4WD vs AWD, what's the difference?

[Fastback]

Typically yes. But I've had several dentside bronco's (78/79), that had factory "AWD", that could also be "4WD". It had a NP 203 TC, and had 5 positions on it's TC lever. Zero electronics back then. It had no locking hubs and no 2WD option.

Basically, the center diff could be locked (or not), in either high or low range.

Just like the Quadra Track jeeps in the 70s

 

[supercharged91m]

When I see an AWD badge I think the driver "could be gay." When I see 4x4 I think " America, **** yeah!"

I guess my wife is super gay then hahaha

 

[03cobra#694]

I guess my wife is super gay then hahaha

Take a video. lol

 

[Morgan]

Thread has potential.

 

[blk02edge]

Just like that half of SVTP's wives are gay

 

[supercharged91m]

Take a video. lol

Your wish is my command master lmao

 

[wizbangdoodle]

My wife is gay and I'm a lesbian that is trapped in a man's body, so it all works out.

 

[DriftwoodSVT]

I believe the Bronco is a 4x4/4WD. Bronco Sport however is a AWD based on FWD i believe.

I still can't believe they called that monstrosity a Bronco Sport...

 

[Relaxed Chaos]

AWD has a limited slip center differential. Allows front axle and rear axle to turn at different speeds. Plenty of styles of how this is accomplished mechanically.

4WD has a locked center differential to send 50% torque forward and 50% rearward regardless, both axles always turning at the same speed. Usually has two gear ratios to select from 4H or 4L. Old-school versions are locked at the front hubs.

Like everything, each has advantages and disadvantages and are optimized for different uses.

 

[wizbangdoodle]

Well, I'm gonna need 1 of those systems today. I'm at Whistler and it dumped about 20" of snow last night.

 

[Tob]

I guess my wife is super gay then hahaha

"All women are bisexual. Some just don't know it."

Greta Thunberg, 2021

 

[DriftwoodSVT]

My wife has a 2021 Explorer ST, super fun to drive. However, she now wants a 2024 Lexus GX550 Overtrail, which I fully support.

Full-time 4WD with Torsen®* limited-slip center differential with locking feature, factory 33 inch tires.

 

[rborden]

I've been on some steep trails in the Sierras when out in a friends 4x4 and most AWD vehicles wont make it up as they stall out and spin without a locker.

After seeing that, I'd never buy an AWD vehicle. I'd need true 4WD (2WD, 4H, 4L) and a locker. I need to get up and over those high passes.

But my ass is broke so I cant afford nice things like that.

 

[OX1]

Just like that half of SVTP's wives are gay

What's a "wife"?

 

[OX1]

I've been on some steep trails in the Sierras when out in a friends 4x4 and most AWD vehicles wont make it up as they stall out and spin without a locker.

After seeing that, I'd never buy an AWD vehicle. I'd need true 4WD (2WD, 4H, 4L) and a locker. I need to get up and over those high passes.

But my ass is broke so I cant afford nice things like that.

On older rigs (with old style 4WD and locking hubs), you can add a locker in front that replaces spider gears (they are fairly cheap).

Spartan Locker for Dana 60, 30 spline axles, includes heavy-duty cross pin shaft | eBay

<p>Spartan Locker for Dana 60, 30 spline axles, includes heavy-duty cross pin shaft. The Spartan Locker is a lunchbox locker that delivers reliable, 100% lockup traction at a low cost. It's design does not use the thrust washers and has a revolutionary spring and pin design that makes...

www.ebay.com

. Typically, a front locker is not good driving around, but you can just unlock front hubs when 4WD not required.

Many say if you only get one locker, get it in the back. This is BS for climbing, as if you can get the fronts over, you can usually get the rears over with momentum. But if you can't get the fronts over, your done. This is for slow speed crawling type stuff (or even greasy logs, etc..).

For highspeed offroad, rear locker is probably better (and front locker is generally not great for that stuff),

 

[03cobra#694]

On older rigs (with old style 4WD and locking hubs), you can add a locker in front that replaces spider gears (they are fairly cheap).

Spartan Locker for Dana 60, 30 spline axles, includes heavy-duty cross pin shaft | eBay

<p>Spartan Locker for Dana 60, 30 spline axles, includes heavy-duty cross pin shaft. The Spartan Locker is a lunchbox locker that delivers reliable, 100% lockup traction at a low cost. It's design does not use the thrust washers and has a revolutionary spring and pin design that makes...

www.ebay.com

. Typically, a front locker is not good driving around, but you can just unlock front hubs when 4WD not required.

