Locking diff upgrades on ST?

[powerboatr]

OK. I'm just a little confused. The sticker on my vehicle said Intelligent 4WD system. It was explained to me like this (as best I can remember): "The vehicle normally operates in RWD until a loss of traction is detected at which time the vehicle will automatically activate the 4WD actuator and engage the front wheels. It just has a lot more sensors and there is no 4WD switch/knob." I know I have a 4WD actuator because I had to have mine replaced. I've got to do some searching and reading on this.

Sort of
Ford does a poor job of actually explaining
But in vehicles that are awd...the entire drive train is Turning or engaged
At least in my 23
Select the power distribution screen in the IPC
It has a graphic indicating power or tq delivery
Mash the go pedal various degrees you will see it apply tq to front wheels, not so much at high speed.
It's always awd engaged. Computer decides how much tq is applied, to where it's needed. Via brakes and or clutches in transfer case.
Entire drive train is engaged , all the time
Want some fun
Sit in pass seat. Find an empty large lot
Have driver select that screen
And then have them drive spirited in some figure 8s. You will see tq split front to back
And can feel front pull you through the corners

My f150 in 4A also does this. It's not billed as awd. But torque on demand...tomatoe, tomato.....

 

[enphor]

From the manual below. Front driveshaft is powered via a wet clutch on demand. Seems it is designed to be primarily RWD biased with torque automatically being applied to the front when needed. Thing is that it is all automatic , there is no way to set it to RWD only. Maybe pulling the plug on the PTU wiring harness would do it?

Transfer case
The Transfer Case is a gearbox that attaches to the output shaft of the transmission through a splined input at the transfer case. Torque from the
transmission is transferred to the rear driveshaft through the transfer case mainshaft. When torque to the front driveshaft is required it is transferred
through a multi plate wet clutch and chain drive arrangement to the front output shaft of the transfer case.

 

[powerboatr]

From the manual below. Front driveshaft is powered via a wet clutch on demand. Seems it is designed to be primarily RWD biased with torque automatically being applied to the front when needed. Thing is that it is all automatic , there is no way to set it to RWD only. Maybe pulling the plug on the PTU wiring harness would do it?

Fully automatic..yup

I bet if we data logged in forscsn it's engaged 99%
Even a normal takeoff from stop
Indicates tq applied to front wheels
But ..back to the original issue of front diff ,
It, and both halfshafts, front driveshaft,
Turn 100% of time vehicle is moving.
So if front diff is fubbared...it's only going to get worse

 

[JustDisGuy]

Yes...but front half shafts still drive the diff to turn inside
There is not a wheel end disconnect
Would like to know what the actual issue is. Knackered tells us ???
Chunks in oil, cracks, gear lash ???

Personally having traction to all four

On aggressive throttle is a plus

"Knackered" was my way of relating what the tech told me, which was "completely gone". He said, "it's like there's nothing even touching any other parts inside there". And they wouldn't commit to it being safe to drive, but they did say they had another customer with the same problem who had been driving it like that for the last three months.

From my perspective, it makes no unusual noises, there are no error codes, and there is nothing apparently wrong with the vehicle, except that I get irretrievably stuck on three inches of packed snow.

I'm going to get rid of it. I'll trade it in on something else (with full disclosure), and let the new owner fix the differential.

I appreciate your comments, y'all! Thank you!

 

[powerboatr]

"Knackered" was my way of relating what the tech told me, which was "completely gone". He said, "it's like there's nothing even touching any other parts inside there". And they wouldn't commit to it being safe to drive, but they did say they had another customer with the same problem who had been driving it like that for the last three months.

From my perspective, it makes no unusual noises, there are no error codes, and there is nothing apparently wrong with the vehicle, except that I get irretrievably stuck on three inches of packed snow.

I'm going to get rid of it. I'll trade it in on something else (with full disclosure), and let the new owner fix the differential.

I appreciate your comments, y'all! Thank you!

Thst tech scares me...it's like nothing is touching inside...I woukd have asked...so you drained the lube and what came out..
Imo. If nothing is touching inside?? That means it requires them to answer in detail
Good luck

 

[Cruising68]

Thst tech scares me...it's like nothing is touching inside...I woukd have asked...so you drained the lube and what came out..
Imo. If nothing is touching inside?? That means it requires them to answer in detail
Good luck

Agree completely. In order for nothing to be touching I would think you would have had to strip the ring and pinion gear and you would have a few cups of metal in the bottom of the diff. There is no way for stuff to just fall out without a big hole in the casing.

Maybe he’s just really bad at describing what he saw.


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