I am looking into buying a 1998 400 Explorer 4x4. It has a chain driven front wheel drive system. I was just curious about the reliability and efficiency of a chain instead of a shaft. If anyone has any information on this it would be greatly apreciated.

 

I have a 96 Explorer with the chain 4 wheel drive system and I haven't had any problems with it. Mine is actualy the three chain system and as long as you keep it maintained you shouldn't have problems with it I'm not sure if the 98 is a three chain system or not..

 

make sure you check the bearing carrier for the center to front chain make sure the bearings and seals are not shot. If you grab one of the sprokets and try to wiggle it up/down or side/side it shouldn't have any play in it.(make sure the bike is turned off when doing this)

This is a very common problem with the 3 chain system and a real pain in the butt to fix and after you fix it you have to adjust all 3 chains.(also very messy) It also causes the chain to jump which wears your chain and sprockets. Other than that it is a very good bike.

Good luck

 

Cowtit

Like Bubba said. As long as you lookafter the chains, sprockets and bearings, you will have a good bike and have no problems.

Replace the chains and sprockets together, rather than replacing a chain and not the sprockets, and vise versa.