4WD question

[Integraholic]

As it sits, I know it's not good to run in 4WD on pavement. The sun visor says slippery roads though. Now does this mean a snow covered road or what? I don't want to be driving along and hit a clear spot and screw something up. So what kind of guide should I be following here?

 

[s2kpuddydad]

I am no expert I can only speak from my experience with using the 4 wheel drive. I drove on I95 from the state of NJ to North Carolina in 4 wheel high. I did this because the weather was so bad and the roads were slick. In all the miles I drove the road conditions changed many times from snow covered to dry and clear then back to ice and snow. The truck and the 4 wheel drive system worked flawlessly throughout the trip. Once I made it back home here in Florida I checked over everything and changed all fluids. The oil came out clean and everything mechanical checked out fine.

From my experience the 4 wheel high is fine to use on hard pavement.

 

[techno]

I consider most snow covered roads to be slippery. Thats a good condition to warrant 4wd and don't be too bothered by small patches of non-snow, you won't harm anything. It takes a good couple of miles on winding dry hard top to cause any problems.

Experience will come soon enough on when you need 4wd. A couple of things to think about though; when there's no other carrs around, brake moderately hard and if you lock up immediately, it's time for 4wd. Also, are you spinning the rear end at the lights? If so its time for 4wd. Constantly feel like you're understeering? It's time for 4wd.

 

[fourwd1]

I definetly means snow covered, or partially snow covered, slushy, etc. Even a rain slicked road if you think it would help.

Just remember, even in 4HI, your part-time 4WD system not really meant for high speeds (and if you can go fast, you don't really need 4WD).

 

[Integraholic]

Well I was in a parking lot at work and I slipped it into 4 HI. When I moved, the drivetrain binded up quite a lot. This was also barely moving. I didn't think it was normal, but then again I've never had a 4wd vehicle before. When I bought the truck, the front driveshaft had been removed and since replaced. Even with the shaft out, I put it in 4 hi and 4 lo and the truck drove fine, so I'm going to assume the actual t-case is good. Maybe my hubs are malfunctioning?

edit : I know I have a bad half shaft, but it doesn't affect anything in 2wd. Could this still be my problem as well?

 

[s2kpuddydad]

I definetly means snow covered, or partially snow covered, slushy, etc. Even a rain slicked road if you think it would help.

Just remember, even in 4HI, your part-time 4WD system not really meant for high speeds (and if you can go fast, you don't really need 4WD).

:iagree:

 

[03vrod]

It's not good to drive on dry roads in 4wd you can break parts of your drivetrain,rain ,grass,snow,ice,mud anything where the traction can slip a little is fine.Unlike subarus there are no clutches to slip in the toyota drivetrain.You can shift from 2wd to 4wd hi any time so when it's dry put it in 2 and if it gets wet 4 hi.You said it binded up in the parking lot pull it off the pavement and you'll see it's not binding up anymore.Have fun in Indy this winter I'm sure it will come in handy and soon.On the half shaft when it starts making noises when you turn it that's when you need to replace it most of the time they will let you know in advance before they break.They're not to bad to change though.

 

[the_dingman]

The reason they say this is that there is no differential between the front and rear axles, and no matter what you are doing, one front, and one rear wheel are moving at the same speed. This wears on your tires, however the slip from slippery roads reduces it.

Honestly, I've driven both my 1st gens in 4WD up to 60MPH on snowy roads without issue. I love going cruising in 4 inches of snow on country backroads, and no matter how much I do it I'm amazed at how much my truck grips the road.

In snowy conditions I'll often lock my front hubs so I can shift in and out of 4WD at speed (manual hubs, manual transmission), and have done so even at highway speeds.

I will be the first to say that what I do is not recommended by anyone who knows what they are doing, but neither of my 4Runners have ever let me down.

 

[fishrod]

You can shift from 2wd to 4wd hi any time so when it's dry put it in 2 and if it gets wet 4 hi.

I was wondering about this. So there is no real max speed you should limit yourself to for changing from 2HI to 4HI??

My dad had a 93 Landcruiser, and it had specific instructions under the visor to not change from 2HI to 4HI unless you were doing less than 20km/h or something.