Many say if you only get one locker, get it in the back. This is BS for climbing, as if you can get the fronts over, you can usually get the rears over with momentum. But if you can't get the fronts over, your done. This is for slow speed crawling type stuff (or even greasy logs, etc..).

For highspeed offroad, rear locker is probably better (and front locker is generally not great for that stuff),

Had a Detroit Locker in the rear and a true track in the front of my old 78'. It spun all 4 in the dirt.

 

[Blkkbgt]

AWD will more than likely get stuck on some snow and dirt terrains, especially if they dont have LSD/Torsen LS.

I have to disagree based on personal experience.

My DD is a Subaru with X mode that includes hill descent assist.

We have a nasty long hill coming into our area off the highway. 3 times last year when coming home it had 6+12 inches of snow on it.

All 3 times without chains I rolled right past a line of 30-40 cars, trucks and SUVs on both sides of the road stuck. Almost all the trucks had 4WD.

You could tell people had lost traction going both up and down. One person misses the only guard rail by inches. Most people were either standing outside their cars or walking slowly up the hill to go home.

I used my hill descent assist to get down my steep driveway without a problem because I can literally crawl down it at 1mph. Painfully slow but it worked perfectly.

All 3 times all those cars were still there in the morning and again I used the hill descent assist to get down the hill. Let's not forget I had to get up my driveway as well.

I can't speak for all AWD drive systems but Subaru has it firgure the F out and again I disagree with your statement.

Now everyone knows my terrible secret. No, I don't give mouth hugs on the side and you can all **** off lol.

 

[rborden]

On older rigs (with old style 4WD and locking hubs), you can add a locker in front that replaces spider gears (they are fairly cheap).

Spartan Locker for Dana 60, 30 spline axles, includes heavy-duty cross pin shaft | eBay

<p>Spartan Locker for Dana 60, 30 spline axles, includes heavy-duty cross pin shaft. The Spartan Locker is a lunchbox locker that delivers reliable, 100% lockup traction at a low cost. It's design does not use the thrust washers and has a revolutionary spring and pin design that makes...

www.ebay.com

. Typically, a front locker is not good driving around, but you can just unlock front hubs when 4WD not required.

Many say if you only get one locker, get it in the back. This is BS for climbing, as if you can get the fronts over, you can usually get the rears over with momentum. But if you can't get the fronts over, your done. This is for slow speed crawling type stuff (or even greasy logs, etc..).

For highspeed offroad, rear locker is probably better (and front locker is generally not great for that stuff),

Front locker is better for pulling the vehicle up very steep terrain and rocks or boulders as opposed to a rear locker pushing the vehicle up.

On newer vehicles you can turn them on/off as you need.

Not sure about older vehicles.

 

[SolarYellow]

As a kid buying a new '95 Wrangler, I was somewhat perplexed when actually learning about 4WD. I am almost positive it had a limited slip in the back but if not, I was always told the power will be LF/RR or RF/RL and it keeps alternating. Tires changed it into an even better machine than it was from the factory.

Technology is hard to beat these days.

 

[L8APEX]

There is so much overlap in systems that many 4x4 systems can act as 4x2 or AWD or 4x4 like my brother in laws '21 F150 Lariat. They live in the black forest north of COS near monument and get snow. The AWD in the partialy plowed snow on Highways like 83 is awesome. It kicks on as needed.

Traditional
AWD= all the wheels spin and the car controls it. Very little input (if any from the driver) Audi Quadro is a good example. Wet , dry, asphalt or dirt it was putting power to 4 wheels.

4x4
Take your favorite old ford pickup from the 80's you had to lock the front hubs then get in the cab an move the selector into 4x4 H and then the transmission into drive.

4x4 is manual control that you need to turn off on pavement, tight turns and that means stopping and unlocking the front wheels and going back to 4x2.
Today it's turning it to 4x4h or 4x4L or tugging the the knob back if you need that rear locker. Ie one wheel on the yard and one on the driveway. And you don't want to kill the yard.

My 08 Escape (rip) had 4x4 on the tailgate. Not a single button in the truck. It was actually AWD, there was an electric lock between the driveshaft from the front and the rear differential that would magnetically decouple at speeds over 30mph and engage at speeds under 30. Worked fantastically on the Michelin Defender tires. It made winter driving like a cheat code.