4WD binds on sharp turns?

[Jidaran]

Not completely correct - 4HI is fine at high speeds IF you are driving in a straight line. In addition, many of the trucks (99-00 limiteds, 01-02 all trims) have multi-mode, which means you can drive in 4HI in any condition, as long as the center diff is open.

The buyers guide, already pinned to the top, has a pretty detailed write up in the differences between the transfer cases, including that you generally shouldn't drive on hard surfaces without an open center diff.

 

[Dieselchessy]

I wish i had gotten to this thread sooner. Bought a 96 SR5 4WD and had the tail slide out on me in the wet. So i popped it into 4HI and drove about 60miles on the freeway...

Just as I was pulling into my drive way i got the distinct smell of burning gear oil wafting through the cab and white smoke coming from under the hood. My front diff was leaking gear oil and you could tell from the metal fragments in the oil it was totalled. Fast forward to today and I have a replacement front diff installed.

Lesson learnt - 4HI on these vehicles isn't something you should be doing on dry surfaces or for that fact at high speed. The manual says to put the vehicle into 4HI once a month to keep the front carrier assembly lubricated but im going to be hesitant at doing that in the future.

This thread was very helpful in understanding the diff arrangements, wonder if it should make its way into the sticked post for first time buyers along with some health warnings.

All those warnings and info is in the Owners Manual, generally on a paper card in the visor, and sometimes on a sticker on the drivers door.

I'm not sure an Internet chat board is the place for first time 4x4 vehicle owners to learn how 4x4 works, but maybe. In my local our Dad's teach us about 4x4, camping, hunting, fishing, ect….

Having said that, there is no shortage of threads talking about Transfer case operation. There is even already a sticky, but in your case it seems not to have worked. In your defense, It does take a fair bit of drilling down through the stickies to get to it.

3rd gen T4Rs ->
3rd Gen Informational Threads --- A MUST READ For New Members ->
3rd Gen FAQ, Tutorials, & Documentation Reference v2 ->
T-case Differences (all years of 3rd gens).. transfer case, AWD, multi-mode

T-case Differences (all years of 3rd gens).. transfer case, AWD, multi-mode

 

[alumarine]

It was a used vehicle. Maybe the front diff was shot already.

Driving 60 miles on the freeway in 4Wd when it's dry should have no impact on it at all.

They don't automatically grenade when driven on dry surfaces in 4WD.
It should be avoided, but it happens often without consequence.

I wish i had gotten to this thread sooner. Bought a 96 SR5 4WD and had the tail slide out on me in the wet. So i popped it into 4HI and drove about 60miles on the freeway...

Just as I was pulling into my drive way i got the distinct smell of burning gear oil wafting through the cab and white smoke coming from under the hood. My front diff was leaking gear oil and you could tell from the metal fragments in the oil it was totalled. Fast forward to today and I have a replacement front diff installed.

Lesson learnt - 4HI on these vehicles isn't something you should be doing on dry surfaces or for that fact at high speed. The manual says to put the vehicle into 4HI once a month to keep the front carrier assembly lubricated but im going to be hesitant at doing that in the future.

This thread was very helpful in understanding the diff arrangements, wonder if it should make its way into the sticked post for first time buyers along with some health warnings.

 

[3bears]

this time of year im in 4wd everytime I drive...it is only out of 4wd to make sure it will switch back and forth to test it.....keep actuators working . Kind of like many of you put it into 4wd to test it and keep it lubricated .like the manual says to do often...for me opposite..I turn it off for a few miles every now and then.. True being in 4wd... it sucks fuel this time of year...(12mpg avg) it is maybe hard on some bearings. ..For me its survival.
AND I love my 4runner..it takes me anyplace I need to go ( thanks to locker) This time of year...if it wont get me where I need to go...then I don't need to go there

 

[daftwager]

Ok good to know that driving in 4wd shouldn't grenade the car if done on dry road.

Given my experience with the front diff I think I was a little nervous and looking online for similar things that have gone wrong.

Yes the vehicle was used so the front diff was probably already shot as said above.

 

[MikeGCA1986]

1999-2002 Limited 4runner's have multi-mode 4wd, where you can do 2HI, 4HI, 4LOW and AWD. If you don't have a limited, you shouldn't be using 4WD on dry pavement.
The multi-mode t-case's have a torsen limited slip differential installed, and you can run this on dry pavement (i use mine when there is light snow or heavy rain). 4HI is best offroad or heavy (constant) snow. A locking differential is similar to putting the t-case into 4HI... it locks both front and rear output shafts together so they spin the same speed. AWD lets front and rear shafts spin different speeds so you can drive on higher traction surfaces without binding.

I have a ‘98 with AWD, 4h, 4l and locking rr diff(multi-mode). I drove on dry pavement in a parking lot in AWD mode after getting my t-case and diffs serviced but when I turned into a space, I had the same issue of binding. If AWD is similar to an open diff, why would i have the binding?

 

[itskohler]

I have a ‘98 with AWD, 4h, 4l and locking rr diff(multi-mode). I drove on dry pavement in a parking lot in AWD mode after getting my t-case and diffs serviced but when I turned into a space, I had the same issue of binding. If AWD is similar to an open diff, why would i have the binding?

98s don't have AWD. You have 2H, 4H, and 4L. If you were in 4H your front wheels will skid on dry pavement if turning sharply.