A little help understanding 4wd

[jsmarine]

Read this, it should help clear things up. Especially the part about the difference between 4WD and AWD. Four-wheel drive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EDIT: You will get a lot of different answers on here from this thread. Read the above and you will have a better understanding of 4x4 in general and that will help you understand YOUR 4runner's 4x4 system.

 

[turbodudey2]

Doesn't that contradict what everyone else is saying? I think I'm more confused now then before I started this thread, lol.

He was referring to the newer model that has the center differential. Your truck doesn't have the center diff, and that's the reason you get a little bind in 4wd.

Your truck (and mine) does not have a "bad" design, it just is what it is. And when used properly, you'll have no problems.

The bottom line is you do not need to be afraid to use 4wd or that something is going to break. If you're on dry pavement, you simply don't need 4wd, and if you happen to be in 4wd for brief periods of time you'll be fine.

You can't go wrong by being overly cautions, but there's really no reason to be concerned about using 4wd on pavement. That's what the Toyota engineers say, and I'm a mechanical engineer myself, and I'm inclined to agree. Lot's of these other guys have good info and correct info, but not many have real engineering experience.

 

[Muti007]

Do you have a button on your 4wd shifter that says "4wd"? Around 1999 some 4runners and surfs got a center diff, which made it possible to drive in 4wd on dry pavement. I can only drive in 4HI on dry pavement by pressing the 4wd button WITHOUT moving the transfer case shifter from 2HI) As long as the amber light is off the truck can be in 4HI all day, and apart from the green tires displayed on the dash 4wd display, the difference on dry pavement between 2 and 4wd is almost none.
You can also check out the 3rd gen section of this:
Toyota 4Runner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I do not have a button on the 4wd shifter, just the shifter.

 

[brian2sun]

I don't have engineering experience, but I've seen a few t-cases grenade because of misuse. I agree that driving in 4x4 on pavement in little spurts will take a long time to do damage and if you're going down a straight highway, it probably won't do any damage at all. But if you take a sharp turn at say 30 or 35 mph on pavement while in 4Hi, you'll bind the drivetrain up a bit and that's not a good thing. Too much of that and it will break over time.

 

[bigtimeweb]

Do you have a button on your 4wd shifter that says "4wd"? Around 1999 some 4runners and surfs got a center diff...

How bout on the left dash panel?

 

[Muti007]

How bout on the left dash panel?

Nope.

 

[brian2sun]

Multi007, a '97 SR5 will not have a push-button of any kind for 4WD. You (like me) just have a manual lever. The '97 Limiteds had push button 4WD (but still not AWD yet).

 

[Muti007]

Multi007, a '97 SR5 will not have a push-button of any kind for 4WD. You (like me) just have a manual lever. The '97 Limiteds had push button 4WD (but still not AWD yet).

Thanks, and thanks to everyone else. I think I do have a better understanding now.

 

[jrm27]

This is an informative thread! Not to thread-jack, but would someone explain the semi-AWD on the 01 and 02 models?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

This is an informative thread! Not to thread-jack, but would someone explain the semi-AWD on the 01 and 02 models?

You can either run it with the center differential unlock, which is fine for turning, or lock, offroad.

 

[Mr. Leary]

I know unsound stupid, but I kinda don't get it. What's the point of 4wd if so many conditions can break expensive components? And how could you possibly be in a situation where u just can't turn? What if you just have to

You will be able to turn just fine with an open front diff, which you have unless somebody has messed with it.

He was referring to the newer model that has the center differential. Your truck doesn't have the center diff, and that's the reason you get a little bind in 4wd.

Your truck (and mine) does not have a "bad" design, it just is what it is. And when used properly, you'll have no problems.

The bottom line is you do not need to be afraid to use 4wd or that something is going to break. If you're on dry pavement, you simply don't need 4wd, and if you happen to be in 4wd for brief periods of time you'll be fine.

You can't go wrong by being overly cautions, but there's really no reason to be concerned about using 4wd on pavement. That's what the Toyota engineers say, and I'm a mechanical engineer myself, and I'm inclined to agree. Lot's of these other guys have good info and correct info, but not many have real engineering experience.

I agree. Not sayin drive it around in 4wd on pavement all the time, but you have to really bind it up to cause a catastrophic failure... trust me, if it caused immediate damage, there would have been a lot of buzz when these thing first started getting broken in the late 90s. Its just not good for it... kinda like going to long without an oil change... you may not notice the extra wear right away, but you will wear out those parts much sooner.

 

[quicksilvr]

I know unsound stupid, but I kinda don't get it. What's the point of 4wd if so many conditions can break expensive components? And how could you possibly be in a situation where u just can't turn? What if you just have to

Hahaha, I see your confusion and frustration. Don't use 4wd unless you need it. You should only need it when the surface you are driving on is less than ideal (snow, rocks, dirt, etc).

