Why 4WD Servicing Is So Important: Things To Consider

The Importance of 4WD Servicing

Living in Colorado means we have plenty of open spaces and mountains surrounding us. There is nothing like taking your 4WD through creeks and streams, up mountains, and through valleys.

To make the most of your day trips, though, your SUV, Truck, Rock Crawler or otherwise requires proper servicing. You need to check the oil, transmission, brakes, etc. just like you would with any other car, but if you have been pushing your 4WD through rough country, snow, mud, and rocks, your mechanic will have much more to consider to ensure that your vehicle is safely operating and ready to keep tearing up Yankee Boy Basin by Ouray, Poison Spider over in Moab, or Soap Creek Canyon just over the dam at Blue Mesa Reservoir.

The best part of owning a 4WD car or truck is that feeling you can go almost everywhere. However, your car will require extra attention and servicing—both to keep it safe for you to drive and to extend its life span.

What Type of Servicing Does a 4WD Require?

There are numerous extra systems that go into making a 4wd the ultimate exploring machine, and each SUV, Truck, and otherwise are all built differently. We won’t discuss things like lockers, lifts, or the numerous suspension configurations between vehicles over the years. However, at the heart of a four wheel drive is several systems that we’d like to call attention to specifically.

Transfer Case

The transfer case moves power from the engine to all wheels, whether they are two wheels or four wheels. When you need to improve traction in your 4WD by activating all wheels, you rely on your transfer case to make it happen.

During servicing, we check the fluid in your transfer case. If the fluid level is too low, it can internally damage the transfer case. Heat is the enemy of a transfer case, so keeping them properly lubricated is important for more than just ensuring the mechanicals operate smoothly.

Brake Lines

When you drive through rough terrain, you need to be sure your brakes work properly! As car specialists, we always check the brake lines in your 4WD to make sure there is no brake fluid leakage and that your vehicle stops properly when you hit the brakes.

If your brakes have started to make a weird sound, or your SUV takes longer to stop when you hit the brakes, you could be having issues with your brakes—issues you’d better look into as soon as possible. People taking their 4wd on rough roads, or even people who live in areas with deep potholes run also a risk of severing a brake line, which requires immediate servicing.

Front and Rear Differential

A 4WD has differentials in both front and rear since power goes to all four wheels. The differentials make sure power is diverted to all four wheels and that they all spin at the same pace. This is particularly important when one or two wheels are off the ground: you need the remaining wheels to keep working to provide traction and help the car keep going.

Cooling System

The radiator is often doing extra duty when your motor is working hard in low gears to feed your tires the torque they need. Many Jeeps, Trucks and other vehicles come with heavy duty cooling options, but on a hot day in Utah, even those will feel the strain. Keeping your engine and critical components cool enough for optimal operation relies on just a few parts, and those should be inspected and repaired in the same importance as any critical component. Overheating engine, no thanks.

Hubs, Fluids, & More

Another thing we check is your hubs. The hubs are connected to the differentials and help your wheels turn when you turn the steering wheel. Your hubs ensure that all four wheels are engaged and turn. Broken hubs keep your vehicle from being aligned, and can cause catastrophic failure if left too long.

Finally, we check your differential fluids during your vehicle servicing. Differentials work with lubricants called differential fluids. Depending on your mileage and manufacturer’s guideline, we may change your differential fluid to ensure smooth and safe drives.

Does a 4WD Require Extra Care?

A 4WD goes to places where a normal car can’t. That means dust, mud, water, sand, and even saltwater—although you may need to go farther than Colorado for that one. Your 4WD has been built to go into such terrain, but it does require some extra care after such extreme driving conditions.

When you drive in deep mud, the mud goes everywhere and can start corroding parts of your vehicle. We need to check your vehicle’s seals and all parts that mud can affect, including alternators and swivels. Water fording can damage electrical components, even if it’s not right away. Rough roads are hard on your suspension, hubs, and engaging 4wd often means the engine is working harder to move all 4 wheels, and/or applying more torque to the wheels. That extra stress on the motor should also be taken into consideration.

If you are towing a trailer or carrying heavy loads in your 4WD, we have to be extra careful during servicing to make sure that your suspension, shock absorbers, springs, chassis, front and rear differentials, and other parts of the vehicle have not been overloaded and overburdened during your trip. Your ride will thank you.

Trust R&J Automotive to Take Care of Your 4WD

If you regularly maintain and service your 4WD, you will enjoy your vehicle for years to come. But you need to go to the right people. We are experienced auto experts who know how to service 4WD. Even if your vehicle has been through mud, water, and thick sand, we will make sure it is properly serviced.

Jump into your 4WD and take a journey around Montrose and the Western Colorado Slopes. When you come back, contact R&J Automotive online, call us at 970-787-2202, or visit us at 1029 Colorado Ave, Montrose, CO 81401 and we will service your 4WD to perfection!

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