was parked next to him in my Toyo Landcruiser (left the Chevy at home).
The Toyo does not have limited slip or lockers. The Toyo moved with no
problem or tire slip.

I thought Chevy/GMC  four wheel drive, like the Toyo Landcruiser  was corner
to corner tire rotation not any front and any rear..  The Yukon did not have
locking or limited slip.
P Merrill
Bret Chase - 23 Sep 2004 01:23 GMT
>:|Hello,
>:|.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>:|locking or limited slip.
>:|P Merrill

if both the front tires are spinning and the rears aren't... the xfer
case is very definately busted.  a GM 4wd system should operate the
same as a landcruiser one if both have open diffs.

-Bret
GMC Gremlin - 23 Sep 2004 02:43 GMT
No, I think he means both tires on one side of a truck. As in, open diffy
disease strikes again.

GMC Gremlin

> >:|Hello,
> >:|.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> -Bret
Bret Chase - 24 Sep 2004 00:49 GMT
>:|No, I think he means both tires on one side of a truck. As in, open diffy
>:|disease strikes again.
>:|
>:|GMC Gremlin

man I need to read these posts a little closer.

-Bret

>:|> >:|Hello,
>:|> >:|.
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>:|>
>:|> -Bret
GMC Gremlin - 24 Sep 2004 01:06 GMT
Eh sh.t happens.

GMC Gremlin

> >:|No, I think he means both tires on one side of a truck. As in, open diffy
> >:|disease strikes again.
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> >:|>
> >:|> -Bret
P L - 24 Sep 2004 07:24 GMT
Hey, Gremlin, you are correct, both the front and rear tire on the right
side of the Yukon rotated.  I assume that is not normal operation?
I will be replacing my old 1982 Chevy soon with a newer used Chevy 4x4.  I
have seen a lot of posts about the newer 4x4 operational problems and have
held off the purchase.
My friend and I take trips together, he takes the Yukon, I take the
Landcruiser.  Last New Years, we were in Yosemite CA when they closed the
road due to snow.  The only things moving from our lodge were my old
Landcruiser and a Hummer.  There was an Avalanche, my friends Yukon, A BMW,
a Little Lexis, and a Benz 4x4, all were stuck or could not get enough
traction to pull the hills and get out until they plowed the road.  I want
to make sure my new (used) truck doesn't become one of the bystanders.  What
is the best year for 4x4 in a 1500 or 2500.

Paul Merrill

> Eh sh.t happens.
>
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
> > >:|>
> > >:|> -Bret
David A. - 24 Sep 2004 12:47 GMT
I have often found that the driver is more important then the car in snow
and ice.

Sure there are differences between different types of 4X4's but with out
knowing the differences between the tires on the vehicles and the ability of
the driver, it is hard to tell if the Yukon was really out of the running.

Once upon a time ......... I saw two young men and a young lady trying to
get a two wheel drive car to back out of a parking space in a snow covered
lot.  The space was ever so slightly up hill that in dry weather it would be
considered flat.  One guy was driving and the other two were pushing.
Wheels spinning and much grunting and groaning.  I offered to help and told
the young man to let me drive.  He was less then pleased, grumbled and
moaned but did yield the drivers seat.  I gently backed out without spinning
the tires, without them pushing at all.

So it is possible you could have gotten the Yukon to move and your friend
would have had trouble with the landcruser.  All things being equal such as
tires and the like.

> Hey, Gremlin, you are correct, both the front and rear tire on the right
> side of the Yukon rotated.  I assume that is not normal operation?
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Paul Merrill
Markeau - 24 Sep 2004 17:49 GMT
> Hey, Gremlin, you are correct, both the front and rear tire on the
> right side of the Yukon rotated.  I assume that is not normal
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> become one of the bystanders.  What is the best year for 4x4 in a
> 1500 or 2500.

I think you would want to make sure to get a limited slip (G80 code (I
think) on sticker in glovebox) in the rear then look at replacing the
front with a (part-time?) locker (a very common mod, there are many
different kinds)
Bret Chase - 24 Sep 2004 21:41 GMT
>:|Hey, Gremlin, you are correct, both the front and rear tire on the right
>:|side of the Yukon rotated.  I assume that is not normal operation?

nope, that's normal... it just happened that the tires on the same
side didn't have enough traction.

