1：What is its use?
The transfer case is a device that distributes engine power and can transfer power to the rear axle or to both the front and rear axles. In four-wheel drive mode, the front and rear axles are rigidly connected, allowing for a 50:50 power distribution. The transfer case with a "low-range four-wheel drive" mode can amplify torque by adjusting the gear ratios, which is beneficial for improving vehicle off-road capability.
2：Did you know?
When the differential lock is engaged in four-wheel drive mode, the speeds of the front and rear wheels remain fixed during turns on a well-paved road, resulting in a phenomenon called "binding."
Most transfer cases do not have synchronizers, so switching driving modes requires stopping the vehicle.
3：Advantages:
Switching to two-wheel drive mode on smooth surfaces can save fuel.
The purely mechanical structure provides high reliability.
Enhances the vehicle's off-road capability.
4:Principle:
Vehicles equipped with a transfer case have a shift lever with four positions: 2H (two-wheel drive), 4H (four-wheel drive), N (neutral), and 4L (low-range high-torque four-wheel drive). The transfer case derives an additional output shaft from the transmission and transfers power to the front axle via a silent chain. By shifting the transfer case lever, the power can be engaged or disengaged from the front drive axle, enabling switching between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.
The "4L" mode of the transfer case changes the torque by using another set of gears with a higher gear ratio (similar to a geared bicycle) to help overcome steep slopes or difficult road conditions when manually engaged by the driver.
5:Further reading:
The "Super Select 4WD" is Mitsubishi's term for their transfer case. It is also a part-time four-wheel drive transfer case, similar in structure to a standard part-time four-wheel drive transfer case, but with the addition of a center differential. When in 4H mode, it allows for high-speed driving on loose surfaces and also provides highway four-wheel drive functionality on regular roads. The 4HLC and 4LLC options provided by this transfer case lock the center differential, offering the same functionality as the 4H and 4L modes of a regular part-time four-wheel drive system. This type of transfer case is commonly used in Mitsubishi off-road vehicles.
