Originally Posted by DAW89446

Getting your ten monthly miles in 4x4 is easy if you have maintained dirt roads around your area. I live in an area where dirt roads outnumber paved ones, though my road is paved. Any time I go down a dirt road, I put my ‘18 SR5 in 4HI just to keep the shifting mechanisms limber and the greases and oils doing their job. And with winter weather here, the truck is in 4WD more than 2WD anyways due to snow, ice and mud.

If you have the J gate lever transfer case shifter (TRD models) grinding just happens occasionally. No worries. My SR5 has the electronic dial shifter, but before my T4R I had a ‘02 Tacoma TRD Off Road. I’d grind gears now and then. The same with all my previous 4x4 trucks all the way back to my 1970 Ford F250 4x4. The Tacoma went to my grandson when I got the T4R and it is still going strong at over 225,000 miles with no repairs.

Originally Posted by BlueRunner428

Well neither system literally locks all four wheels together, what happens is there are two drive shafts, one going to the rear axle and one to the front axle. With the part-time system, you normally operate in 2WD and thus have just the rear driveshaft turning and delivering power to the rear axle. When 4Hi is engaged, the transfer case connects the front driveshaft and rear driveshsfts together via a chain so they both rotate together. Whereas with the full-time system on the Limited, the front and rear driveshafts are always engaged, but there is a center differential separating them that allows them to rotate independently of one another. Locking this differential creates the same effect as the part-time system and in both cases, since the driveshafts are locked together, it is bad to be on bare pavement if making turns as it will strain the drivetrain components. However, both axles have differentials that allow each wheel to still turn independently of the opposite wheel on that axle, so all four wheels aren't per se locked together. To lock them, you'd need locking differentials. Off-Road trim 4Runners come with a rear locker and all 4Runners have the A-trac system which simulates lockers via the braking system.

AWD generally means an active system that actively transfers torque to different wheels depending on how much grip each wheel has. Full-time 4WD is different from AWD. Automatic 4WD is also not the same as AWD.

The 4Runner is very unique in that it sort of has a combination 4WD/AWD system as the A-trac operates like a form of AWD system, except a locked center differential or conventional transfer case locks both axles together.

Originally Posted by BlueRunner428

So gear grinding doesn't damage the gears?

Originally Posted by BlueRunner428

So gear grinding doesn't damage the gears?

Originally Posted by 2021nightshade4x4

I have a Limited with AWD but have not used 4 lock or 4 low yet at 21k miles. Should I start now or don’t start because I’ve gone so long?


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Originally Posted by Bmnorm2

Start now. It’s not critical like changing your engine oil, but it helps to exercise the systems actuators, sensors, and mechanisms now and again. It also gives you confidence that when you do actually need it, it will work.

Originally Posted by Forgetful

You talking about the TRD manual shifter or the electric dial on SR5? Manual shifter definitely doesn't like hanging in neutral since the transmissions output somehow spins the input shaft to the transfer case and then you'll grind.

Originally Posted by BlueRunner428

So I did something stupid, kinda-sorta. Don't think I damaged anything but just want to make sure. I had the vehicle in 4Hi and was pulling into a parking space, making a sharp left. The parking lot was icy and snowy so I thought the wheels had plenty of slippage, but at this one particular spot, apparently not. So I was turning slowly (to the left) but it was like the front left wheel had too much grip, sort of jammed, then did a big hop/skip. I know you can break like a U-joint (?) or something if you make a sharp turn with too much resistance, just want to make sure I didn't do that? I am assuming no because I didn't hear anything snap.

Originally Posted by BlueRunner428

So I did something stupid, kinda-sorta. Don't think I damaged anything but just want to make sure. I had the vehicle in 4Hi and was pulling into a parking space, making a sharp left. The parking lot was icy and snowy so I thought the wheels had plenty of slippage, but at this one particular spot, apparently not. So I was turning slowly (to the left) but it was like the front left wheel had too much grip, sort of jammed, then did a big hop/skip. I know you can break like a U-joint (?) or something if you make a sharp turn with too much resistance, just want to make sure I didn't do that? I am assuming no because I didn't hear anything snap.