Took a slide today!

[Bird]

How much slip? I guess you'd say none in the driveline to the differential, but as with any differential, there can be slippage of the individual wheels on the ground. Will it shorten driveline life? No more than any normal usage. Don't use 4WD on hard, dry surfaces where the wheels can't slip (in which case you wouldn't need 4WD anyway); otherwise don't worry about it, that's what it's made for.

 

[WVBill]

4 wheel brakes...

I never thought about it before either....

Does it work the same in a 4wd vehicle (i.e. my truck?)

 

[MikePA]

<font color=blue>Does it work the same in a 4wd vehicle (i.e. my truck?) </font color=blue>

Depends on the vehicle. Many come with full time 4wd which means, usually, there's some type of differential between the front and rear axles. Assuming there isn't any, then when you're in 4wd the front and rear axles act as a single unit. If you've ever tried to make a sharp turn when in 4wd and felt the steering wheel kick back then you've experienced this.

 

[jhburke]

I found that on slopes that my tractor would slide on in 2wd. When in 4wd I could stop midway and then go on down or up the slope with no problems. I have a HSD unit and you have the additional traction that the front wheels give you. Have you ever tryed to park on a slope with you car and when you applied your brakes it would hold. But when you applied the emergency brake and let off on the foot brake the car would start move. Emergency brakes are on only the rear wheels. The weight would slide the wheels.