Not if, But When Your 4x4 Breaks? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**nikon777** · 03-30-2008, 04:40 PM

A buddy who just removed the transfer case(4x4 is shot) from his Explorer says "all 4x4 systems will break eventually". How true is this? Could he have simply damaged his by driving on dry pavement etc?

**einheit 13** · 03-30-2008, 04:49 PM

with todays vehicles, yes. I call it 'engineered obsolescence'.....Some of the older ones will last for a long, long time-with a little maintenance. I just replaced the original axle bearings in my 1967 Falcon van, its got over 450,000 miles on it!

Everything man made will break, eventually...

**DanTheEldest** · 03-30-2008, 04:57 PM

More drivetrain components = more complexity = more opportunities for stuff to break. With good maintenance (fluid changes, proper lubing, etc) most 4WD's are in general pretty reliable, but there's a whole lot more going on under the truck than with a 2WD. I do think some people bring trouble on themselves by not maintaining them properly or driving them incorrectly (4WD Low is not for street cruising), but in general they'll last a good long time.

That being said, I wouldn't personally buy a 4WD unless I lived in an environment that required it, or made a habit of trucking out into the boonies for camping or hunting. To me, it's just not worth the added weight, expense, or decreased fuel mileage if you're not going to use it frequently.

Gravel · 03-30-2008, 05:02 PM

This is the job of the gnome, he runs around at night checking odo's and when your car hits a certain point, he ****s with it so it will break..

Terry · 03-30-2008, 05:25 PM

Call me old fashon but i still like the good old "lock out hubs" only you MUST have them locked in when your nuts hit the mud. Lugnuts that is.

k-dog · 03-30-2008, 05:59 PM

I have a 96 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer V-8 AWD (first year Explorer came out with AWD and V-

and it has over 150,000 miles with no problems (knock on wood). I figured there would be more trouble with this setup then a true 4X4, but none to date. Most miles have been short trips with the longest trips only in the 150 mile range. I am looking to replace it soon (the wife wants the 7 seat configuration) with a new Explorer which will be 4 wheel drive as well.

**Prezents** · 03-30-2008, 07:00 PM

Just sold my 77 Jeep J20 pick up 170,000 miles never let me down
still have our 93 chevy suburban, 197,000 all original
my 89 gmc s-15 145,000 miles I have replaced the starter and ring gear.

Then again I use them for going hunting and normal road travel. Yes the four wheel drives gets used al ot in the winter.

Sharkbait · 03-30-2008, 08:09 PM

Everything wears out eventually, keep in mind that you brought up a Ford Explorer

. Buy an old Toyota and keep it lubricated and you will have no worries.

jeepguy704 · 03-30-2008, 08:25 PM

all on maint. on what he does. been driven my jeep HARD wheel it on a daily thing. i dont know much about the ford explorer transfer case but 1200 bucks will buy him a bad @$$ atlas and we will never have a problem. there are guys who have been wheelen and daily driver there jeeps or 4x4 rides for 30 years in my club and never changed out the transfer case.

jeepinbanditrider · 03-30-2008, 08:27 PM

Mostly true. It really depends on how much it gets used off road. Driving a vehicle with a part time transfer case on a high traction surface (I.E pavement) will break componets. The only time when you should operate in 4wd on pavement is if there is slick stuff on the ground.

the most I have done to my Jeep XJ is replace some U-Joints here and there if you operate it correctly and keep the fluids at the proper levels a transfer case should last you a long time.

edit-I wheel mine on a regular basis also. Has over 122k on it now with nothing major to report as being broken. Just take care of them properly and they are good to go.

03-30-2008, 04:40 PM	#1
nikon777 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Cleveland, OH. The Danger Zone. Posts: 6,791	Not if, But When Your 4x4 Breaks? A buddy who just removed the transfer case(4x4 is shot) from his Explorer says "all 4x4 systems will break eventually". How true is this? Could he have simply damaged his by driving on dry pavement etc? __________________ Clinging bitterly to guns and religion since 1977.. My Blogspot.

03-30-2008, 04:49 PM	#2
einheit 13 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Virginia, C.S.A. Posts: 5,531	with todays vehicles, yes. I call it 'engineered obsolescence'.....Some of the older ones will last for a long, long time-with a little maintenance. I just replaced the original axle bearings in my 1967 Falcon van, its got over 450,000 miles on it! Everything man made will break, eventually... __________________ Die Erde wird das sanfte erben! (the earth shall inherit the meek!) “It is the lack of will power, and not the lack of arms which render us incapable of offering any serious resistance.”

