Can you feel the difference between AWD4X4 vs 2wd/4x4 models?

[supermario]

Hey Guys,

I have a 97 4X4 Expy and it has the option for 2wd,AWD,4wd, my brother
has a 2000 AWD 4X4 Expy and his feels way different when driving. I dont like it! I was wondering, have any of you guys drove both types and do you feel the difference or perhaps is there something wrong with my brothers Expy. It feels like it grips the road alot and doesnt roll as smooth as my 97 when I have it in 2WD. Im assuming this is normal?

Thanks

 

[toms89]

I prefer 4wd as it should be better off road. You can lock the transfer case so the front and rear axle receive equal torque. Plus you have the option for 4 low. Awd or all wheel drive has a differential between the front and rear axles with no way of locking it. If all you did is on street driving awd may be prefered. My opinion

 

[toms89]

Do you mean A4WD or AWD because there is a difference?

Automatic 4 wheel drive vs All wheel drive.

 

[Canadian Expy]

Mine is a AWD but will be doing the Brown Wire Mod so I can have 2WD
they do drive alittle heavier with AWD

 

[toms89]

I dont think expys have awd so assume your talking about A4wd. So disregard my first post. Mine feels like it drives heavy also. Feels as if it is trying to bring the front wheels in when accelerating on a turn from a stop. Some of this is the rear differential as the traction lock is very tight.

 

[supermario]

Mine is a AWD but will be doing the Brown Wire Mod so I can have 2WD
they do drive alittle heavier with AWD

What is the Brown Wire Mod? Do you have a link for more specific info and or a shop that knows how to do that Mod?

 

[supermario]

I dont think expys have awd so assume your talking about A4wd. So disregard my first post. Mine feels like it drives heavy also. Feels as if it is trying to bring the front wheels in when accelerating on a turn from a stop. Some of this is the rear differential as the traction lock is very tight.

Ok so yes, I have that same feeling when i drive my brothers Expy. I was just curious if this was normal and it seem it is. I wonder why they didnt just leave it as it was in 97/98? Anyhow, thanks for reasurring me. I thought maybe something was wrong with my bro's Expy.

 

[toms89]

Mine is a AWD but will be doing the Brown Wire Mod so I can have 2WD
they do drive alittle heavier with AWD

If there is a way to make the auto function inactive I would be interested in this. Does it cause any other issues?? I would love to be able to lock mine in 2wd because I am concerned about the reliability of the transfercase and front half shafts as I plan on boosting the power significantly. Thought it would be nice to lock it in 2wd when I plan on getting on it. (1320)

 

[toms89]

Ok so yes, I have that same feeling when i drive my brothers Expy. I was just curious if this was normal and it seem it is. I wonder why they didnt just leave it as it was in 97/98? Anyhow, thanks for reasurring me. I thought maybe something was wrong with my bro's Expy.

Good question!

 

[Racenut]

What is the Brown Wire Mod? Do you have a link for more specific info and or a shop that knows how to do that Mod?

The "Brown Wire Mod" is cutting the Brown wire that goes into the transfer case.

By doing this you are taking the power away from the magnetic clutch that engages the front axel when wheel spin is detected ( basically puts it into a 2wd mode ).

If you do this mod you will loose the A4wd function unless you run the wires into the cab and put them to a switch on the dash or in the console ( switch off = 2wd, switch on = A4wd ).

Even by doing this mod it will still feel a little different than a true 2wd mode because the front hubs are always locked ( meaning the front drive line and axle are still always turning but do not have power going to them from the T-case) , but it will help.

All other postions on the factory selector switch will function as normal.

 

[supermario]

The "Brown Wire Mod" is cutting the Brown wire that goes into the transfer case.

By doing this you are taking the power away from the magnetic clutch that engages the front axel when wheel spin is detected ( basically puts it into a 2wd mode ).

If you do this mod you will loose the A4wd function unless you run the wires into the cab and put them to a switch on the dash or in the console ( switch off = 2wd, switch on = A4wd ).

Even by doing this mod it will still feel a little different than a true 2wd mode because the front hubs are always locked ( meaning the front drive line and axle are still always turning but do not have power going to them from the T-case) , but it will help.

All other postions on the factory selector switch will function as normal.

Cool, thanks for the that info. Thats a pretty cool mod. Now this brown wire is located on front axle someplace?

 

[mudryder18]

Im not quite sure what you are asking, but my 97 expy has 2H, A4WD, 4H, 4L on my shift on the fly. I can tell a big difference between A4WD and 4H. A4WD stays in 2 wheel drive until the rear tires start spinning then the front will catch. I use my A4WD in the snow or on wet or icy roads where i know my rear tires could spin. 4H is true 4 wheel drive and all tires get power to them. This is what i use offroading when i need it.
Here is a pic of my switch.

 

[toms89]

Cool, thanks for the that info. Thats a pretty cool mod. Now this brown wire is located on front axle someplace?

It would be on the transfercase. Not the front axle.

And yes thank you guys for the info.

 

[panda24619]

okay. so 97-98 have 2wd, a4wd, 4hi and 4lo. that 99-02 have all but 2wd. reason why? idk?! ask ford. but what a4wd does is act almost like an awd vehicle. awd has power shifting front to rear rear to front all the time. its crazy to see how much they do that. with a4wd its Automatic 4 Wheel Drive. when the system detects rear tire slip it automatically goes to 4wd and engages the front wheels. the 97-98 will drive the same as the 99-02 in the a4wd mode. but why ford didnt put 2wd mode in idk? the brown mod works great from what i hear. people do it to their exploders and a few have done it to their expos too. also a4wd was developed by ford as a wet road/wet conditions driving mode. for rain snow or ice. its so people would spin out less. and i guess it works cause i havent seen to many expos spun around in the rain.

 

[Racenut]

Im not quite sure what you are asking, but my 97 expy has 2H, A4WD, 4H, 4L on my shift on the fly. I can tell a big difference between A4WD and 4H. A4WD stays in 2 wheel drive until the rear tires start spinning then the front will catch. I use my A4WD in the snow or on wet or icy roads where i know my rear tires could spin. 4H is true 4 wheel drive and all tires get power to them. This is what i use offroading when i need it.
Here is a pic of my switch.

The newer Expy's don't have the 2H selection on the switch, so they are either A4wd, 4H or 4L. That is what the "Brown Wire Mod " is for, so that the guys with the newer trucks can get some what of a 2wd.

 

[Racenut]

It would be on the transfercase. Not the front axle.

And yes thank you guys for the info.

Exactly the Wiring harness that plugs into the Transfer Case is where you will find the wire.

 

[Soldier777]

Ya I only have a4wd 4hi 4 lo... no 2hi option at all

 

[toms89]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-wheel_drive

This link explains the differences between 4wd and Awd very well. Have to go down the page a bit.

 

[Canadian Expy]

Yeah there is a link somewhere for how to do the brown wire mod..
not sure where it is

 

[toms89]

My concern with the brown wire mod would be by disconnecting the clutch it does not allow it to go into 4wd which is fine.......but if the computer is sensing slip (rear tires are spinning) and continues to do so, is the computer ok with this? Would or could it set any trouble codes. I really don't know. Not sure it really matter either if its just a check engine light.

Maybe I should do the brown wire mod then go try a burn out and see what happens.