Flighty steering in low: why?

[e9999]

was exploring the backcountry yesterday. Typical Central / So PRK mountain dirt trail (rocky sandy dirt with ruts and big dropoff on one side - yikes) most in low gear when I thought that the steering was more twitchy than usual in high gear, meaning the steering wheel would feel like it would move of its own accord or was pulling against my hands. Now, obviously this was in the bumps so not too surprising, and all felt safe, but I was wondering why being in low would enhance the feeling - if it's not my imagination that is.

Any idea if that is possible and why?

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[landtank]

The CDL is engaged. causes a 50/50 split in the power front and rear which causes more wheel scrub when the wheels are travelling different distances. Like when turning or going over a bump. You'll typically also not be able to tuyrn the wheel as far as easily.

 

[e9999]

should have said that I have the CDL switch mod on, sorry. I did not have the CDL engaged manually at all and the light never came on. So probably not the reason, I would guess.
thanks though.
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[IdahoDoug]

Not sure what you mean by "have the CDL switch mod on" here, but another steering input is the change in power to the wheels. In low range, you've more than doubled the torque to each wheel, which has attendent steering inputs just like a POS front wheel drive "sports car" (hah).


DougM

 

[e9999]

meant to say that I have installed the mod but did not have the CDL locked this time so the CD was not locked.
Yes, that could well have been the extra torque. I guess that could indeed increase the feedback when the wheels hit the bumps...
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[RavenTai]

What you describe really sounds like a locked center or front diff (both do it front locker more so)


Did you do the pin 7 mod to keep the CDL from locking in low? Installing the switch alone without pin 7 only gets you the ability to lock and unlock the center diff in high range, it will still automatically lock in low no matter of switch position

 

[e9999]

what you describe reallly sounds like a locked center or front diff (both do it front locker more so)


did you do the pin 7 mod to keep the CDL from locking in low?

yes, did the pin7 although I thought that was only for the shift points. Don't think anything was locked. Certainly did not feel like a locked front. Only increased steering feedback.

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[Rich]

yes, did the pin7 although I thought that was only for the shift points.
...
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The only effect of the pin 7 mod is that it prevents the center diff from being automatically locked when the transfer case is shifted to low range.

It is a very worthwhile mod to do if one installs the center diff lock switch and wishes to be able to control the locking of the center diff independently of whether or not the transfer case is in low range.

A bit of friendly advice is to thoroughly understand the results of a mod before actually perfoming the mod, even if the suggestion comes from knowlegable folks.

 

[ryanjl]

The only effect of the pin 7 mod is that it prevents the center diff from being automatically locked when the transfer case is shifted to low range.

It is a very worthwhile mod to do if one installs the center diff lock switch and wishes to be able to control the locking of the center diff independently of whether or not the transfer case is in low range.

A bit of friendly advice is to thoroughly understand the results of a mod before actually perfoming the mod, even if the suggestion comes from knowlegable folks.

Actually e999 is partly right. The original way people were accomplishing the independent operation of the CDL switch was by simply removing the necessary wiring from the transfer case. The problem was that when you were in low range, the signal was not being sent to the transmission to change the shift points accordingly.

The pin 7 mod allows you to operate the CDL independently of low range operation, but the message is still sent to the transmission to change the shift points.

So, while the pin 7 mod doesn't necessarily cause the shift points to be modified, it does not prohibit this action while still offering the additional benefit of CDL on command.

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/technical/tz_cdl_pin7mod.htm

 

[e9999]

Sorry, was going by memory and was too vague. Had indeed studied all this stuff ad nauseam before doing the mod.
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