I thought the 4 just ment AWD?

 

I did too, but mine is AWD. I've been under it to look and it definitely is AWD but the emblem on the back says STS. I've seen others that say STS4 that look just like mine.

 

I believe the 4 was added to later units.

 

The 4 stands for 4 wheel drive. The STS is NOT AWD. All wheel drive is when either the front or rear drives the vehicle until it meets a slipping of those wheels and then the other wheels kick in creating AWD. On the STS4 the rear wheels get 60% of the engines power all the time and the front wheels get 40% of the power all the time. Hence, 4 wheel drive.:thumbsup:
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With gas almost $4, may the 4 stands for 4 cyl. Check carefully under hood. GM had a ton of L-4 engines left over when they discontinued the Celebrity and Lumina. Helps CARF too.

 

Actually the all wheel, 4 wheel drive thing is very confusing.

It really simply has to do with the configuration of whatever system they use.
I think adding the 4 to the AWD option vehicle was a mid year change.
I think all the newer STS and SRX with this option have the STS4 logo on them.

Which wheel "gets the power" depends on how you drive it.
I am not too familiar with the specific hardware they use on that vehicle since I don't deal with those systems a lot.
4WD is typically used to describe something with a selectable feature like "auto 4WD" or hi or low ranges.

Don't ask me for specifics because frankly I think the whole automotive industry is confused about this AWD, 4WD business.
Cadillac does refer to our systems as AWD.

 

Actually the all wheel, 4 wheel drive thing is very confusing.

It really simply has to do with the configuration of whatever system they use.
I think adding the 4 to the AWD option vehicle was a mid year change.
I think all the newer STS and SRX with this option have the STS4 logo on them.

Which wheel "gets the power" depends on how you drive it.
I am not too familiar with the specific hardware they use on that vehicle since I don't deal with those systems a lot.
4WD is typically used to describe something with a selectable feature like "auto 4WD" or hi or low ranges.

Don't ask me for specifics because frankly I think the whole automotive industry is confused about this AWD, 4WD business.
Cadillac does refer to our systems as AWD.

A 4 wheel drive vehicle has no center differential, just a transfer case. The four wheel drive should not be used on paved roads. AWD vehicles like the STS option have a center differential. This allows all the wheels on the car to travel at the different speeds required to negotiate a corner on a paved road. The STS center differential also gives a 40-60 torque split between the front and rear. My guess is that the 4 was added to later units.

 

The STS AWD and STS4 are the same. The 4 has been part of the STS emblem since day one if you have the AWD option. If your car has AWD and doesn't have the 4 next to the STS emblem, then it was removed.

 

The STS AWD and STS4 are the same. The 4 has been part of the STS emblem since day one if you have the AWD option. If your car has AWD and doesn't have the 4 next to the STS emblem, then it was removed.

That's weird because I've seen more AWD STS's without the 4 than with it on dealers lots. Why would the dealer remove the 4?

 

I think part of an above statement is right.
I don't recall seeing an AWD STS without the 4.
I was thinking of the SRX when I said they added the 4 mid year.
The AWD SRX did not have the 4 until recently.

I don't know why someone would remove the 4.
Is your STS AWD a V8 or a V6?
The ones I have seen with the 4 are V8's.

GM transfer cases almost all use a "viscous clutch" inside the transfer case (what you seem to refer to as a "differential", to compensate for rotational speed differences. I can't really say much more.
I have no love for AWD or 4WD.

 

I think part of an above statement is right.
I don't recall seeing an AWD STS without the 4.
I was thinking of the SRX when I said they added the 4 mid year.
The AWD SRX did not have the 4 until recently.

I don't know why someone would remove the 4.
Is your STS AWD a V8 or a V6?
The ones I have seen with the 4 are V8's.

GM transfer cases almost all use a "viscous clutch" inside the transfer case (what you seem to refer to as a "differential", to compensate for rotational speed differences. I can't really say much more.
I have no love for AWD or 4WD.