The landcruiser was a bit different, it had a button to change from 2HI to 4HI and then the little gear stick to change from 4HI to 4LO.

I just assumed you should still only change at low speeds.

 

[n8buddy]

there are max speeds for shifting into 4hi and 4lo. from 2hi to 4hi the max (according to instructions in visor) is 50mph and from 4hi to 4lo is 5mph.

 

[Integraholic]

Update:

Had my best friend (toyota tech) look at the truck. We've come to the conclusion that there appears to be two different gear ratios going on. The rears are spinning faster than the fronts. We're gonna throw it up on the lift later this week and get a closer look.

 

[fishrod]

there are max speeds for shifting into 4hi and 4lo. from 2hi to 4hi the max (according to instructions in visor) is 50mph and from 4hi to 4lo is 5mph.

Good to know, thanks!!

 

[the_dingman]

Update:

Had my best friend (toyota tech) look at the truck. We've come to the conclusion that there appears to be two different gear ratios going on. The rears are spinning faster than the fronts. We're gonna throw it up on the lift later this week and get a closer look.

:wow2:

 

[Integraholic]

:wow2:

Yeah, I know, right? I couldn't imagine how someone could screw that up.

 

[fishrod]

there are max speeds for shifting into 4hi and 4lo. from 2hi to 4hi the max (according to instructions in visor) is 50mph and from 4hi to 4lo is 5mph.

I tried this out on the weekend and there was no way I was getting it into 4HI from 2HI doing anything over about 15MPH. Going the other way it was fine.
It was like trying to change back into 1st gear while doing 50 along the highway, just wouldnt budge!

 

[n8buddy]

i find i do have to tug on the shifter pretty hard sometimes for it to go, but it is supposed to so if yours wont at all there might be something wrong with it. did you try driving in 4wd for a while, then put it back into 2hi, get up to speed and try again?

 

[fishrod]

i find i do have to tug on the shifter pretty hard sometimes for it to go, but it is supposed to so if yours wont at all there might be something wrong with it. did you try driving in 4wd for a while, then put it back into 2hi, get up to speed and try again?

Nar dont think so. Ill have another look next time I head up the mountain.

 

[the_dingman]

I was out in the snow last week to rescue my wife who ended up in the ditch. I was shifting in and out of 4WD at up to 55MPH with no resistance at all. It should shift almost smoother than your transmission.

 

[Ulfr]

I tried this out on the weekend and there was no way I was getting it into 4HI from 2HI doing anything over about 15MPH. Going the other way it was fine.
It was like trying to change back into 1st gear while doing 50 along the highway, just wouldnt budge!

Might be cause of wrong tranny oil or maybe it's stiff because of not bein' used for quite while.
I've once had this problem and replacing the fluid was the remedy for me.
Sometimes I need to use the clutch to get it out from 4wd but never goin' from 2hi to 4hi.

Also, drivin' straight on a dry pavement wont damage your 4wd, but it's normal to find abit of "binding" if you try hard turns... (that's not really healthy for the transfer...)

Usually when I see it's gettin' slippery I just put it in 4hi and unless I can find some binding while turning I just keep it in 4hi..

 

[fishrod]

Might be cause of wrong tranny oil or maybe it's stiff because of not bein' used for quite while.
I've once had this problem and replacing the fluid was the remedy for me.
Sometimes I need to use the clutch to get it out from 4wd but never goin' from 2hi to 4hi.

Wouldnt surprise me if the fluids were not the right type. Dodgy @#$@#$'s who changed my fluids last year. Quoted a nice low price, hell even fixed a couple things for nothing. Take it to them for my next service. They come out telling me I need all new CV joints and suspsension all round. Plus some other BS. Roughly $2000 worth. Pi55 off!!

Take it to another place and they laugh at me and tell me the suspensions fairly new (just like the guy who sold it to me said)


Anyway, it cant be that its stiff really. I use 4HI at least once a week for a 30km climb up and down the ski hill around here. Just wont change into 4HI at speeds. Ill try a few things this week when I go up and see how it goes.