4WD Question

[dmnsmith]

I have a 2001 Z71 Silverado. Driving home this morning pulling a trailor weighted about 1500#s and about 500#s in the bed of the truck. Forgot to turn of 4WD when pulling back onto the road and continued to drive the rest of the way home in 4WD 15miles or so. I know you are not supposed to drive in 4WD on hard surfaces but I would like to know if I have done any damage to the drivetrain. The truck still drives great in 2WD and 4WD (tested on dirt road). THANKS!

[SilveradoWV]

I doubt you did any damage, they say it just puts more stress on parts if you drive on dry pavement! If you couldnt "feel" you were in 4wd, I doubt you stressed anything too much!

[RyanbabZ71]

did you make any turns? If you are driving straight it wont hurt it but if you made alot of turns you could have caused some damage (might not show up for awhile)

[dmnsmith]

I made about 5 turns in a 10-15 mile stretch. It still shifts into and out of 4WD fine so hopefully she's ok. Thanks for the info!

[timk49]

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. We've all done it at one time or another. My stupid moment came one time when I was parking the travel trailer. I released the levelor chaines , Disconnected the electric cable and jscked up the tongue past the ball hitch. As I pulled away i the jack draging ground. I forgot to unhook one of the safety chains. Dragged the trailer a couple feet. The funny thing happened a month later when I was taking it out on another camping trip. I hitched everything up and when I pulled foreward the brakes were locked up. That was a head scratcher for a while until I checked the emergency brake lock unit under the trailer. It was triggered when the month before I had towed the trailer with the safety chain that had the e-brake cable on it. I guess thats why they don't call me Einstein.

[frdfandc]

Its doubtful that you did any damage. Actually its a good thing to drive the vehicle a few miles with the 4x4 engaged. It allows the t-case and the front axle fluids to circulate in the t-case & the front axle (this helps with seals not leaking). My previous truck I drove it in 4x4 for 3 miles once a month. Never had any t-case or front axle problems.

[96Z71asskicker]

yeah don't worry about it I'm sure going through a trail with your foot to the floor and hiting a bunch of mud is harder on it then driving normally for about 14miles.

[WEFs99]

It's probably OK. When you made those turns, if it didn't like it there would have been noises telling you.

[Shaners]

I think you are OK... Were you in 4-high or AutoTrac?

 

I don't think you covered enough miles to damage anything more than your MPG's...

[dmnsmith]

I was in 4Hi. Decided to lock into 4Hi going down this gravel road so I could lubricate the front end. Just forgot to turn off when I got to the pavement. Thanks to all.

[MattDewalt]

I had a similar incident a few weeks ago. After driving in the rain and hydroplaning and then seeing a 3 car accident on the highway, I decided to drive the rest of the way in the Auto mode. It was about 75 miles on the highway doing 60 or so. I thought this is what the Auto mode was designed for. Wel now, I have a humming noise somewhere in my drivetrain. I sounds like I have a set of BFG Mud Terrains on my truck. It slows down and speeds up when the truck does. So, Have I damaged something or is it just a coincidence? I though maybe I could have a wheel bearing going bad or maybe one of my stock Firestones is going bad. I just haven't had time to check yet. I've put on about 1000 miles since then and it hasn't gotten any worse.

[MattDewalt]

Well, reading about this got me to make the time to check things out. I have a right front wheel bearing going bad. So, it looks like everything is ok with my driveline. Now about the wheel bearing. Only available from GM? I've called 5 parts stores and none of them have a listing. My cost from GM is $142. Just another reason not to take a vacation this summer.