03-30-2008, 04:57 PM	#3
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,284	More drivetrain components = more complexity = more opportunities for stuff to break. With good maintenance (fluid changes, proper lubing, etc) most 4WD's are in general pretty reliable, but there's a whole lot more going on under the truck than with a 2WD. I do think some people bring trouble on themselves by not maintaining them properly or driving them incorrectly (4WD Low is not for street cruising), but in general they'll last a good long time. That being said, I wouldn't personally buy a 4WD unless I lived in an environment that required it, or made a habit of trucking out into the boonies for camping or hunting. To me, it's just not worth the added weight, expense, or decreased fuel mileage if you're not going to use it frequently. __________________ The AK-47: Designed to be field-stripped and used effectively by a half-drunk, half-frozen illiterate conscript who found it buried in Mother Russia's mud after last year's Regiment exercises. SOP: retrieve from ground, pee in action, cycle bolt, go back to work. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. --Martin Luther

03-30-2008, 05:02 PM	#4
Gravel XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bellingham Washington Posts: 2,008	This is the job of the gnome, he runs around at night checking odo's and when your car hits a certain point, he ***s with it so it will break.. __________________ Those who trade liberty for security have neither.* McCain/Palin '08

03-30-2008, 05:25 PM	#5
Terry XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NorthPole, Alaska Posts: 568	Call me old fashon but i still like the good old "lock out hubs" only you MUST have them locked in when your nuts hit the mud. Lugnuts that is. __________________ Be safe and always watch your back trail

03-30-2008, 05:59 PM	#6
k-dog XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: WV Posts: 76	I have a 96 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer V-8 AWD (first year Explorer came out with AWD and V- and it has over 150,000 miles with no problems (knock on wood). I figured there would be more trouble with this setup then a true 4X4, but none to date. Most miles have been short trips with the longest trips only in the 150 mile range. I am looking to replace it soon (the wife wants the 7 seat configuration) with a new Explorer which will be 4 wheel drive as well.

03-30-2008, 07:00 PM	#7
Prezents XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 469	Just sold my 77 Jeep J20 pick up 170,000 miles never let me down still have our 93 chevy suburban, 197,000 all original my 89 gmc s-15 145,000 miles I have replaced the starter and ring gear. Then again I use them for going hunting and normal road travel. Yes the four wheel drives gets used al ot in the winter. __________________ I WOULD RATHER BE JUDGED BY 12 THAN CARRIED BY 6 \| XD40 TACTICAL \| XD9 SERVICE \| XD40SC \| 92FS \| U22 NEO 6" \| TZ75 \| KEL TEC P11 \| P22 \| WITNESS PS \| H&R 22/22M\| U22 NEO 4"\| CENTRAL MONTANA NRA R.S.O. Latitude 47.06N Longitude 109.43W

03-30-2008, 08:09 PM	#8
Sharkbait XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 436	Everything wears out eventually, keep in mind that you brought up a Ford Explorer. Buy an old Toyota and keep it lubricated and you will have no worries. __________________ Jim Broussard for President.

03-30-2008, 08:25 PM	#9
jeepguy704 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: beaumont texas Posts: 151	depends all on maint. on what he does. been driven my jeep HARD wheel it on a daily thing. i dont know much about the ford explorer transfer case but 1200 bucks will buy him a bad @$$ atlas and we will never have a problem. there are guys who have been wheelen and daily driver there jeeps or 4x4 rides for 30 years in my club and never changed out the transfer case.

03-30-2008, 08:27 PM	#10
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,772	Mostly true. It really depends on how much it gets used off road. Driving a vehicle with a part time transfer case on a high traction surface (I.E pavement) will break componets. The only time when you should operate in 4wd on pavement is if there is slick stuff on the ground. the most I have done to my Jeep XJ is replace some U-Joints here and there if you operate it correctly and keep the fluids at the proper levels a transfer case should last you a long time. edit-I wheel mine on a regular basis also. Has over 122k on it now with nothing major to report as being broken. Just take care of them properly and they are good to go. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201 Last edited by jeepinbanditrider : 03-30-2008 at 08:57 PM.

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