KidVermicious
New member
Sorry, that wasn't supposed to be a gotcha. Just honest surprise is all, and I wondered if I was misunderstanding you. 
Any workarounds to get full time 4WD in a 5th gen SR5
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Whiplash Willy
New member
Sorry, that wasn't supposed to be a gotcha. Just honest surprise is all, and I wondered if I was misunderstanding you.
No worries
I probley shouldn't have posted that based on my Assumptions.I know my pickup hasn't been through anything near as taxing as what you have taken yours through, which is probley why they were still working well when I sold it.
1engineer
Moderator
Me either. My questions were valid. Thanks for clarifying that though! Manual hubs require a LOT of attention. A lot more than the ADD system. Both are better than a switch though. [MENTION=92049]LandCruiser[/MENTION] put it best: (and I paraphrase) "I would rather have to jiggle my 4WD lever to get it to lock into 4HI than turn a switch and watch helplessly as that little green light blinks while I slide over a 1,000 foot cliff."
Izlu
New member
SR5 and Trail Edition part time 4WD is identical to full time 4WD, it can be driven in 4H all year round on any surface. What differs it from full time 4WD is that it can be driven in 2WD for better fuel economy. That being said, I haven't noticed any significant mileage improvement while driving in 2WD. I switch to 4H as the first snow falls and drive in 4H for the next 6 months, no switching back and forth between 2H/4H . Safety first, you know
Can you please explain in detail how do you unlock the center diff? It must be locked first in order to unlock it. I certainly wouldn't use center diff lock in the city ice or not, especially so on dry pavement and in tight turns, that would cause too much binding on drive train.
Trail Edition is the most capable 4Runner offroad wise IMHO so I want to upgrade to it.
eddiebx
New member
SR5 and Trail Edition part time 4WD is identical to full time 4WD, it can be driven in 4H all year round on any surface. What differs it from full time 4WD is that it can be driven in 2WD for better fuel economy. That being said, I haven't noticed any significant mileage improvement while driving in 2WD. I switch to 4H as the first snow falls and drive in 4H for the next 6 months, no switching back and forth between 2H/4H . Safety first, you know
Can you please explain in detail how do you unlock the center diff? It must be locked first in order to unlock it. I certainly wouldn't use center diff lock in the city ice or not, especially so on dry pavement and in tight turns, that would cause too much binding on drive train.
Trail Edition is the most capable 4Runner offroad wise IMHO so I want to upgrade to it.
Not sure how the Trail Editions and SR5 are over there in your country but over here we don't have a center differential, so it's not the same as the full-time 4WD on the Limited Edition.
So to answer your question, if your Trail Edition is the same as ours, there's no way to unlock the center differential because we don't have one
Izlu
New member
Sure, part time 4WD on TE is not identical to full time 4WD but it's similar that it can be used on any surface in any speed.
I think that being equipped with rear diff lock and Atrac TE is actually more capable than Limited with its Torsen center diff.
All local 4runners are imported from the States so obviously they are identical
What puzzles me is how the OP "unlocks" his center diff. As I already said a diff lock must be locked to be unlocked, not a good thing to do in the city.
I think that being equipped with rear diff lock and Atrac TE is actually more capable than Limited with its Torsen center diff.
All local 4runners are imported from the States so obviously they are identical
What puzzles me is how the OP "unlocks" his center diff. As I already said a diff lock must be locked to be unlocked, not a good thing to do in the city.
eddiebx
New member
Sure, part time 4WD on TE is not identical to full time 4WD but it's similar that it can be used on any surface in any speed.
I think that being equipped with rear diff lock and Atrac TE is actually more capable than Limited with its Torsen center diff.
All local 4runners are imported from the States so obviously they are identical
What puzzles me is how the OP "unlocks" his center diff. As I already said a diff lock must be locked to be unlocked, not a good thing to do in the city.
Oh okay, I think you're confusing OPs post...he's talking about a 4th gen, where there's actually a center diff to lock and unlock, lol.
Izlu
New member
Lol, me not being a native speaker it seems like we are talking different languages.
Let's put it simple, why would someone use a diff lock in city? Why shift back and forth to 2H/4H if you can leave it in 4H with minimal effect on mileage and handling/safety improvement?
P.S. I have 4th Gen Surf with center diff lock so I hope I'm familiar with how the center diff works. I want to upgrade to 2014 TE when I'll be able to afford it so any info about TE is useful.
Edit: changed wording as it looked too harsh than what I meant
Let's put it simple, why would someone use a diff lock in city? Why shift back and forth to 2H/4H if you can leave it in 4H with minimal effect on mileage and handling/safety improvement?
P.S. I have 4th Gen Surf with center diff lock so I hope I'm familiar with how the center diff works. I want to upgrade to 2014 TE when I'll be able to afford it so any info about TE is useful.
Edit: changed wording as it looked too harsh than what I meant
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KidVermicious
New member
You wouldn't, normally. In the US, "part time 4wd" and "full time 4wd" mean two very different and specific setups:
Part time 4wd - traditional 4wd set up, with a transfer case that allows switching from 2wd to 4wd, and normally includes a low range. Front and rear driveshafts are always spinning at the same speed when in 4wd.
Full time 4wd - 4wd designed to be used on all surfaces, sometimes referred to as "all wheel drive" when in a car or crossover. Has a differential between the front and rear driveshafts that allows them to turn at different rates relative to eachother and relieve driveline binding. Depending on manufacturer, full time 4wd vehicles MAY have a "diff lock" that ties the front and rear driveshafts together for greater traction at low speed, and MAY have a transfer case that allows operation in 2wd and/or low range, but not always.
