Racing in 4WD?

[DIRTY DIRTY]

I'm new to racing 4WD trucks. I know I hook up better in 4 High, but I don't know how hard it is on the transfer case. Should I launch in 4 high then switch into 2WD or just leave it in 4 high? I have heard both recomendations. I can also see where either would be hard on the transfer. I also know that some of you guys are veterans of this sport! So what do you recomend I do?:help:

 

[JoshH]

You aren't hurting anything. There's pretty much no way you'll get it out anyway. The only thing you need to make sure of is that you lower the front end and don't have green keys in it. It's also a good idea to put some sleeves and Cognito braces on the front steering.

 

[Kat]

:yup:

 

[paint94979]

I'm new to racing 4WD trucks. I know I hook up better in 4 High, but I don't know how hard it is on the transfer case. Should I launch in 4 high then switch into 2WD or just leave it in 4 high? I have heard both recomendations. I can also see where either would be hard on the transfer. I also know that some of you guys are veterans of this sport! So what do you recomend I do?:help:

Guys that said you could launch in 4x4 then switch to 2wd obviously don't race our trucks

 

[ripmf666]

I switch out on the slow down. Get some sleeves and a center link.Also look at getting a pump rub fix for the transfer case.

 

[thedirtymax]

ok this may be a dumb question....but what are "green keys"? the only way to learn is to ask what you dont know.....thanks
-Clint

 

[DIRTY DIRTY]

Cool! I thought for sure I would be straining something too hard. Who on here sells the tie rod sleeves? I would like to buy from someone off this site sense I get so much knowledge from here anyway.

 

[paint94979]

Cool! I thought for sure I would be straining something too hard. Who on here sells the tie rod sleeves? I would like to buy from someone off this site sense I get so much knowledge from here anyway.

Henry (ripmf666) does as well as Kat (Kat) lol

 

[juddski88]

bump for SuperDiesel parts from henry :thumb:

 

[DIRTY DIRTY]

Ya I found them on henrys' site. I'll just have to save up some more money. I think I'll get the center link and sleeves at the same time. Not that my truck puts out enough power to really need them yet, but I hope to eventually. I guess the extra strength would just ensure I don't mess them up anyways. I do like to off road from time to time!
I'm also in the same boat as the roughneck from Kansas on the whole "keys" thing. Don't know much about them either.

 

[maine04max]

green keys are an indexing key that alows you to lift the front end more ,for what they call leveling .I have never had them but it sounds like they dont allow the front end to come down enough when they are cranked down . when racing you want to keep the tie rods and front shafts from being angled .

 

[ripmf666]

When your ready for the sleeves and center link pm me for a better price then on my site.
Thanks
Henry

 

[RPM Motorsports]

Sleeves at a minimum. I only have sleeves, no suports, stock keys & stock center link. The truck has a few hundred passes, and about 20 hooks, without any issues. I could just be lucky, but there are plenty of people without all that fancy stuff.

 

[JoshH]

Sleeves at a minimum. I only have sleeves, no suports, stock keys & stock center link. The truck has a few hundred passes, and about 20 hooks, without any issues. I could just be lucky, but there are plenty of people without all that fancy stuff.

I've also made quite a few passes even without sleeves. You just have to make sure the tierods angle up slightly from the centerlink to the spindle.

 

[DIRTY DIRTY]

H:hello:ell ya man. Thanks guys.

 

[Cougar281]

I've also made quite a few passes even without sleeves. You just have to make sure the tierods angle up slightly from the centerlink to the spindle.

Josh, either you're lucky or not making much power, and judging from your sig, I'd guess the former . One DP member I met out here a few years ago bent his tie rods just goofing off in a new, empty parking lot in 4x4, and I think he was running +120hp or less when he did it.

 

[HogAssWild]

i've got a 6 inch lift and when i launch in 4wd it goes all over the place.. the steering wheel just jumps to one side

is there a fix for this or just part of having a IFS lifted truck

 

[SmokeShow]

new pitman and idler arms with cognito braces. Mine does the same thing and all I have currently is sleeves. I've got the cognitos on the shelf ready to go on, just gotta get it done. I'm told these will help that situation.

C-ya

 

[whitetrash21]

i've got a 6 inch lift and when i launch in 4wd it goes all over the place.. the steering wheel just jumps to one side

is there a fix for this or just part of having a IFS lifted truck

Its the tierods at an angle pushing up against the ceterlink... causes the thing to rotate which fk's with the tierod position. Your lift compounds that. Thats why its best to have a negative angle or flat position on your tierods.

Like people sdaid, fix for that is the braces and sleeves... keeps the tierods from bending or snapping and stops the centerlink from rotating....

 

[JoshH]

Josh, either you're lucky or not making much power, and judging from your sig, I'd guess the former . One DP member I met out here a few years ago bent his tie rods just goofing off in a new, empty parking lot in 4x4, and I think he was running +120hp or less when he did it.

My truck right not has sleeves and braces, and I have a straight centerlink to put on it. However, I made a hand-full of passes on my truck without anything done to the front end besides having the front end lowered. I was usually in the mid to low 1.8 60' time range and mid 13 to low 14 second range. I also made quite a few passes on my dad's CC dually with just lowered bars. It was getting high 1.9 to low 2.0 60' times and running mid to low 14s. Maybe I am lucky, but if I am, that is the only good luck I have.

That said, I don't think it is a good idea to do boosted launches without sleeves unless you properly prepare the truck, are very careful, and are prepared to deal with bent tie rods in the event it happens.