Can't make 4x4 handle not rattle/grind. What am I doing wrong?

[jaredking733]

Ok, so the last few Saturday's in a row, I've been helping my dad pull larger bushes with my runner. Being 4x4, it's much easier than with his 2wd truck, and the runner is a beast at that with the low gearing.

Anyways, it seems that when i shift from 2H to 4H, everything is smooth as butter. However, from 4H to 4L, the only way I can get a smooth shift is to turn the truck off, shift, turn it back on, which is what I've been doing as to not damage anything. Obviously, I'm doing so in neutral.

Then, when we're done, I can get back from 4L to 4H with minimal grinding, but it's still not perfectly smooth. Keep in mind I don't use 4L on dry pavement (except for once but kind of unavoidable).

I've read a lot here, and the instructions on the visor, but still don't seem to be able to pull it off correctly. Oh, and please don't fuss at me and tell me to read the manual. I don't have one. Wasn't there when I bought it :wink2:

I have a 97 SR5 with the J shifter. Any tips? Is this normal? Doesn't seem like it, but maybe I'm wrong.

Thanks all!

 

[BrianSD_42]

For the love of all that is holy make sure the truck is 100% STOPPED and in transmission N before shifting 4HI to 4LO or back to 4HI.

Some versions of the manual say the truck can be in motion. That was great when it was brand new but as these things age out you just cannot do it anymore while moving without hearing that damaging grind. I think it has to do with the syncros but I'm no mechanic.

Once I even had to turn the truck off in N to make the 4LOW switch. Whatever it takes but don't push it into gear, aka force it, when you feel that grinding.

 

[jaredking733]

For the love of all that is holy make sure the truck is 100% STOPPED and in transmission N before shifting 4HI to 4LO or back to 4HI.

Some versions of the manual say the truck can be in motion. That was great when it was brand new but as these things age out you just cannot do it anymore while moving without hearing that damaging grind. I think it has to do with the syncros but I'm no mechanic.

Once I even had to turn the truck off in N to make the 4LOW switch. Whatever it takes but don't push it into gear, aka force it, when you feel that grinding.

Definitely. I'm definitely 100% stopped for sure.

Yeah I won't force it, and with caution, I turn it off and the vibration I'm feeling may be relatively low. I don't have anything to compare it to being as this is the only 4x4 truck I've ever owned.

 

[WallyWest]

Personally, even on a brand new truck, I'd shut off the engine before shifting HI - LO. I've never driven one that didn't have some degree of grinding and that just seems bad to me.

But perhaps these new-fangled trucks are better in that regard, I still remember the near religious ritual my uncle went through putting his 1970-something Scout into 4WD. It was quite a production. That thing would go anywhere though.

 

[jaredking733]

Personally, even on a brand new truck, I'd shut off the engine before shifting HI - LO. I've never driven one that didn't have some degree of grinding and that just seems bad to me.

But perhaps these new-fangled trucks are better in that regard, I still remember the near religious ritual my uncle went through putting his 1970-something Scout into 4WD. It was quite a production. That thing would go anywhere though.

Ok, maybe that's what I need to do. In the rare instance I use 4L, just shut it off, shift, turn it back on. Do the same when i shift out of it.

 

[BrianSD_42]

If you start in 2HI, you can put it in 4HI (I have the button and can be moving), then you decide to put it in. 4LO. Ok. Stop. Neutral. Try to put it in 4LO. If it grinds then turn off the car in N. Put it in 4LO. Turn on the car. Put it in drive. Drive away.

Let me know if that doesn't work.

 

[jaredking733]

If you start in 2HI, you can put it in 4HI (I have the button and can be moving), then you decide to put it in. 4LO. Ok. Stop. Neutral. Try to put it in 4LO. If it grinds then turn off the car in N. Put it in 4LO. Turn on the car. Put it in drive. Drive away.

Let me know if that doesn't work.

Yeah, that definitely works, but I have to turn off the engine in neutral to do it without a grind.

