i might be wrong some someone that knows more please chime in... that transfer case you have when engaged i think it splits the torque half to front half to rear 50\50

 

This is old school 4WD, not AWD. There is no center differential. You have a mechanical transfer case, which is directly coupled to the transmission and sends power to the front and rear diffs - which may be open or limited slip (rear) depending how your truck is optioned. It has no torque vectoring. If anything slips, it's seriously broken. The weak point is going to be your clutch if all 4 wheels are stuck. It will happily spin both driveshafts until something breaks.

 

This is old school 4WD, not AWD. There is no center differential. You have a mechanical transfer case, which is directly coupled to the transmission and sends power to the front and rear diffs - which may be open or limited slip (rear) depending how your truck is optioned. It has no torque vectoring. If anything slips, it's seriously broken. The weak point is going to be your clutch if all 4 wheels are stuck. It will happily spin both driveshafts until something breaks.

Thanks for clarifying that part. The rear LSD, is there any way to tell if the option is on there? Or, was it only an option on the EX?

 

"Thanks for clarifying that part. The rear LSD, is there any way to tell if the option is on there? Or, was it only an option on the EX?"
(1) Look on the firewall option plate for G80, the option code for LSD
(2) Look at the metal tag under one differential cover bolt, it will have the gear ratio & either a "L" or "Locking" or some such if it's also LSD
(3) Sometimes there is a second differential tag that says something like "use only lube for limited slip differentials"

 

If anything slips, it's seriously broken.

Sorry, I understand a bit about 4WD systems, not much. What do you mean by that? ^^

 

The only way the transfer case could cause you to be stuck, would be if it broke internally or came out of gear. It can't 'slip' because there's no viscous coupler, differential, or clutch in it like modern systems, just gears. You can consider it part of the transmission - the only choices are Hi or Lo gear ratio, or Neutral. In fact, it spins the front driveshaft all the time, even in 2WD. It doesn't know or care what's happening at the wheels. 4WD is actuated inside the front differential.

Easy way to check for LSD: Jack up both rear wheels. Spin one. Which way does the other one turn? Same way? LSD. Other way? Open diff.

 

The only way the transfer case could cause you to be stuck, would be if it broke internally or came out of gear. It can't 'slip' because there's no viscous coupler, differential, or clutch in it like modern systems, just gears. You can consider it part of the transmission - the only choices are Hi or Lo gear ratio, or Neutral. In fact, it spins the front driveshaft all the time, even in 2WD. It doesn't know or care what's happening at the wheels. 4WD is actuated inside the front differential.

Thanks, didn't realize the front driveshaft spins all the time, I thought when I engage 4WD, the magic happens inside the transfer case.

So, I have no center differential, front axle has open diff and rear might have LSD. Wait, this means, if I engage 4WD mode then this works just like my 100-series LandCruiser's permanent 4WD mode (the default, before I lock the center diff)? So, on the Passport, if I engage 4WD mode, all that would happen is more fuel consumption and more tyre wear - but no risk of a wind up of any kind. Right?

Easy way to check for LSD: Jack up both rear wheels. Spin one. Which way does the other one turn? Same way? LSD. Other way? Open diff.

Thanks! Will check.

 

No, you will definitely get wind-up on the Honda/Isuzu system. You can't even turn in a dry parking lot in 4WD without dragging a wheel. The open diff in the front won't make up for the fact that the front wheels are trying to turn faster than the rears on a turn, while the driveshafts and differentials are turning at the same speed. You should only engage 4WD in low-traction conditions. Consider it a permanently-locked center diff if that helps.

 

No, you will definitely get wind-up on the Honda/Isuzu system. You can't even turn in a dry parking lot in 4WD without dragging a wheel. The open diff in the front won't make up for the fact that the front wheels are trying to turn faster than the rears on a turn, while the driveshafts and differentials are turning at the same speed.

Thanks for making me a bit less ignorant

You should only engage 4WD in low-traction conditions. Consider it a permanently-locked center diff if that helps.

Yep, that explains it nicely.