Gladiator crabs on 4WD Hi

[snappertac]

So I’m in Colorado Springs and my neighborhood is still snow packed after the supposed storm, I put my Gladiator Rubicon on 4hi and it feels like it’s crab walking when turning on snow packed roads. Is this normal? I had a 2 door JL Rubicon and I didn’t feel it crabbed at all.

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[Gvsukids]

So I’m in Colorado Springs and my neighborhood is still snow packed after the supposed storm, I put my Gladiator Rubicon on 4hi and it feels like it’s crab walking when turning on snow packed roads. Is this normal? I had a 2 door JL Rubicon and I didn’t feel it crabbed at all.

How so?

 

[snappertac]

Best way to describe it is it almost feels like the front locker is on. So front tires are fighting against each other, this is on a full turn.

 

[NachoRuby]

So it's binding. Yes, that's normal in 4WD. In 4wd, unless you have 4-Auto, the front and back wheels are forced to turn at the same speed. But when you're turning, they are traveling a different distance. The JL would do the same thing. Maybe it's less noticeable since the wheelbase is shorter.

 

[hjdca]

It could be your lockers are locked, but, I doubt it.

The longer wheel base of the Gladiator requires more tire slippage on major turns than the short wheel base wrangler, so, it is normal that you would feel a little more binding/slipping in 4WD than on the 2 door wrangler.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Best way to describe it is it almost feels like the front locker is on. So front tires are fighting against each other, this is on a full turn.

That's what u-joints do in front axles when making a turn.......... any vehicle with that cross-type u-joint will bind when turning and in 4H. Even on very slick snow pack mine will do it.

It's one reason the optional transfer case with 4H-auto has CV joints up front.
My F250 would hop like a kid on sugar when taking turns or parking while in 4 wheel drive.

 

[snappertac]

Got it, all these responses make sense. Thanks everyone! This is much easier than trying to do a google search that comes up with random stuff!

 

[Jayhawk714]

Best way to describe it is it almost feels like the front locker is on. So front tires are fighting against each other, this is on a full turn.

Are you turning on bare pavement or a complete/solid snow floor?

 

[FitfulGoat]

I’m down in NM and we were hit with some of the storm as well. Spent a couple hours “rescuing” an employee in a RWD Nissan pickup truck and can attest that the 4wd in tight turns will bind and “crab walk”.

Very normal and nothing to be concerned with.

 

[snappertac]

Are you turning on bare pavement or a complete/solid snow floor?

Fully snow and ice packed roads.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Conventional u-joints actually change rotational speed as the shaft turns, making it worse. That's the same whether it's a drive shaft or axle or whatever. That's why drive shafts with 2 u-joints have to have the joints in phase to keep rotational speed the same coming out as going in.
As the angle changes, there is an acceleration and a deceleration. With only one joint like an axle, it will be worse.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Are you turning on bare pavement or a complete/solid snow floor?

Mine does it on snow pack in a parking lot on tighter turns. It's due to the joint angle and the speed change as the joint turns - and they bind a bit anyway.

 

[Jayhawk714]

Fully snow and ice packed roads.

Well that shot my idea down! I have not that happen on our 2021 JT. It will only do that if a turn is make on bare road.

 

[rharr]

You can also try running it with traction control off in 4wd and see if that is contributing to what you don't like. Other then that run it in 2wd and have some fun around turns.

 

[snappertac]

You can also try running it with traction control off in 4wd and see if that is contributing to what you don't like. Other then that run it in 2wd and have some fun around turns.

Will try that for sure, but don’t want to have too much fun in my neighborhood!

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