I don't mind doing it that way, just wasn't sure if that was the proper way, or if something was wrong.

 

[BrianSD_42]

You have 230k miles. So do I.

Sometimes I have to turn the engine off as well but only recently.

I'm pretty confident it is age, wear and tear off the transfer case.

 

[jaredking733]

You have 230k miles. So do I.

Sometimes I have to turn the engine off as well but only recently.

I'm pretty confident it is age, wear and tear off the transfer case.

Yep. Rolled over 235 on my way home tonight.

Ok, I'll just shut it off before going into 4L which is super rare for me other than the past couple weekends. Probably used it more in the past 3 weeks than in the past couple years put together.

 

[T4R2014]

Pretty sure you shouldn't have to shut it off when shifting in/out of 4L. Make sure you don't rev the engine after engaging neutral, or it will cause that nasty noise. Maybe it hadn't been used much before you got it?

 

[jaredking733]

Pretty sure you shouldn't have to shut it off when shifting in/out of 4L. Make sure you don't rev the engine after engaging neutral, or it will cause that nasty noise. Maybe it hadn't been used much before you got it?

I don't think it was used much, if any, before I got it. It was owned by older folks and really seems to have been used very lightly.

 

[ThorInc]

Pretty sure you shouldn't have to shut it off when shifting in/out of 4L. Make sure you don't rev the engine after engaging neutral, or it will cause that nasty noise. Maybe it hadn't been used much before you got it?

You must be fully stopped to shift into LO4, per manual on my 1997 T4R 5 Speed SR5, 234,000+.......no grinding, ever, but I use it often when boating.

 

[jaredking733]

You must be fully stopped to shift into LO4, per manual on my 1997 T4R 5 Speed SR5, 234,000+.......no grinding, ever, but I use it often when boating.

Is there a certain way to shift between 4H and 4L? Like do it quickly between the two, or pause for a moment at neutral before going on to the next position?

 

[ThorInc]

Is there a certain way to shift between 4H and 4L? Like do it quickly between the two, or pause for a moment at neutral before going on to the next position?

My understanding and from driving stick for my entire adult life, pause for neutral.

 

[jaredking733]

My understanding and from driving stick for my entire adult life, pause for neutral.

That's what my gut says, but thought maybe I was going too slow.

Going to try again in a minute.

 

[jaredking733]

Ok, I think I finally got it.

I just sat in my driveway, started the engine and put it in neutral, shifted to H4, rolled a few feet, neutral, L4, rolled a few feet, neutral, back to H4, then to H2. Then, I reversed back to my original spot and repeated the process a bunch of times.

The first time it kind of lightly made the grinding sound, but after the first time, it didn't do it. After a handful of times, it's now smooth as butter from H2 all the way to L4.

Maybe just needed to get everything lubed up?

 

[T4R2014]

You must be fully stopped to shift into LO4, per manual on my 1997 T4R 5 Speed SR5, 234,000+.......no grinding, ever, but I use it often when boating.

I never said I did this while in motion. Stop. Neutral. Slide lever into 4L. There shouldn't be any noises even if the engine is running. Just make sure you don't touch the gas pedal after shifting the transmission into neutral in an autobox. THAT is what can cause a grind.

 

[T4R2014]

Ok, I think I finally got it.

I just sat in my driveway, started the engine and put it in neutral, shifted to H4, rolled a few feet, neutral, L4, rolled a few feet, neutral, back to H4, then to H2. Then, I reversed back to my original spot and repeated the process a bunch of times.

The first time it kind of lightly made the grinding sound, but after the first time, it didn't do it. After a handful of times, it's now smooth as butter from H2 all the way to L4.

Maybe just needed to get everything lubed up?

Sounds like it worked.

 

[jaredking733]

Sounds like it worked.

I kind of think what was doing it was trying to shift into 4L too soon after starting the vehicle. It is always idled up slightly right after I start it (like most vehicles) for the first minute or so after not driving it for a couple of hours. It never dawned on me that the RPMs go up when I put it in neutral to shift.