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    4wd on dry pavement

    i've been told not to engage 4wd on any drive pavement for any long period of time, if any, and only use it on snow, mud, gravel, dirt style terrain. is this a rumor? i didn't believe it at all.

    #2
    Its not "recommended" on a true 4wd vehicle... The problem comes in when you try to turn with 4x4 engaged on dry pavement. The tires won't slip, and this causes extra strain on the front differential and transfer case...

    Straight line is okay... but go do a tight U-turn in 4wd on dry pavement and you'll feel the twitching/binding right away.

    94 Pro LX- 3-hole. Familia seats, Infini Corners, Familia Grille, Familia Rear Garnish w/Rear fogs EDM Glass headlights,
    MSP Mazdaspeed Muffler,Mazdaspeed front strut bar,'00 Pro ES wheels, Neuspeed Springs,GR2s, MX3 wheel, MX3 Tall armrest

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      #3
      Well you should. If you feel adventurous and like risking your diff, lock it and take a sharp corner. The diff lock is pretty much to get you unstuck.

      1988 White GTX - #1 parts
      1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
      1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
      1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
      1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

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        #4
        I believe that the locking diff is meant to be used to get you out of a mess. One of the dangers is if it is locked, and you're driving on snowy / icy roads and hit the brakes, all four wheels will lock up and you'll be screwed; but you'll have time to assess how much of a screwing you're in for as you watch the world spin around outside your window.

        I took the car up to Tahoe for a bit of snowboarding and put this theory to test. I went to an empty parking lot and did some field research and quickly concluded that, indeed, the center diff lock button is pure evil and would only use it if absolutely necessary.

        So yes, it makes the car handle like scheisse. Hot, stinky, scheisse.

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          #5
          Originally posted by BFMRGTX View Post
          I believe that the locking diff is meant to be used to get you out of a mess. One of the dangers is if it is locked, and you're driving on snowy / icy roads and hit the brakes, all four wheels will lock up and you'll be screwed; but you'll have time to assess how much of a screwing you're in for as you watch the world spin around outside your window.

          I took the car up to Tahoe for a bit of snowboarding and put this theory to test. I went to an empty parking lot and did some field research and quickly concluded that, indeed, the center diff lock button is pure evil and would only use it if absolutely necessary.

          So yes, it makes the car handle like scheisse. Hot, stinky, scheisse.
          Having the diff locked does nothing to change the Braking on the 323.. It does change how the car drives because now you aren't spinning the front.. You have a true power split to the rear wheels.. with the gtx or protege awd center diff open the car acts very much like a front wheel drive car.. With it locked it will definatly act different.. play with it and learn how it acts.. its not evil or dangerous.. I found in the snow having the center diff unlocked to be worse because the car is more unpredictable.. you never know how much power is going to be transferd to the rear.. this can make the car unexpectedly tail happy..

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            #6
            It changes the way the car decelerates, especially in low traction situations. I personally won't run with the diff locked ever, even on rally stage. I'd rather correct "random" oversteer than combat constant understeer.

            1988 White GTX - #1 parts
            1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
            1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
            1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
            1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

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              #7
              IMHO, it handles horribly with it locked and having all the torque being sent to all four wheels. I'd rather drive something else, thankyouverymuch.

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                #8
                Viscous center diff is the way to go!! when i blew my stock 1.6 awd front differential it striped all the teeth off the inside of the planatary gear so i locked my center diff the outside of the planetary gear was fine and it gave all the power to the rear wheels. I was able to drive it a few miles to get home. Cant say that all the chips and shavings from the striped gears did any good floating around in there though, but i knew i was going with a BPT trans
                "See that car, in the 80's that car was deadly." Random man to his son while passing the GTX in a parking lot

                Originally posted by neuspeedescort
                the proper spelling would be "Launchabilitiness" i do believe.
                -88' Mazda 323 GTX, 1.8t, Modified Magazine May 2012
                -88' Mazda 323 GTX, caged and ready for dirt
                -93' Mazda Miata, half caged
                -09' Mercedes C63 AMG
                -87' Toyota Land Cruiser, 33's with slight lift, safari style!

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