Running with power divider on

No damage... no worries. I wouldn't do it on purpose, but you'll be alright.

 

If your tire thread thickness is about even axle to axle you'll be fine. The power divider will force the front and rear axle spin at the same speed. This is no problem until the tires are different in circumference due to tread thickness differences. If your front drive is 19/32, and your rear dive is 14/32, that is actually a big difference is circumference when two axles are locked together. The tires now have to scrub slightly as the axles are mechanically forced to spin at the same speed. If you damaged anything, you would know by now!

 

you would know by now if you damaged something just try to pay closer attention next time. its going to be hard on stuff but if nothing snapped your be ok

 

Great question I've not seen asked b4.

You were putting power to an axle that didn't need it is all you did. Unless you hear or feel something wrong, there is likely no damage.

Understanding what you did is helpful...
Damage may occur with worn tires on one axle and brand new on the other thus one axle turns faster than the other. This puts the drive line in a bind and skids the tires over time/miles (aka tire scrub) relative to the different circumference/wear. Thus causing more wear... and internal strains on the differentials. The more one axle turns vs the other the more tire scrub/wear results.

Hard to say how much of 1mpg is result, but certainly you were turning an axle that didn't need pwr, and the more scrub between axles the more you can assume is a result.

 

Here's what you need to know about power dividers. Then you will be able to determine how much damage was actually done.

Here's the link. Good information might be an educational tool for how a power divider actually works as most of us do not actually know how a power divider works.
http://tow411.yuku.com/topic/78075

 

So which axle does not get the power with PD unlocked???

 

they both get power unlocked but the are able to turn at different speeds (ie tire wear differences or one having to travel less distance around a corner than the other due to off tracking ect) having them locked up there will likely be more bind on the drive line and more scrubbing on the tires witch could still lead to a drop in mpg.

 

You guys missed the 72mpg thread?
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...e/165375-i-drove-700-miles-power-divider.html