Ref: page 4-194 '06 STS FSM, The Borg warner(BW) model 4479, transfer case is a one-speed, all wheel drive(AWD), transfer case. The transfer case provides power to both axles through an external planetary type differential, which has 2 different sets of pinion gears. The planetary differential provides a 40/60 torque split, front/rear, full time... The BW 4479 design of the planetary differential allows the use with the vehicle stability enhancement system(VSES) vehicles. I see no mention of a viscous clutch.
Years ago Zora Arkus-Duntoff had built a Chevy Engineering Research Vehicle, an open wheel racer, that used the torque converter from a Corvair to drive the front wheels. Jaguar used a power take-off on the countershaft of the manual transmission to get the torque split. As far as I know the first AWD to use a planetary differential to get the torque split was a British Ferguson. Mercedes uses an electronic center differential. I think some Fords and MoPars use a viscous clutch. I don't know about other GM models. All I needed to see the advantage of AWD was to watch how the Audi Quattros driven by Hans Stuck and Walter Rohrl with steel bodies blew away the Camaros and Mustangs with tube chassis and fiberglass bodies in the Trans Am series. The turbo charged 5 cylinder motors put out tremendous power and the handling in the corners was unbelievable.

 

I wouldn't know why either as to why they want to take the "4" emblem off, really doesn't make any sense. However, the "4" has always been there for the AWD version of the STS. It wasn't until 2006 that they added the AWD "4" option to the V6 models. The V8 models had it as an option since they came out in late 2004. Here is a picture of a 2005 STS AWD. You can see the whole ad on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-S...OADED-29-895_W0QQitemZ250115611083QQihZ015QQcategoryZ124117QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I wouldn't know why either as to why they want to take the "4" emblem off, really doesn't make any sense. However, the "4" has always been there for the AWD version of the STS. It wasn't until 2006 that they added the AWD "4" option to the V6 models. The V8 models had it as an option since they came out in late 2004. Here is a picture of a 2005 STS AWD. You can see the whole ad on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-S...OADED-29-895_W0QQitemZ250115611083QQihZ015QQcategoryZ124117QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

What's strange here is that the "4"s that I remember seeing are larger than the one in the picture. In fact they are the same height as the STS. Is there a chance that the "4"s were added by dealers to enhance the sales?

 

hmmm....i don't know. That seems really strange if they would do that to increase sales. I haven't seen one any larger than what is on the car from the factory. It's really strange that yours is an AWD w/out the "4". Did you buy it new or used??

 

hmmm....i don't know. That seems really strange if they would do that to increase sales. I haven't seen one any larger than what is on the car from the factory. It's really strange that yours is an AWD w/out the "4". Did you buy it new or used??

I bought it new from a dealer and it had 49 miles on it. They had another on the lot with no "4" on it and one with a large "4". The window sticker says all wheel drive for $1900 extra. The tag on the spare tire cover lists the five speed automatic RPO MV3 which is specific to the AWD option and RPO MX7 AWD. I've been underneath it and it has a front drive shaft, a front differential and drive axles. It has a Northstar V8 and the performance is prodigeous.

 

The borg warners do use an open planetary gearset.
The New Venture gear cases use a viscous clutch. (typically).

The 4 is offset downward... not sure why.

 

The borg warners do use an open planetary gearset.
The New Venture gear cases use a viscous clutch. (typically).

The 4 is offset downward... not sure why.

New Venture is the merger of the old GM Muncie plant combined with Chrysler's New Process transmissions. That's the old Jeep Quadra-trac Morse chain fiasco.

 

I do know the 2005's with AWD did have the "4". Just to add some more confusion to the issue of AWD versus 4WD...I know that some of the older Lincoln Navigators has several selections via the dashboard switch.

2WD
AWD
4WD(Hi)
4WD(Low)

 

i always thought 4wd was a vehicle that was able to not power the front axel and AWD was the perminent engagement of the front axel

as far as STS4 AND SRX4
at the delaership i work out i see the SRX underwent a change this year where the srx with the AWD option now wears a smaller number 4 next to the SRX nameplate ....

I have only seen one awd STS and it had no 4 anywhere on the car , but the holes in the oilpan were full of cv axel so it was definatly awd we dont see many here in florida ....

