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To my understanding they're the same..... aren't they?
no. 4wd send equal power front and rear. you can on;y run it in a straight line on the street because when you turn it will bind up.

an awd transfercase acts like a differential. it sends power wherever its needed and allows for variation from front to rear, since your front wheels move faster than the rear in tight turns.
 
no. 4wd send equal power front and rear. you can on;y run it in a straight line on the street because when you turn it will bind up.

an awd transfercase acts like a differential. it sends power wherever its needed and allows for variation from front to rear, since your front wheels move faster than the rear in tight turns.
so, how do you turn a 4x4?
 
so, how do you turn a 4x4?
You can turn, it just creates a bind, thats the reason for only using it on loose terrain where its needed, where the loose terrain can create the slip needed to keep it out of a bind. Drive a 4x4 on pavement around in one circle, you will feel it hopping and popping as it moves.
 
theres a few guys on pt.net that have done the swap
Are there any electronics to the swap? I figure the transfer case wouldn't need any except maybe sensors, and the front diff chunk is probably just engaged at all times correct?
 
Another difference between AWD and 4WD: Most AWD vehicles are engaged in AWD all the time and can't be put in 2WD mode; and AWD does not have a low range.

There are of course examples of systems that are hybrids or that have the missing features. For example, there are plenty of modern 4WD systems that include a center diff but are not quite AWD systems - apparently late model Jeep Wranglers and Ford F150s have center diffs.
 
the binding is being over exagerrated.
How so? No one said it was binding enough in stock form to break anything, just that there is definitely noticeable hopping around turns on pavement, but it is far from being a smooth action like with an actual AWD with a differential to vary torque from front to rear.
 
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