Free power for a drag truck?

[MAXLLY]

This may not even be possible... but what if?

I was getting ready for some testing at the strip next week, so i put my truck into 4 high and got on the freeway, In an effort to see what happened/felt like under speed and acceleration.

At 70 mph, short distances, the truck has alot of resistance to sprint, duh?! We have more moving pieces with the additional friction/mass of the front driveline. I don't know an awful lot about this 4 wheel system but can we modify this system with a different locker? Enabling us to utilize 4 wheel to get out of the hole and at "X" speed release it through clutches? It feels like it would be free power? I haven't looked into it at all but what about air lockers? Do they release on command versus "off load" as the factory system does? Anybody have a thought or 3 on this?

Thanks to the group in advance.

 

[Mike L.]

I think it would be impossible to release front axle under load. Without load it would be easy.

 

[MAXLLY]

Mike, you know the system for sure. I am so ignorant that i think...there must be a way??? If an Air locker applies with air (ignorance) why can't we just remove the air? I need to find pictures of these assemblies to understand them.

BTW, trans working well, every once in awhile the Co-pilot reads? to much boost (guess) and slams into 2nd and 3rd under partial throttle. Not a problem unless i have coffee in the cupholder or the wife is in the truck,,, scares the sheet out of her.

 

[duratothemax]

as mike said, IMHO it will be impossible to release any sort of mechanical disconnect under the amount of positive torque and drivetrain friction that we run in these trucks.

 

[ripmf666]

some one told me you can get a aftermarket front diff engagment thing and that it would come out under load anyone know anything about them

 

[ecc_33]

never heard of such a thing?

 

[Stingpuller]

Front locker

I have a ARB locker in the front and it will not unlock under power. It hardly unlocks when not under power! I did however hook the air locker(pump)up to my air lift to raise and lower the rear air bags. It worked out very well to be able to do 2 things with 1 pump.

 

[Mike L.]

Think about it; when you have a meshed gear or spline loaded with over 500 lb tq, how in the hell can you simply disconnect the two cleanly? Never happen. Anybody that has four wheeled for any time will know the problems of getting out of 4X4 while rolling. You must let off the pedal or sometimes let off, hit it, and let off again.

 

[LBZ]

Unless you had a defuel on a shift long enough to disengage it. But I think you would run a bigger risk of damaging parts trying to disengage it anyhow.

 

[walsh450mx21]

what we need is like a locking hub that after u leave u hit a botton and they release and then its free. that would be awsome because i notice alot of drag on the truck when in 4hi.. it leaves good but on the trip down the track u can sure feel it holding back the truck..

 

[McRat]

Exploding bolts on the transfer case?

Might be hard to hot-lap though.

Casper will come out of 4WD at WOT in 5th gear. It makes a loud scary bang, and now my transfer case leaks. Perhaps time to replace the transfer case.

 

[Mike L.]

Exploding bolts on the transfer case?

Might be hard to hot-lap though.

Casper will come out of 4WD at WOT in 5th gear. It makes a loud scary bang, and now my transfer case leaks. Perhaps time to replace the transfer case.

Perhaps it's time I looked at it.

 

[ecc_33]

that just doesnt sound good Pat

 

[02freighttrain]

How about a clutch pak on the front drive shaft that could be disengaged?
Sounds really expensive, forget that idea....

 

[walsh450mx21]

its a sweet idea but nun of us could afford to do or probibly have the time to do it.. o well

 

[Kat]

that just doesnt sound good Pat

Casper has being doing that for almost 2 yrs now Good thing it hasn't been when I was driving

 

[LBZ]

That was my fear of disengaging the 4wd on the fly. THE BANG!!

I like the clutch pack idea as well but ya probly would be big $$

 

[MAXLLY]

My brother, owns/runs his own service shop, took the time to show me how the system works. Telling it to disengage is no issue, getting it to "suck the gear back" without hitting any adjacent member/gears in that split second is the tough one. It would appear to be possible to do it if the electro mechanical function was sped up and you backed out of it for a flash, allowing it to let go. Who's gonna back out of the go peddle in a drag race?????

I thought something might be available or an idea? With time something might come to light. My bro is gonna show me some new fangled clutched locker dealie i am intertested in.

Thanks for not crucifying me for what initially appears to be impossible, still though... what if we could? I think the big number would go up maybe 3-5 mph.

 

[Ben46a]

The only way it could cleanly be done is through clutches in the front driveline, but i would think the rear shaft may be prone to leaving at high speed with the extra torque that may be applied to it.

 

[TxChristopher]

Think about it; when you have a meshed gear or spline loaded with over 500 lb tq, how in the hell can you simply disconnect the two cleanly? Never happen. Anybody that has four wheeled for any time will know the problems of getting out of 4X4 while rolling. You must let off the pedal or sometimes let off, hit it, and let off again.

Ok here is my story, believe it or not.

When I run my truck, I always hit the button to send it back into 2WD right after the truck goes into second gear. My truck instantly goes into 2WD. I have always done it this way since the day it was new.

HOWEVER

We tried the same technique on my friends truck, and it WILL NOT come out of 4 hi into 2WD under power, no way, no how, won't do it, period.

Question is, whats the difference?