Can't Turn While Trying To Park In 4wd

[BIGWILL_88]

I put my 06 Envoy in 4wd high and when trying to back out of a parking space I could not turn the wheel enough to get out and the same thing happened when I tried to park. I had to take it out of 4wd to be able to turn enough for parking and backing out. Has anyone ran into this problem?

[jrpjr61]

IF the wheels cant slip when in 4 wd the transfer case can bind. Did you have good traction ?

[BIGWILL_88]

I had very good traction. It started to snow and I put it in 4wd but I could not turn the wheel enough to back out or park. It was like it was scrubbing aginst someting. It was strange but it was back to normal when I put it into 2wd.

[jrpjr61]

I tried tp post a reply before but I think it got messed up

Too much traction is NOT GOOD for 4 wd vehicles. Although I doubt if a confined area like a parking space can cause your transfer case to bind, IF you had it in 4 wd for any time in good traction conditions that prevented your wheels from slipping you can bind your drive train.

Some full time 4 wd Jeeps have a big problem with this.

If you lock your tranny in 4 wheel and drive around in the dry for example, the different distance the wheels travel in a turn starts the binding process.

[iDontKnow]

This has been discussed so many times it needs to be a sticky...

Roadie will chime in, in 3-2-1...

[the roadie]

Not just the transfer case is in danger, but accumulated torque on the four CV joints in the front axles is a danger. And the likely cause of frozen steering. I did a drawing used in a couple of other threads to show how the wheels all take different radii in tight turns, which is worse in trailvoys because of our very tight turning radius.

http://www.roadie.org/envoyturning.jpg

I was typing my reply when IDontKnow sent his. :-)

[BIGWILL_88]

That was really my 1st time putting it into 4wd. I did it so I would have less chance of sliding in the snow. I guess I'll only use it when I drive in a straight line or if I'm stuck. Just seem a little strange to me. I also wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong.

[rmac694203]

Just use the auto 4wd instead of high.

[Audiojunky]

:iagree:

This happens in all vehicles when they are in four wheel drive. Everytime I go into a parking lot and there is snow, I put it in A4WD. Infact, I went all over town today with it in A4WD and had some fun!! As soon as the rear wheels slip, it kicks in the 4WD and you just take off! Even going around corners is fun, the rear wheels spin as the front end is pulling you around.:D

[jrpjr61]

Roadie has a great explanation of what I was tryng to say. I left out the CV joints in my reply because my TB is my first non solid front axle 4 wd.
You can drive in straight lines, squares or circles in 4 wd ,as long as the driviving surface allows enough wheel slip.