The main point is: If you put it in 4Hi and do donuts on dry pavement until the cows come home, you might break something. But if you are in 4Hi, and do a little driving on dry pavement for whatever reason, you'll be fine. You can stop, turn, etc without any problems. The tires will just scrub a little if you make a tight slow turn on dry pavement. It won't break anything. The tires should easily break their adhesion to the ground before the transfer case blows up.

 

[Muti007]

Hahaha, I see your confusion and frustration. Don't use 4wd unless you need it. You should only need it when the surface you are driving on is less than ideal (snow, rocks, dirt, etc).

The main point is: If you put it in 4Hi and do donuts on dry pavement until the cows come home, you might break something. But if you are in 4Hi, and do a little driving on dry pavement for whatever reason, you'll be fine. You can stop, turn, etc without any problems. The tires will just scrub a little if you make a tight slow turn on dry pavement. It won't break anything. The tires should easily break their adhesion to the ground before the transfer case blows up.

THATS what I didnt get! :smashputer: Thanks man!:guitar2:

 

[adder70]

As long as the amber light is off the truck can be in 4HI all day, and apart from the green tires displayed on the dash 4wd display, the difference on dry pavement between 2 and 4wd is almost none.

I think there are definite differences, especially on the older light gray roads that can get quite "greasy" in rainy conditions. You get much better acceleration, the lack of which almost bit me once when turning left onto a busy road. It sucks to be spinning a tire with little to no acceleration and watching a car come at you at about 40 mph.

Also, drifting in 2WD in the rain can be quite entertaining, and a 4Runner in 4WD (unlocked) just tracks well with even a little understeer even with lots of gas in a slippery corner. No fun at all!!

 

[Beagle(4)Runner]

In reading the owners manuel for my 99 SR5, it says to run the 4hi 10 miles a month to keep the front diff lubricated. How many of you guys do this? There would seem to be more months than not that you would be running on dry pavement.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

In reading the owners manuel for my 99 SR5, it says to run the 4hi 10 miles a month to keep the front diff lubricated. How many of you guys do this? There would seem to be more months than not that you would be running on dry pavement.

I drive at least 10 miles every month in 4wd hi on dry roads.

 

[4Runner8]

okay lil thread jack for a second: me and my dad are looking at buyin a 4wd 4runner and selling the 2wd cause we need it for the winters in NC where we bought a mountain house... its awesome.... but anyways we were thinkin jsut buy another 4th gen but i like the 3rd gens and they are cheaper which my dad likes too haha so the big question is what would be more capable off road and a better choice to buy: a 3rd gen with the available center diff lock so we can run 4wd full time like you can in the 4th gens or to find one with just the regular 4wd or with rear locker.... i know rear locked 3rd gens are more capable but thats for more of take your 4runner to local orv park then using to climb VERY steep grades on dirt roads that get really muddy when wet and icy and snowy during winter. i like the idea of the ones with the center diff lock because you can put in 4wd for light icy conditions or just light off road fun on the week ends and then lock center diff if you get into trouble. im not sure of what i really want yet and dont want to regret the one we buy. so basically i want to know whats better to look for. most likely i will just look for the best buy with lowest miles in best condition and if it comes with the rear locker thats awesome or with center diff thats awesome. thanks for any help and sorry for writing an essay. haha

 

[Qyota]

99-00 limited (and some SR5, I believe) give you the greatest flexibility in 3rd gen 4x4. If that's what you want, go for it. If you just want 4x4, you can't go wrong with any 3rd gen.

 

[4Runner8]

thats what i was thinking.... i have found a good bit of 99+ for descently good prices. some i have found with rear lockers and some with center diffs but mostly just plain old 4x4's. ill have to let my dad take a look for review.... i give him the knowledge that i learn from here and know a 1000 times more about 4runners then him but he makes final decisions hahah. thanks

 

[brian2sun]

If you want the best of both worlds, get a '99 or '00 Limited w/ a rear locker. The Limiteds of these years have the multi-mode 4x4 (aka center diff) and some have the rear locker too. '01s and '02s (all models) have the multi-mode, but the rear lockers were discontinued on these years.

Regular 4x4 and a rear locker will get you farther on the trails or in bad conditions than a 4runner with just the multi-mode. The multi-mode won't do any better or worse off road than a normal 4x4, but at least you won't have to toggle between 2hi and 4hi in light icy conditions and such. That's why the '99 and '00 Limiteds are the best - you have 2hi, 4hi, 4lo, AWD, and (if equipped) a rear locker too.