denali drivetrain in a dmax?

[Kspen90]

how does the AWD transfer case work? i have a ford explorer awd, and i know there is a clutch setup in the tcase somewhere which allows enough slip to keep the drivetrain out of bind on dry pavement. someone mentioned the denali awd setup has no clutches..... so how does it keep the drivetrain from binding up? i know a full 4wd truck on dry pavement is a very rough chattery ride.

I believe (and someone please correct me if im wrong) that the engagement of the all wheel drive works with the TCS to engage when traction is lost in the rear wheels so it would not be engaged while turning in a parking lot. But i could very easily be wrong.

 

[duratothemax]

Does the Denali/Escalade awd case have a 4wd lock and low range position or some sort of "limited slip" in the center differential?

no. Its full-time awd. There is no center diff lock. It has a planetary center diff that has a 40/60 front/rear axle torque split. So under most conditions 40% power goes to the front axle, 60% goes to the rear. The stability control system (brake-traction-control) can "redirect" power around to various wheels if need be during extreme [low traction] conditions.

Its a really nice, simple setup that works perfectly with 99% of road conditions you are going to encounter without having to choose between 2wd/4wd...you can have almost all of the "traction capability" of a 4wd vehicle without the binding/handling limitations that a 4wd vehicle has when in "part-time" 4wd mode. If that makes sense... There are no computers, clutches, viscous couplings, or any of that other complicated stuff involved.

So its technically "simpler" than the part-time 4wd system on the HD trucks.

The only limitation is if you get a front wheel airborne, or have the two back wheels on sheet ice and front wheels on dry pavement, (or any other extreme traction-difference situation), you are screwed because the whole thing will just act like an open diff and you'll go nowhere. Now before you say "OH WELL DUH ISNT THAT KINDA STUPID AND USELESS", remember that the vehicles that came with it from the factory (denali/escalade) have stability control, so if you do lift a tire airborne, the stability control system can apply brake to that one wheel, stop the wheel, and "redirect" the power, avoiding the "open-diff-syndrome" thing that would otherwise occur with an awd transfer case like this.

Ben

 

[jlawles2]

For the full time 4WD could you look at the one used in the Hummer Alpha! IIRC the Alpha had a Dmax.

 

[duratothemax]

you could also use a H2 transfer case. That one had "awd" (4-hi fulltime), 4-hi lock, and 4-lo lock.

Or a BW4482 from a 2004 tahoe/yukon (2004 model year only, with stabilitrak)....those had awd with a selectable low-range (when in low-range, the center diff was locked).

 

[Kspen90]

Is there any way to pair the stability control system to our trucks? Because if not then the system is pretty useless for my purposes. What made the denali so nice IMO is the speed at which you could take corners when the SCS would kick in and brake the rear wheels and pull you through with the front wheel, greatly improving the cornering ability of the vehicle

 

[Bryce418]

Does the Denali/Escalade awd case have a 4wd lock and low range position or some sort of "limited slip" in the center differential?

It has a viscous coupling in it. Fitting it to the Allison would probably be easiest with a new output shaft and new yokes on the drive shafts.

But it still merits the question, why would you bother?

 

[DMAXDOC]

It has a viscous coupling in it. Fitting it to the Allison would probably be easiest with a new output shaft and new yokes on the drive shafts.

But it still merits the question, why would you bother?

Im wondering the same???

Im almost certain it would cost as much as just buying something that already has this system.

 

[Chevy1925]

no. Its full-time awd. There is no center diff lock. It has a planetary center diff that has a 40/60 front/rear axle torque split. So under most conditions 40% power goes to the front axle, 60% goes to the rear. The stability control system (brake-traction-control) can "redirect" power around to various wheels if need be during extreme [low traction] conditions.

Its a really nice, simple setup that works perfectly with 99% of road conditions you are going to encounter without having to choose between 2wd/4wd...you can have almost all of the "traction capability" of a 4wd vehicle without the binding/handling limitations that a 4wd vehicle has when in "part-time" 4wd mode. If that makes sense... There are no computers, clutches, viscous couplings, or any of that other complicated stuff involved.

So its technically "simpler" than the part-time 4wd system on the HD trucks.

The only limitation is if you get a front wheel airborne, or have the two back wheels on sheet ice and front wheels on dry pavement, (or any other extreme traction-difference situation), you are screwed because the whole thing will just act like an open diff and you'll go nowhere. Now before you say "OH WELL DUH ISNT THAT KINDA STUPID AND USELESS", remember that the vehicles that came with it from the factory (denali/escalade) have stability control, so if you do lift a tire airborne, the stability control system can apply brake to that one wheel, stop the wheel, and "redirect" the power, avoiding the "open-diff-syndrome" thing that would otherwise occur with an awd transfer case like this.

Ben

i found this very apparent with our old escalade. it was an 03 and if i turned traction control off and nailed it while going around a corner the front end would break loose and spin the front tires. after that, i left traction control on and never turned it off unless i was off road

I knew the escalade had "awd" and no selectability for 4lo but always thought the t-case was setup like the old grand cherokees that used clutches inside. Cool to know they use a planetary setup.

 

[Kspen90]

It has a viscous coupling in it. Fitting it to the Allison would probably be easiest with a new output shaft and new yokes on the drive shafts.

But it still merits the question, why would you bother?

Have you ever REALLY driven an escalade or denali?

 

[DMAXDOC]

I have, wouldnt drive either to a dogfight...my sister has a Denali, my dads old lady has an Escalade

EDIT: mainly because they arent diesel therefore they have no place in my driveway

 

[Kspen90]

I have, wouldnt drive either to a dogfight...my sister has a Denali, my dads old lady has an Escalade

EDIT: mainly because they arent diesel therefore they have no place in my driveway

Thats the only drawback IMO because other than being a gasser and therefore kinda gutless they drive GREAT through twisty back roads which is pretty much all there is for 20 miles from my location, the AWD almost makes you forget youre driving a 6000# pig the way it pulls you through the corners. The denali drivetrain paired with a duramax, qa1's, cognito sway bars, and ssbc brakes would make one sweet street machine!!!

 

[Mike L.]

The denali drivetrain paired with a duramax, qa1's, cognito sway bars, and ssbc brakes would make one sweet street machine!!!

Till you pay 600.00 for a tow home and repairs.

 

[Kspen90]

Till you pay 600.00 for a tow home and repairs.

Oh come on now mike, this is all just a dream scenario of alot of what ifs but its just something to think about to keep my brain from deteriorating while im sitting at home bored lol. But if it does turn out to be a plausible scenario and i ever have the money i think it would be a very cool build IMO