4 Wheel drive problems

01chevy · March 23, 2003

I have been snowed in Colorado for a couple of days, but took the truck out for a true test in about 4 ft. of snow. The silverado did great, I didn't get stuck once, but noticed a few weird things happening when I'm in 4 hi. When turning, the back end of the truck seems to almost bounce and it is hard to turn. A couple of times when turning, I actually spinned the back tires for a brief second. Is this normal, I don't have much experience with four wheel drive, but I'm thinking something is wrong. It engages fine and I can't notice anything else wrong, only a couple of noises when engaged, but I think this is normal. Any ideas what could be wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Frank S · March 23, 2003

Moving to Light Duty.

Should get some attention there.

SilveradoWV · March 23, 2003

I have never really tried it before in my truck, it could be where you are turning and the fact that you have 4 ft of snow. If it were my truck I wouldnt really worry about it, but someone here will probably have more info for you! Sometimes they do some weird stuff in 4wd.

Shaners · March 24, 2003

I'd say this is "normal". Your truck won't turn as sharp in 4wd as it will in 2wd. Especially in the snow... That's because the driveline is locked and you are pushing the fronts with the rear wheels and the fronts are trying to pull it around the corner...

In 4wd you have to be careful if you get the rear to do a powerslide, because it can be a handful to correct. You can actually go down the road sideways for quite a distance, because the rears don't want to come around quite as easy when you counterstear!!!

cowboy02 · March 24, 2003

Also if you get your back end to spin, and the front tires spin also you can break the chain inside the transfer case.

Unless GM finaly went to a gear driven transfer case which then you wouldn't have to worry about that. That is why I loved my Ford, felt like the 4 wheel drive was a better setup.

My new 02 GMC Sierra also took farther to turn in 4x4 with the fresh snow we got here in Colorado. I believe it is normal.

Still have the crapstone tires on your truck?

JimG · March 24, 2003

I got my 03 Sierra right before the new year. Got to play with 4WD with the big blizzard that hit the East Coast. Experienced the same thing you did with the harder steering. I found out later that it's normal, I was afraid I broke my new truck.

Can't comment about the steering, don't think I went above 25 mph the entire time I was in 4WD