Center Differential

[Captain Planet]

One more time. The Limited has a transfer case. The Aisin VF4BM. Inside the Aisin VF4BM, there is a differential, which allows the front and rear output shafts to turn at different speeds, thus avoiding drivetrain binding. This is full-time 4wd.

When the Limited transfer case is locked in 4hi or 4lo, it locks the differential in the transfer case, and front and rear output shafts turn at the same speed with no differentiation.

When the Limited transfer case is locked, it behaves exactly like the part-time transfer cases in the SR5 and TRD models.

What I meant was the manual transfer case. Apparently I sparked some odd debate about whether there is a transfer case in a Limited.

What I was really getting at is the knob. I'm not a fan.

 

[Bmnorm2]

Center Differential Transfer Cases - YouTube

If anyone has 40 minutes to kill this is extremely informational and details the difference between transfer case (part time 4WD) and a center differential equipped transfer case (full time 4WD).

For us plebeians, the important thing is: YES the limited has a transfer case which has a second gear set (4Lo) to increase wheel torque for more serious off-roading/low traction environments.

 

[downshift]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in this thread is that the center diff in the limited is a limited slip type. It's a Torsen type, which is gear operated.

I would like to see a limited slip in the rear differential as well.

A limited slip can send power to the tire that has traction. Contrast this with the traction control via braking we currently have. This brakes the wheel without traction. Using the brakes when you want to go forward is somewhat counterintuitive. It works, but you are wasting energy in the brakes. I'd rather send that energy to the tire with traction than dissipate it in the brakes.

There's pros and cons to both systems, to be sure. How about both?!? Put a limited slip in at least the center and rear and also have brake based traction control for when one wheel is off the ground.

Here's a link discussing LSD's. There's a lot more info out there about how these work, including videos on YouTube that explain them pretty well.

Best Limited Slip Differential For Off-Road – Ultimate Off-Roading

 

[Grug556]

The center locker is nice, but dont use it in the snow when turning.. unless you like driving sideways up a hill arty:

The limited needs an electronic rear locker like the trail. Maybe a front locker to, so it has 3. That way I can drive past you ****ers while using my air cooled seat and enjoying my leather-pleather fun time..

As for the dial, its easy to use. I think manual says no locking center after about 95 km/hr

I turn mine on on straight aways a few times a month just to keep stuff moving. Never use it in the dry on bends or otherwise.

 

[MZ2215]

What I meant was the manual transfer case. Apparently I sparked some odd debate about whether there is a transfer case in a Limited.

What I was really getting at is the knob. I'm not a fan.

Right? So funny how odd debates are sparked when a question is answered with a demonstrably inaccurate statement.

 

[mrblah]

What I meant was the manual transfer case. Apparently I sparked some odd debate about whether there is a transfer case in a Limited.

What I was really getting at is the knob. I'm not a fan.

Hopefully you don't get shaft envy, because you get a turnable knob, just you don't get a knob and a shaft...

 

[Whippersnapper02]

What I meant was the manual transfer case. Apparently I sparked some odd debate about whether there is a transfer case in a Limited.

What I was really getting at is the knob. I'm not a fan.

The manual case equipped models like my TRDP still have an electronic portion on the front axle (ADD).

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Toyota is referring to it as a transfer case on parts.toyota.com

TRANSFER CASE & EXTENSION HOUSING. 2021 Toyota 4Runner | Toyota


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jetboy]

Toyota is referring to it as a transfer case on parts.toyota.com

TRANSFER CASE & EXTENSION HOUSING. 2021 Toyota 4Runner | Toyota


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah. It's a transfer case. Some transfer cases have a differential inside of them. Some don't. Not sure why this is a debate. It's like saying you either have an axle assembly or a differential. Some axles have differentials. Some don't.

Transfer case:

Differential (inside transfer case):

 

[downshift]

The center locker is nice, but dont use it in the snow when turning.. unless you like driving sideways up a hill

The limited needs an electronic rear locker like the trail. Maybe a front locker to, so it has 3. That way I can drive past you ****ers while using my air cooled seat and enjoying my leather-pleather fun time..

As for the dial, its easy to use. I think manual says no locking center after about 95 km/hr

I turn mine on on straight aways a few times a month just to keep stuff moving. Never use it in the dry on bends or otherwise.

The center locker is nice, but dont use it in the snow when turning.. unless you like driving sideways up a hill

Which is exactly why I would like a center diff.

 

[Grug556]

The center locker is nice, but dont use it in the snow when turning.. unless you like driving sideways up a hill

Which is exactly why I would like a center diff.

Its ok in deep snow offroad. On road it makes for very cumbersome handling and I wouldnt recommend it. Traction much better with it off while turning. Its ok also off the line in the wet and the snow, but otherwise I use it mainly offroad only.

 

[02SE]

Yeah. It's a transfer case. Some transfer cases have a differential inside of them. Some don't. Not sure why this is a debate.It's like saying you either have an axle assembly or a differential. Some axles have differentials. Some don't.

There's no debate. Just a few posters that didn't understand what a transfer case or differential are. And a few of us that corrected them.

Hopefully your posted diagrams of an Aisin Multi-Mode transfer case, will make things clear to them.