The wheels bind and hop when turning a tight corner . The service 4 wheel drive switch just came on.

Depending on the specific vehicle many 4WD have a transfer case that will lock the front and rear drives shafts together. This configuration is only for slippery conditions like ice and snow or very wet or off road. When turning the radius is different between the front and rear so there is a lot of feedback to the steering wheel. This is created by the fact the front set of wheels and the rear set of wheels must make the same number of turns because of the locked transfer case.

If you attempt to drive on high friction surfaces the stress to the drive train is excessive and will cause damage. The whine and the bunny hop is the drive train attempting to release this tension. If you were on a slippery surface the tires would have much less resistance turning at slightly different rates.

Also critical is the tire size need to be the same. However even with perfectly matched tires the problem on dry surfaces remain the same.

The AWD vehicles are equipped with a third differential that allows for the difference between the rotation of the drive shafts so it can drive on dry pavement no problem. Some configurations allow the AWD to have the transfer case locked which falls into the first category where dry pavement is prohibited.

Some Jeeps have a viscous coupling in the transfer case that permits limited slip between front to rear but the resistance to slip increases as the deference increases as in the event one tire is slipping
These Jeeps still have the lock up option in the transfer case requiring dry pavement when engaged.

Hope this helps?

If it feels like the front end is hopping or binding than I would put my money on the four wheel drive being engaged. On dry pavement the four wheel drive has no way of of slipping through a turn. the front end will hop to compensate for this.

If your lucky enough to find a snow covered parking lot or field or even a loose gravel road, try some tight turns. If the problem goes away its in the four wheel drive system.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

it does sound like the u joints are loose and that allows it to bind abit. try to wiggle the drive axle on the differential side and check for play.

It sound like your trying to turn on black top or concrete. Limited slip four wheel drive trucks,car etc should not be drivin on a hard syrfice with the 4 wheel drive engaged it will drag the 2 wheels when turning and cause the wheel to hop.Depending on the direction your turning 2 wheels will travel faster than the others.

Hers a link that may help you on your way again :)
http://www.automotiveforums.com/t1061718-discuss2000_silverado_stuck_in_4wd__service_4wd_light_on.html

sounds like your suv is in 4 wheel drive,does this have a shifter or a pushbutton 4wd?,this is how they act when in 4 wheel drive,if a push button acuated system possible problem with activation motor

The front differential/drive train have no way to slip in four wheel drive. When you make a tight turn the the front wheels travel a different distance than the rear wheels. on snow, ice, mud, or other off road conditions this isn't a problem because there is less friction for the tires and they just slip a little without much indication they are doing so. On dry pavement they cannot slip and cause the front drive train to bind up and eventually hop.

By the way that is not very good for the 4X4 drive train in general so unless you driving a straight line on dry pavement I wouldn't recommend using the 4x4.

In two wheel drive the front drive drain can move independent of the rear drive train so tight turns are not a problem.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

hey charlie, 1st problem is 4 wheel drive being engaged on dry pavement. You should only have it in 4x4 in snow, or off road on sand, dirt,etc. Newer all wheel drive vehicles compensate for the tires rotating at different speeds, like going around a sharp corner. The wheels on the outside of the turn have a longer distance to travel than the wheels on the inside of the turn. This results in the vehicle feeling like it's jumping, hopping or jerking as you cut a tight turn. You can damage your 4x4 system, as the wheels are fighting each other, trying to turn the same # of rotations, and something can and will give (like blowing the transfer case). If your light is staying on after changing to 2 wd, it is possibly stuck in 4x4. To shift from 4wheel to 2 or 2wheel to 4, you should be traveling in a straight line, let off the gas, change in or out of 4x4, resume driving. 4x4 low range requires a complete stop to engage.

i think youre on the right track with an outer axle joint