Anyone here own a GM vehicle with "Auto4WD"?

[Jspafford]

Stoopid question.... Bought the Tahoe last October. Love the truck, it's since become my wife's vehicle. I had the front differential rebuilt last December because it sounded loud. There was only one bearing that showed any wear and it is not much quieter now than it was then.

Anyway, 4WD works and Auto4WD worked the couple times I used it since the diff's been rebuilt. It's very convenient for my wife, it's a no brainer on her part.

The other morning it snowed a little so before she headed off to work I put the Tahoe into Auto4WD. When she got home I noticed she had put it back into 2Hi. I asked her why, and she said it was jerking when she was leaving the parking spot at Krogers.

I took it out tonight and running down the road and normal turns it does not bind up. I turned into Burger King and did a slow full lock turn. It felt OK at first, but then felt like something grabbed and let go, and then repeated it a second time..by that time I was going straight again. It seemed to be at a steady speed... meaning the same distance traveled between each thump.

I am telling myself it's normal since the front diff is locked and maybe it's supposed to do that, but it really does make a person think something is not right with it.

Does anyone else's Tahoe, Suburban, 1500 do this when in Auto? I can't afford another repair on the front diff. It's not even been a year, and I had to pull it myself and reinstall it when I had it rebuilt.

Thanks!

[edigert]

My wife's 01 tahoe 4x4 does the same thing on the pavement or cement, but does not on the dirt or snow.

[Jspafford]

I will chock it up to being an normal operating characteristic then. I read somewhere that there is a slipper clutch on the front output of the t-case and sometimes those have a bit too much preload and will bind up when turning sharp.

If there were snow on the ground this would be nill, just wanted to make sure something wasn't coming loose in there.

Has your Tahoe done it the whole time you've had it? Ever had any repairs made related to that binding?

[mcullins91101]

I have had my truck do something very similar when using it but its rare, I think you're ok

[DuraMAXX7]

I may not completely understand what you're saying, so this may not be answering the right question. But the front differentials are limited-slip. So thats why on pavement, it feels as it's locking up as compared to the dirt. It does the same thing on the dirt, you just don't feel it because the ground is loose. When you turn, one tire is moving faster/farther then the other, but when in 4 wheel, the differntial locks up the front end. So it's almost as if when you turn, the outside tire will drag some because the differential wont let it travel farther then the inside tire.

[6266diesel]

I think your fine. My friends zr2 blazer did that and he said when your turning sharp all the wheels a turning at diferent speeds so the computer thinks it is slipping, engaging the 4wd.

[Jspafford]

It's very hard to explain it... and chances are if you were a passenger you may not notice it either.

Best I can describe it is that it feels like one tire/axle momentarily 'locks up' and then immediatly releases. It's not the jerky feeling when turning in 4WD. When turning in 4WD on pavement the jerky scoot feeling stay until the wheels are turned straight and you can physically feel the truck fighting with itself to move.

This is not like that, just happens once or twice and only when at full lock, and that's it. When making normal turns say a right turn at an intersection, nothing.

I am just going to go with it. I will tell the wifey it's normal (because it is) and to just ignore it and use the Auto whenever she thinks she needs it.

[duratothemax]

ok first of all, what year is it?

[duratothemax]

Originally Posted by DuraMAXX7

But the front differentials are limited-slip.

NO they arent.

[edigert]

Mine has done it since I bought it. Have 120K on it now, and 60k when I bought it. Never have had any repairs.