4wd question

Hey folks,
I've got a 97 KIA sportage 4x4 with auto hubs (no vacuum). Got in a tight spot today and shifted into 4wd and only one frt wheel spun. Is this normal with auto hubs, or do I have a problem? Someone on another forum said that 4wd is actually 1 frt and 1 rear wheel pulling. Have a hard time believing that. Would manual hubs solve my problem? I almost ordered them a week or so ago and changed my mind.

Thanks, Dave

Without a locking diferential you will only have the easiest turning wheel on either axel turning when in 4WD.

Unless you have differental lock, traction control or posi-trac you only have 1 front and 1 rear when in 4 wheel drive. If in 2 wheel drive you only have 1 wheel pulling....James

Just one in front and one in rear.
Can get limited slip in rear only
As far as I know only the military have a locking front.

So, manual hubs will only give me the opportunity to get my feet muddy before just one wheel spins?
Dave

if you have a 97 you[[[[ do have]]]]vacuum hubs thats how they lock in and they are not very reliable.you can change them to manual hubs in about 20 minn. and yes one front and one rear will spin. only real 4x4 is jeep quadratrac all 4 will spin if it's a quadratrac

It's not really as simple as one wheel driving in front and one in back. The differential sends power to both wheels on each axle (i.e. four in total) - but on each axle, the wheel with the least traction gets the most power. So, even if one wheel is spinning, it doesn't mean there isn't any power pushing on the other. It's just not enough to move the car/truck. The only time there is just about no power on the non-moving wheel - is when the other, spinning wheel, has absolutely no traction - like when it's off the ground.
It's an inverse situation. On one axle, the wheel with 80% of the traction gets 20% of the power, whereas the other wheel with 20% of the traction gets 80% of the power. Sometimes if you carefully apply the brakes, you can equalize the load on all the wheels and make all spin.

Oliver Cletrac crawlers used automotive type differentials to run the tracks and also could lose all power to one track if the other was up in the air. Even so, they advertised it as having power to both tracks at all times - which was almost true - but not equal power.

By the way, I just picked up a 99 Kia Sportage to use as a winter-beater. 4WD, and 5 speed trans. After looking at it closely, I was suprised to find out the 2 liter engine is a Mazda design, and the trans is a German Gertrag - same make as the trans in my Dodge Cummns-diesel truck. I just drove it 900 miles to Michigan (where I am right now) and got 29 MPG with it. I'm pretty impressed with it.

next time this happens apply brake pressure then all wheels will start to pull you may have to lugg the engine a little to get it pulling but that sends power to all the wheels. Try it and post a update I bet it will work I even had to show a guy this trick on his 4x4 tractor (compact of course) I would like to know if it works or not on the Kia because all others have worked.

I'll try it ASAP. Thanks!

Dave