Don't you love the sounds this rig makes..

[FJ4J]

Coming from owning FWD cars I've never experenced the all the gear sounds coming from below. It's very satisfying to me to hear all the mechanicals of the full-time AWD system. Its also fun knowing that all that mechanical compexity is under you - kinda like in a 911 knowing that there's all that mechanical goodness behind your butt....know what I mean?

[lllateralus]

Used to think the same thing about my old MR2.. Used to love to hear the engine scream from behind me.

[1 Bored Clerk]

All those vault-like luxury cars are lame...I like to hear my vehicle. It doesn't have to be loud or obnoxious, but I like to actually know I'm driving something.

[gnwhite]

It is not an awd. If you are running a mt6, then it is full time 4wd. Here is the diff.

4x4abc.com 4WD basic knowledge 4x4 driving tips 4x4 training 4x4 tours real life 4WD advice





What is the difference between Full time Four Wheel Drive (4WD) All Wheel Drive (AWD) and automatic All Wheel Drive (auto AWD)?



Full time four wheel drive, also called permanent 4WD, (not to be confused with: part time 4WD ) is a system that powers all four wheels at all times and can be used full time on all surfaces including pavement. The additional feature of a differential incorporated into the transfer case makes it possible to use 4WD all the time.
2WD is no longer available. Each tire creates about 25% of the available torque when the ground is level with a consistant surface. Driver has a choice of a "4-high" (that's your every day setting) and "4-low".

When "4-low" is selected the wheels create substantially more torque (on a Grand Cherokee its 2.72 times more) than in "4-high" - at the same time the vehicle moves at substantially slower speeds (2.72 times slower on a Jeep Grand Cherokee).

Important: "4-low" does not create more traction - it creates more torque and that can be detrimental when traction is marginal. Slipping tires are more likely in "low" than in "high"!

The low setting is an advantage for drivers who need to tow and maneuver a heavy trailer etc. and for drivers who at one point or another may want to negotiate difficult off-road terrain, when more torque and/or slower speed is needed.

All wheel drive (AWD) is almost the same thing as full time 4WD - it is a system that powers all four wheels of a vehicle at all times as well. Full time symmetric AWD would be the best term to be used. Difference to full time 4WD is that a "4-low" setting is not available in AWD cars. Due to the lack of "low range" AWD vehicles are much less capable in off-road settings than full time 4WD vehicles, but work perfectly well on-road.

Recently some new "automatic" AWD systems have emerged. Fancy names like "Real Time 4WD", "intelligent AWD" or "active AWD" are hiding the fact that they are essentially sophisticated 2WD systems. Automatic asymmetric AWD would be the best term for them. Unfortunately, since they offer AWD only part of the time, some magazines have now called it "part time 4WD" - but that term has been used since WW II for cars like the Willys and Jeep Wrangler and their part time 4WD - the name coming from the fact that 4WD can only be used part of the time (when off-road), most of the time they have to operate in 2WD (on-road). Automatic asymmetric AWD is much less capable in off-road settings than full time AWD systems and inferior to full time 4WD. However, automatic asymmetrical AWD is becoming more and more sophisticated and offers pretty much everything consumers expect for everyday (pavement) driving.

Here is how they work: During traction loss at the driven axle (could be front or rear) a fully automatic system (hydraulic, mechanical or electronic) makes torque to the axle with traction available. This means you have to lose traction in 2WD on your driven axle first and then the other axle will be added and try to keep the car moving and stable. So, for a moment you have AWD. Once the primary driven axle regains traction and both axles rotate at the same speed again, the system reverts back to 2WD.

Examples: Honda CRV, (newer) Toyota RAV4, LandRover Freelander, Isuzu Trooper (TOD), Volvo V70, 1999 and later Jeep Grand Cherokee (in high range)

A frequent consumer complaint about some older automatic AWD is, that all 4 tires need to be replaced even if only 1 or 2 are bad.

Confusing but true: some vehicles have a combination of part time and full time 4WD systems, or even a combination of 2WD, automatic asymmetric AWD and part time 4WD (low range). Impossible to give those custom mixes a name..


Hope that helps. You can learn more at 4x4abc.com

I have no affiliation with this site. It just helps with info if you dont know.

[FJ4J]

Thank you for the education. Did you spend the time to write all of that or did you copy and paste? Either way it certainly clears things up. I come from the VW Audi scene where people are always debating the nuances between AWD systems like the Haldex and Torsen systems ...so please excuse the ignorance.

[cinch]

I have a headache!

[Tony5150RN]

I have an Auto FJ so I'm not sure of the "Mechanical Sounds" of which you speak. However, since I've added the TRD CAI to my rig, it's added a whole new wonderful tone to the TRD exhaust.

[Traildude]

I'm actually interested myself in adding a new exhaust to my FJ. I have heard of the TRD exhaust of course but what is "CAI"?

[fj guru]

cold air intake or coi