Wait a minute - lemme see if I got this straight: It is safe to launch my three-ton truck in four wheel drive on pavement and leave it in four wheel drive up to 90-100 MPH. On pavement? In four wheel drive? Driving the truck as fast as it will go?

This is my first diesel so I am reading everything on this forum because I know I am real stupid on diesels, but this is my fourth 4WD pickup and I know this kind of activity is supposed to scatter expensive parts all over the road. At least I thought I knew. That's what it said in all my other owner's manuals, anyway.

I will prob'ly never take this truck down the dragstrip, but I love embarrassing officers (I am enlisted Air Force) in their shiny little BMWs and high school kids in their Civic-with-a-muffler. Should I be putting this thing in 4WD at the lights? I can't believe it will live! Are they just built extra tough, or is there some viscous-coupling-technology-voodoo under this thing that I am currently unaware of?

Someone please educate me! And thanx for helping out a newbie! Great forum!

yep you can do it.

pm superdiesel and get some tierod supports. those toothpicks will snap in no time.

He does have the website up & running www.superdieselperformance.com

I also allows you to powerbreak into higher RPMs, using a 4x4 launch, it takes longer for any of ur wheels to spin, so you can get that turbo spooled up faster for take off! :ro)

I wouldn't be making a lot of turns on hard pavement while in 4 wheel drive, but if you're going in a straight line, you should be fine.

Oh you'll be going down the dragstrip soon enough, believe me. Better start putting some coin away for a tranny upgrade;)

Push the button, roll forward a few feet to make sure its engauged. Start building boost(3-5 psi is pretty safe) let off brake and mash the throttle, drive straight, after you have made your run let off the throttle and push the 2wd button while coasting.

Sweet! You guys are the devil, tempting me to thrash my brand-new truck. At least, that is what I will tell my wife when she asks...

Since it appears that even launching a stock truck in 4WD will tweak the tie rods, looks like I will purchase a set of SD rods before trying out the new technique (thanx ratlover for spelling it out for me). Oh, I think I will also finish breaking in the motor - I rolled over 500 miles this morning!

Prolly a good ID to break it in first.....:eek: ;)

mountainstoner, i had the same problem you did. ive made about 20 passes with my truck and didnt use 4wd. now ive done it on the street a few times and run it up to 85+ mph and its super scary the first time. it pulls hard on launch :) cant wait to run some passes now that i know 4wd is safe

Will I damage my stock tierods with the Hypertech at Level 3 when in 4x4? I usually only put it in 4x4 on WET pavement.

yep. :badidea:

Will I damage my stock tierods with the Hypertech at Level 3 when in 4x4? I usually only put it in 4x4 on WET pavement.

yep. :badidea:
So are you saying that if I get the heavyduty tierods that is all I need? Will I be fine after that?

SD tierod sleeves, I didn't break anything doing a 4wd 22psi launch with torsion bars raised up.

22psi:
are you sure its that high, at 12lbs its hard to hold back if you can

my truck wont stay still above 6 psi

will i be ok for a few times on the stock tierods with a fully stock 01 duramax?

On a stock truck with just a couple PSI, probably. If you get tire spin or hopping you are launching too hard.