>:|I will be replacing my old 1982 Chevy soon with a newer used Chevy 4x4.  I
>:|have seen a lot of posts about the newer 4x4 operational problems and have
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>:|to make sure my new (used) truck doesn't become one of the bystanders.  What
>:|is the best year for 4x4 in a 1500 or 2500.

To me, the driver is the biggest factor, followed closely by tires.
a driver with a digital foot (either on or off... I know many people
like this) will get stuck waaaaay more often than a person that knows
the meaning of finesse.  same with tires, somebody with with a set of
BFG AT K/O's will be much happier than a person running the god awful
Firestone Steeltex tires many trucks came stock with.

as for years, get one with a manual xfer case... encoder motors are
very expensive to replace.

-Bret

>:|Paul Merrill
>:|
[quoted text clipped - 57 lines]
>:|> > >:|>
>:|> > >:|> -Bret
shiden_kai - 25 Sep 2004 04:32 GMT
> Hey, Gremlin, you are correct, both the front and rear tire on the
> right side of the Yukon rotated.  I assume that is not normal
> operation?

Yep, with no limited slip, this can happen.  Try this next time.
When the wheels begin to spin, apply the brakes slightly while
applying the gas.

Ian
P L - 25 Sep 2004 06:58 GMT
Thanks Guys, for the help
I have been off roading in a 4x4 or a 2x with positraction since I began to
drive over 34 years ago and joke I can put a 2x with posi places most can't
put a 4x..  His tires were duelers, mine were BFGKO 33's .  My buddy is a
horse guy but generally does pretty good with his rig getting it in and out.
I think the rest of the crowd was from someplace in LA.  Not a scratch on
those other rigs and they shined like the day they came off the showroom
floor.

I tried to unstick the Yukon but the throttle is touchy compared to the
Landcruiser or my older Chevy.  I tried a trick I use with the Landcruiser
or on my Chevy k2500 and that is to set the parking brake all the way down,
then turning the front tires, I can pivot the rig one way or the other a
bit, then I release the brake and begin rolling.  What was strange is the
parking break stopped the rear tire, but the right front still rotated
independently.

It reminded me of a Jeep Cherokee I say years ago at a car show.  They
lifted the front right tire off the ground engaged the 4x4 and the jeep tire
just spun and no other tires moved.  They did the same thing with a Chevy
full sized Blazer and it pulled off the block.

Since I only drive the truck 2-4,000 miles a year, when I buy, I will be
getting a Chevy K1500 or K2500 1998 or newer. I am a bit concerned with the
k1500 as I understand they are still having problems with the tranny.  I
pull a 20 foot pontoon boat and use the 4x4 to go in and out of lakes that
do not have paved or improved ramps.  Otherwise, I use it around the farm
for hauling things and carrying loads. I am a bit old fashioned, and a tad
sentimental so I will probably put my trusty old 1972 Warn 8000 on the front
just in case.

So, beginning with 1998, what Chevy/GMC trucks had the best 4x4 systems

> > Hey, Gremlin, you are correct, both the front and rear tire on the
> > right side of the Yukon rotated.  I assume that is not normal
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Ian
GMC Gremlin - 25 Sep 2004 17:08 GMT
Again, anyone with a manual lever for the transfer case. Do NOT get a push
button system.
If you go K2500 then you'll have the 4L80E transmission and wont have to
worry about the boat much. If you get the 4L60E we can help you bring your
transmission up to snuff so you don't have to worry.

GMC Gremlin

> Thanks Guys, for the help
> I have been off roading in a 4x4 or a 2x with positraction since I began to
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
> >
> > Ian
GMC Gremlin - 25 Sep 2004 17:04 GMT
I am sure your land cruiser operates in essentially the same function as the
Yukon. What happened is that the differential in his truck is open, which
causes traction to go from the wheels that grip to the wheels that slip. If
he had some kind of a differential locking function in the snow then at the
very least both his rear wheels and one front wheel would have been
spinning.

GMC Gremlin

> Hey, Gremlin, you are correct, both the front and rear tire on the right
> side of the Yukon rotated.  I assume that is not normal operation?
[quoted text clipped - 64 lines]
> > > >:|>
> > > >:|> -Bret
 
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