[vwang0000]

Hi, I have a question here and maybe you can help me.

For SR5 or TE, try to avoid making a turn on a dry road which not allow
tire to slide, otherwise it may damage the drivetrain. OK, pls imagine the following situation:At snowing evening, before I make a turn, the city road look like slippery so I engage 4WD. But after I finished the turning I find the road not slippery as I expected, it is more like a dry road. So my vehicle maybe damaged because it turns on a non-slippery road. If this is true, then
it is very difficult to drive because you have to judge the road condition 100% accurate otherwise your 4 runner will be damaged!

3 days ago, I test drove SR5 on dry city street. the dealer said as long as I do not make sharp turn, then it is fine. I test drove and made some 90 degree turns. I found the turning is very smooth. So, the dealer maybe correct otherwise he would not let me to turn the SR5 to damage it.

I am confused now.

[JB.]

Yes, avoid sharp turns and you're fine. If you have to turn sharply, it's no reason to panic. Just try to avoid it.

Using part-time 4WD on dry pavement (TE - SR5)

[LightRanger]

^^^ Ditto. Don't make a habit of turning the wheel full-lock on dry pavement, and don't stress about it.

The driveline is built to take a beating. A little bit of occasional bind isn't going to do much.

[FrontRange4Runner]

You will die. Period. If the drive terrain suffers the slightest binding, it detonates immediately.

Lol in all honesty.... When you feel that it is slippery out, engage 4wd and proceed with life. No harm will be done. A small patch of dry pavement will do nothing and these types of stresses are engineered in into the drive terrain. Systems like this have been in use for 40+ years by many different manufactures and they have proven to be extremely reliable. You will eventually damage the vehicle if you drive on dry surfaces (4wd engaged obv) with the wheel turned sharply one way or the other, but it will take multiple times doing so, or a very heavy foot.

The Toyota 120\150 platform is used all over the world, and is famous for durability and reliability. Its used in the harshest conditions for yeas without failure. Accidentally driving on dry roads with 4wd engaged is not a big deal.

[vwang0000]

thank all of you! I understand now. it is the same principle as driving a standard transmission. By theory, if you stall the vehicle by release the clutch too quick or
forget to put it in neutral gear when parking, you will wear the gear or even damage it.
But in reality, it won't if this not happen too much. I have been driving stick for many years and the car was stalled a few time every year and nothing happened.

thanks again

[ZO6_Vette]

I would not stress over road conditions, if you feel you need 4wd then engage it.
Driving normally on dry pavement for short periods should not cause any issues.

My father in law has a 1963 Jeep CJ manual trans in the barn that the previous owner drove from Colorado to New York with 4WD engaged, Jeep still drives fine today.

[Greg_Canada]

Its fine if it goes wet to dry to wet. You just dont want to drive on it dry for extended periods. Once you get back on the snow it will let the binding out of the drivetrain.

[Jeremy556]

I don't understand why this is an issue for so many people. It is the same type of 4wd system used on pretty much every pickup since the dawn of time and most SUvs until the last few years. As long as you are not doing figure 8s in a walmart parking lot in August, its fine.

[JB.]

Originally Posted by Jeremy556

I don't understand why this is an issue for so many people. It is the same type of 4wd system used on pretty much every pickup since the dawn of time and most SUvs until the last few years. As long as you are not doing figure 8s in a walmart parking lot in August, its fine.

Because many people search the internet to try to find out and doing so, in general, doesn't paint a pretty picture. The page below usually shows up early in the search results.

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/axle-wind-up.html

The infinite range of opinion on the subject is why I did the experiments that resulted in the thread linked earlier. I wasn't happy flipping a coin to decide who to believe.

It's funny because if a people simply use 4wd only when necessary (and 10 miles a month per the manual qualifies as necessary), everything pretty much takes care of itself.

[Canazes9]

Originally Posted by JB.

Because many people search the internet to try to find out and doing so, in general, doesn't paint a pretty picture. The page below usually shows up early in the search results.

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/axle-wind-up.html

The infinite range of opinion on the subject is why I did the experiments that resulted in the thread linked earlier. I wasn't happy flipping a coin to decide who to believe.

It's funny because if a people simply use 4wd only when necessary (and 10 miles a month per the manual qualifies as necessary), everything pretty much takes care of itself.

They seem to be indicating the cause of the blown-up transfer case is 150 miles on dry pavement. Then I saw the real cause:

The image above is the transfer case of my Jeep Grand Cherokee after accidentally driving about for 150 miles in part time 4WD on the freeway. It exploded at about 70 mph.

Ahh! That explains it....

David

[LandCruiser]

Toyota could have spent a few extra bucks and given the 4Runner a center diff, allowing for use of 4WD on road with the diffs unlocked.

Cheap bastards.

[Canazes9]

Originally Posted by LandCruiser

Toyota could have spent a few extra bucks and given the 4Runner a center diff, allowing for use of 4WD on road with the diffs unlocked.

Cheap bastards.

Limited?

David

[LandCruiser]

Originally Posted by Canazes9

Limited?

David

TE, which is allegedly the OFF ROAD version, doesn't have a center diff.

I've driven on snowy roads that alternate between slush and dry tarmac and have experienced drivetrain binding when I have to turn. This isn't a 1970s Subaru, and having to babysit the t-case shifter based on varying road conditions is irritating.

[Canazes9]

Originally Posted by LandCruiser

TE, which is allegedly the OFF ROAD version, doesn't have a center diff.

I've driven on snowy roads that alternate between slush and dry tarmac and have experienced drivetrain binding when I have to turn. This isn't a 1970s Subaru, and having to babysit the t-case shifter based on varying road conditions is irritating.

Wow!

You sure do like to complain about Toyota! So they make a model designed for what you want to do. You bought a different model. Now its Toyota's fault!

Believe it or not, people take their Limited's off road all the time. I hear tell they work very well for this purpose!

David

[LandCruiser]

A lack of a center diff on a modern off road vehicle is just cheap, it's also asinine to think that the only time someone would want to engage 4x4 is when they're crossing the Rubicon because only hard core off roaders should even get within 10 feet of a Trail Edition. Everyone else should just get the Limited, in case it snows on the way to soccer practice.

I had an FJ Cruiser 6MT, which had a proper full time 4WD system which gripped every kind of road surface like a spider monkey on meth. You're telling me Toyota can't be bothered to dust off a center diff and include it in their flagship off road 4Runner? They have money to piss away to make sure my Pandora plays right on bluetooth and puddle lights so my pumps won't get dirty when I step out on the curb.