Does that help at all? A truck with part time 4wd will shift in and out of 4wd as traction requirements dictate, because the price you pay for having a simpler drivetrain is less flexibility in how you use it, and a part time 4wd truck will experience binding if the tires have too much traction. Most drivers wouldn't do that with a full time 4wd setup - if there's any chance of bad traction, they'll stick it in 4wd and leave it there.
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Izlu
New member
Okay guys, having reread the OP and other posters I must admit I was wrong, the first time I read it from the wrong end somehow 
eace:
Hmm, no center diff in TE sounds like a huge disappointment to me now considering that I drive in 4WD for half a year at least. OTOH, with all those electronic aid systems in place I think it handles in 2WD equal to any other 2WD vehicle at least. Besides, shifting between 2H/4H is not a huge labor too :biggrin2:
Just curious if is it possible to add center differential to TE transfer case or swap it with 4th Gen transfer case?
eace:Hmm, no center diff in TE sounds like a huge disappointment to me now considering that I drive in 4WD for half a year at least. OTOH, with all those electronic aid systems in place I think it handles in 2WD equal to any other 2WD vehicle at least. Besides, shifting between 2H/4H is not a huge labor too :biggrin2:
Just curious if is it possible to add center differential to TE transfer case or swap it with 4th Gen transfer case?
I agree with what others have said - it is probably cheaper and easier to buy a Limited and change out the trim panels to make it look like a Limited.
Agree with your analysis here, though the towing power's not an issue for me. No conclusion yet...maybe to buy a Subaru Outback for the family car, keep the 4th gen as a beater or even go find an old Tacoma. Really only want one car though, which is challenge. 2WD for summer and highway mpg + full time 4WD for winter is what I want.
SR5 and Trail Edition part time 4WD is identical to full time 4WD, it can be driven in 4H all year round on any surface. What differs it from full time 4WD is that it can be driven in 2WD for better fuel economy. That being said, I haven't noticed any significant mileage improvement while driving in 2WD. I switch to 4H as the first snow falls and drive in 4H for the next 6 months, no switching back and forth between 2H/4H . Safety first, you know
Can you please explain in detail how do you unlock the center diff? It must be locked first in order to unlock it. I certainly wouldn't use center diff lock in the city ice or not, especially so on dry pavement and in tight turns, that would cause too much binding on drive train.
Trail Edition is the most capable 4Runner offroad wise IMHO so I want to upgrade to it.
Not true -- Toyota lists the 5th gen SR5 and TE as "part time" 4WD, because there's no center differential. On my 4th gen I can unlock the center diff with a simple button. When it locks it behaves exactly as you're describing -- it binds on pavement in tight turns, bad for the drivetrain. All the 5th gens I test drove (other than the limited) behaved the same way. Toyota explains it here on the model comparison page (make sure you set each one up as 4wd and click on the "mechanical" tab. Toyota 4Runner Interior, Exterior & Safety Features
nevada
Senior Member
is that sarcasm? I cant tell.
but either way, no they don't. unless you mean by attention as far as remembering to lock/unlock them.
use 4wd 2-3 times a year(like you should with any part time system) and the hubs will need nothing extra.
1engineer
Moderator
No, no sarcasm meant. Our weather here is a little different maybe. We can have a foot of snow and then a few days later be 50 degrees for a week. We can then drop below zero for a few days, then warm up to 40 and stay there for awhile. We then will get another 8" of snow and the cycle continues. Just in the last few weeks here we have went from 58 degrees to minus 6 degrees and have received over one and a half feet of snow, but not at once. It's 3 degrees outside right now and is supposed to be in the 50's this weekend.
Using 4WD 2-3 times a year? We can use 4WD 2-3 times a day between November and March! Yes, manual hubs require more attention than ADD especially at below zero temps.
nevada
Senior Member
ah yes. so you meant actually USING them.
I was thinking you meant KEEPING them working. as in, if you don't maintain them, they wont work when needed.
but still for your situation, just leave them locked in, and grab the lever. as far as the hubs are concerned, there is no additional attention needed.
True, not cheap. But I'd guess a Torsen center diff, shifter, and center console aren't cheap either.
Im interested in this too. Looks like the 2014+ 4WD 4Runners have three different Transfer Case Assemblies and two different Front Differentials.
The 2014 Trail and pre-2014 SR5 has a VF2A (manual shift lever) Transfer Case, while the 2014 SR5 has a VF2BM (selector switch controlled part-time 2wd), and the 2010+ Limited has a VF4BM (full time 4wd w/ Torsen).
The front differential on the 2010+ Trail and SR5 has an ADD (actuator) while the 2010+ Limited does not. It might be easier to upgrade an SR5 given its already selector switch activated.
At the very least you would need a VF4BM and a non-ADD Front Diff. But likely also a new 4WD ECU and other electronic parts. Someone correct me here if Im wrong?
The 2014 Trail and pre-2014 SR5 has a VF2A (manual shift lever) Transfer Case, while the 2014 SR5 has a VF2BM (selector switch controlled part-time 2wd), and the 2010+ Limited has a VF4BM (full time 4wd w/ Torsen).
The front differential on the 2010+ Trail and SR5 has an ADD (actuator) while the 2010+ Limited does not. It might be easier to upgrade an SR5 given its already selector switch activated.
At the very least you would need a VF4BM and a non-ADD Front Diff. But likely also a new 4WD ECU and other electronic parts. Someone correct me here if Im wrong?
