Can I use four wheel drive on dry pavement?

Not on a part time system. With the transfer case engaged, the front and rear axles are forced to turn at the same speed, and on dry pavement the difference in cornering radius has nowhere to go. That binding loads the driveline and is a common cause of transfer case damage. Full time systems are built for it.

What is the difference between all wheel drive and four wheel drive?

All wheel drive works constantly and splits power automatically through a center differential, asking nothing of you. Four wheel drive is usually selectable, often has a low range for serious going, and locks the axles together when engaged. They fail in different ways and they are serviced differently as a result.

How often does transfer case fluid need changing?

It depends on the vehicle and considerably more on how it is used. Towing, deep water, dust and regular off road running all shorten the interval, sometimes by half. We check level and condition against the manufacturer figure for your model, then tell you what the fluid itself is saying.

Can the hub actuators be repaired, or do they get replaced?

Some can. A system that will not engage is often a vacuum line, an electric actuator or a switch rather than anything inside the transfer case, and those are much smaller jobs. Riverton runs five service bays and a loaner fleet, so finding out which it is need not cost you the day.

Riverton, Utah

4x4 Service in Riverton

3311 W 12600 S, Riverton, UT 84065

Book Appointment (801) 302-5935

McNeil's Auto Care at 3311 West 12600 South in Riverton, service bays open beneath the NAPA AutoCare sign

4x4 Service at our Riverton shop

Four wheel drive earns its keep in a Utah winter and gets ignored for the rest of the year, which is why most of the faults we see at McNeil's Auto Care in Riverton have been developing quietly for months before anyone books them in.

A 4x4 system is a transfer case, front and rear differentials, driveshafts and the joints and actuators between them. Power goes to all four wheels instead of two, and every extra component is another thing that wants fluid at the right level and condition.

Noises that change when you engage four wheel drive, binding on tight turns, a system that will not engage at all, or vibration that builds with speed are the usual signs. We will pinpoint which part of the system is at fault and give you an estimate before any work starts.

Most of this is done with the vehicle in the air rather than at a bench, and Riverton runs five service bays so that time is available. Loaner vehicles and a local shuttle mean you are not stuck waiting while a transfer case or differential is stripped.

The Riverton shop is NAPA Gold certified with ASE certified technicians, and qualifying work carries a 36 month, 36,000 mile nationwide warranty honored at participating shops across the country. Book online in about a minute or call the shop, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and nothing is authorized until you have approved it.

Questions

4x4 Service in Riverton, answered

Can I use four wheel drive on dry pavement?: Not on a part time system. With the transfer case engaged, the front and rear axles are forced to turn at the same speed, and on dry pavement the difference in cornering radius has nowhere to go. That binding loads the driveline and is a common cause of transfer case damage. Full time systems are built for it.
What is the difference between all wheel drive and four wheel drive?: All wheel drive works constantly and splits power automatically through a center differential, asking nothing of you. Four wheel drive is usually selectable, often has a low range for serious going, and locks the axles together when engaged. They fail in different ways and they are serviced differently as a result.
How often does transfer case fluid need changing?: It depends on the vehicle and considerably more on how it is used. Towing, deep water, dust and regular off road running all shorten the interval, sometimes by half. We check level and condition against the manufacturer figure for your model, then tell you what the fluid itself is saying.
Can the hub actuators be repaired, or do they get replaced?: Some can. A system that will not engage is often a vacuum line, an electric actuator or a switch rather than anything inside the transfer case, and those are much smaller jobs. Riverton runs five service bays and a loaner fleet, so finding out which it is need not cost you the day.

Speak to the Riverton shop

(801) 302-5935