Hopping in 4WD

[GeorgeSully]

So just today I noticed when making a u-turn in 4wd that when turning at any angle relatively sharp the front wheels are hopping almost like it’s got a locked diff but it’s bouncing the car and has a lot of force. I’ve only tried in 4 hi so I don’t know if it does in 4 lo. Anybody have any ideas?


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[Chris]

That's completely normal for it to hop in 4WD when turning corners.

The inner and outer wheels when are turning at different speeds, and when using 4WD, that causes the hop / jerk feeling in corners.

That's one of the reasons that 4WD is only suggested to be used in loose or slippery conditions, and not on-road on dry pavement.

 

[GeorgeSully]

That's completely normal for it to hop in 4WD when turning corners.

The inner and outer wheels when are turning at different speeds, and when using 4WD, that causes the hop / jerk feeling in corners.

That's one of the reasons that 4WD is only suggested to be used in loose or slippery conditions, and not on-road on dry pavement.

Thanks, just had me worried


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[Chris]

Thanks, just had me worried


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Fortunately in this case, you have nothing to worry about!

 

[AndyG]

That's 4wheel drive fighting itself a little . Lockers will really cut up also.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

The bottom line is the TJ's very aggressive part-time 4x4 system was not designed for use on pavement. It locks the front and rear axles together so the front tires aren't allowed to rotate faster than the rear tires as they need to during a turn.

Full-time 4x4 systems good for paved street use like are available on street oriented SUVs like the Grand Cherokee place a differential between the front and rear axles. That allows the front tires to rotate faster than the rears through turns which eliminates the crow-hopping you experienced with your Wrangler.

Only shift your Wrangler into 4x4 when offroad or on snow/ice covered roads. Don't even use 4x4 when it's raining.

 

[06TJ35's]

What if this happens when your not in 4x4?
It doesn’t happen all the time. Sometimes I feel like my wheel hops when turning very sharp. Turning Corners it doesn’t happen at all.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

What if this happens when your not in 4x4?
It doesn’t happen all the time. Sometimes I feel like my wheel hops when turning very sharp. Turning Corners it doesn’t happen at all.

Could be a bad u-joint on one of the front axle shafts. If one is bad replace them both with the Spicer 5-760x u-joint. That's a stronger and more durable direct replacement for the factory 5-297 u-joint.

 

[06TJ35's]

Could be a bad u-joint on one of the front axle shafts. If one is bad replace them both with the Spicer 5-760x u-joint. That's a stronger and more durable direct replacement for the factory 5-297 u-joint.

Thanks Jerry I would look at my Joints asap.