I think SRX and STS got the number 4 for 2006.5

dokoz , did fairbanks get a cadillac dealer or are you still running down to anch to pick them up?

 

i always thought 4wd was a vehicle that was able to not power the front axel and AWD was the perminent engagement of the front axel

as far as STS4 AND SRX4
at the delaership i work out i see the SRX underwent a change this year where the srx with the AWD option now wears a smaller number 4 next to the SRX nameplate ....

I have only seen one awd STS and it had no 4 anywhere on the car , but the holes in the oilpan were full of cv axel so it was definatly awd we dont see many here in florida ....

I think SRX and STS got the number 4 for 2006.5

dokoz , did fairbanks get a cadillac dealer or are you still running down to anch to pick them up?

Fairbanks has had a Cadillac dealer for 60 years but they've always had issues. The latest guys that bought it just had to pay $1.1 million in fines and settlements to the attorney general of the state of Alaska for screwing the customers. I went to Anchorage and negotiated a 0 down and 0% interest deal with about $14,000 off the sticker price. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

As far as I know an AWD has ways and means to allow every wheel to turn at a different speed so it can be used on a surfaced road. If you drive in a little fresh snow and make a wide turn you can see that every wheel makes a different radius track in the snow. To do this every wheel has to be able to turn at its own speed. A four wheel drive humps up if you try to drive it on pavement with 4WD engaged.

 

I have an 07 sts4 badged car but its 2wd unless I'm missing something. I just bought it so idk...

 

Hence KAOS' response. None of us have any obvious indicator as to your level of knowledge or experience, so when you make posts like the above you are going to see responses like the ones you received.

 

Bro, the last post on this thread was 12.5 years ago.
At any rate, how do you figure it's only RWD?

 

I have an STS4, 2007 3.6L. It is all wheel drive, has over 200,000 miles on it and still drives like a champ. Gets 28.4 mpg @ 60 mph. I do all maintenance myself and check this site for all the difficult diagnosis. Bought car new with rear STS4 on trunk lid. Best investment of a vehicle I ever made.

 

Carlyl turn wheel all the way to the right, now you can see if you have a drive shaft going to the inside of your passenger side tire

 

Yes, cv axle. To me they are all drive shafts, would have called it out but some on this site not familiar with terminology. Thanks

 

I know what a cv axle is... No its rwd

 

Hence my post

 

I need No mechanical training. Just wondering if an sts4 can be 2wd. Mine is

 

The STS4 always refers to AWD. If it has the STS4 badge and isn't AWD it means someone added the badge.

 

That makes sense.

 

IS there a specific character in the VIN for these STS that indicates a AWD or RWD

 

Scroll back up to where dkoz listed the RPO code for AWD. RPO codes are on a tag under the spare tire cover. If you see the code on the tag, it's AWD.

 

@LsGsSTS Well look who it is. Been a minute since I've seen you in the STS forums.

@Old Lightning Those RPO codes will tell you everything you need to know, you can reference those codes online for all the details. Compnine is a good resource.

 

@LsGsSTS Well look who it is. Been a minute since I've seen you in the STS forums.

I resurfaced on the Escalade forum a couple weeks ago while doing research. I just purchased an 08 Lade a couple days ago. My STS is in winter storage and I'm currently rocking a 98 Riviera.

 

So I've been driving Suburbans for 20 years. I need a truck also and I love the burbs. It was time to move on from my 01 8.1l. But not being very thrilled with stepping down to the 5.3 motor, I decided to look at Lade/Denalis instead with the 6.2. Can't say how the Lade is yet as it's still 2000 miles away in Cali. My brother did the inspection/test drive as he did with my current Burb. Flying out first week of February to bring it home. Small price to pay for rust free beauties. Pics of my Burb are in my albums.

 

Your Suburban is pretty sweet, are you selling it?

 

I will be selling it after I get the Lade home, but those pics were shortly after I bought her 7 years ago. In the meantime, my brother and I built a log cabin in the woods and I worked her pretty hard. Hit a deer too. She's not so pretty anymore although mostly rust free still and runs great. One of my friends has already expressed interest to pull his camper with.