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If your left front DOES spin in four wheel drive, you may not have a limited slip or posi-traction differential. What this means is, only one wheel in the front will assist, not both.
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4X4 actually provides power to the front 2, and the back 2.
Unless the back has limited slip or posi-track, if 1 wheel spins, the other will not turn.
Since the front wheels have to turn at different rates to accomodate turning radius differences, there is (usually) to limited slip on the front differential, so if one wheel spins, the other will not turn.
So, if you have one front wheel spinning at the same time as one back wheel is spinning, and you don't have posi-trac, you're stuck.
Cheerfuls.
check actuator for the 4wd action (vacuum lines and switch operation ) remember that 4wd only occurs when all 4 wheels have traction so if you jack up one wheel then it will spin because of the differential action . Basically if you have a normal 4wd vehicle with out LSD diffs or diff lockers then if you have both drivers wheels in the bog you will not be going any where as they will spin because of the diff action. The same is for when you have say a right front and left rear wheel off the ground then you will go nowhere as they will be spinning.
No, even a 4x4 will have only 1 wheel that will spin on each axle in this instance. It's called a floating differential. For stock vehicles with non locking differentials like you have, both cannot spin or have full power at the same time. Hard to explain on this, but picture your car making a hard right turn. Both front wheels would be spinning at different speeds because of the turn. The passenger side tire is spinning much slower than the drivers side tire, therefore if both were spinning at the same time, your tires would chirp and skip on the pavement which would eventually ruin your differential. In offroad applications, we WANT the differentials locked and turning at the same time with true 4x4. But in normal everyday vehicles, even standard stock 4x4's, only 1 tire will do the spinning per axle unless it has possitraction or full locked axle. Clear as snow?
I believe that is standard for a stock 4X4, If you have true posi 4X4 all 4 wheels will turn at the same time in your case when the 2 spinning wheels spin under load the other 2 kick in
hope that helps you
Rob
The Selectable Four Wheel Drive (S4WD) Front Axle consist of the following components:
• Differential Carrier Housing
• Differential Case Assembly
• Inner Axle Shaft
• Intermediate Shaft Bearing Assembly (located on the right side of the oil pan)
• Electric Motor Actuator
The front axle on Selectable Four Wheel Drive (S4WD) model vehicles uses a disconnect feature mounted on the right side of the oil pan in order to engage and disengage the front axle. When the driver engages the 4WD system, the Transfer Case Control Module sends a signal to the electric motor actuator to energize and extend the plunger inside. The extended plunger moves the clutch fork and clutch fork sleeve across from the clutch fork outer gear that is splined to the right side wheel drive shaft to the clutch fork inner gear that is splined to the inner axle shaft. The locking of the two gears allows the axle to operate in the same manner as a semi-floating rear axle. A propeller shaft connects the transfer case to the front axle. The differential carrier assembly uses a conventional ring and pinion gear set to transmit the driving force of the engine to the wheels. The open differential allows the wheels to turn at different rates of speed while the axle continues to transmit the driving force. This prevents tire scuffing when going around corners and premature wear on internal axle parts. The ring and pinion set and the differential are contained within the carrier. The axle identification number is located on top of the differential carrier assembly or on a label on the bottom of the right half of differential carrier assembly. The wheel drive shafts are completely flexible assemblies consisting of inner and outer constant velocity CV joints protected by thermoplastic boots and connected by a wheel drive shaft.
Jack up the rear wheels and put it on jack stands. Have someone get in it and put it in 4wd and drive. Release the brake. Rear wheels are spinning only right. Don't get under it but look under it and see if the front driveshaft is spinning. If the shaft is spinning but the wheels aren't it is likely a bad front axle actuator. If the front shaft isn't spinning it is a transfercase problem.
Your Jeep is All Wheel Drive and only 4x4 low. The front wheels will spin if needed and/or lacking traction and all the wheels will spin if you do have it in 4x4. It is just a badge thing saying that it is 4x4 but really they are All Wheel Drive
4x4 is not all wheel drive. You still have differentials that will only allow one wheel to direct power most of the time, unless you have posi diffs. Many times you can have one front and one back wheel spinning, even though you are in 4 wheel drive, but you should have had one front wheel spinning as well as the back one when you were stuck. Possibly the one on the other side of the truck was spinning.
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