MeefZah
New member
Spit on it
Concerned about 4wd, not sure if all of the issues are user error
- Thread starter minimalist
- Start date
Spit on it
1engineer
Moderator
If you are on a surface that has reduced friction, you are fine. In fact, there are situations (rocks) where it is a high friction surface but you still need 4WD to get through.
Basically this is just a caution to watch where you are in 4WD. Prolonged use in a high friction environment making tight turns could cause damage and exacerbate wear in the drivetrain.
minimalist
New member
Oh ok. I ask because it's raining today here in Phoenix so the ground is definitely wet. Figured that would be an okay time to put it in 4h. I made a slight turn in the parking lot of my job and it just felt funny. Took it out of 4h immediately.
1engineer
Moderator
Think about it: The back tires and the front tires are now locked together. That's fine going straight. When you turn the rear tires will always have a smaller turning radius. So now they are locked together when in 4WD. Something is going to slip in a turn and that something is going to be a front tire. Say the tires are turning at 100 rpm going straight. You now turn and the back continues to turn at 100 rpm but the front now needs to go further in that turn, but it's locked to the back so the front tires will slip. That's how it works every time you have it in 4WD.
Even in 2WD no tire ever goes the same distance in a typical 20 minute trip. Every turn the outside travels further than the inside and the front travels further than the back. When you lock them together there will be slip.
bearcat90
New member
Too much friction is exactly right. If the wheels are rotating at the same speed but traveling different distances, there will be friction somewhere in the system, which is WHY you're not supposed to use the part time 4WD on dry pavement. It's important to tell people why so they're more likely to not go ahead and do it anyway. What the heck is this guy doing driving on the highway with 4WD? It sounds like he wants it to act like an AWD system. Wouldn't it be great if Toyota offered lifetime warranties on used equipment that has already been abused? Who is this guy kidding...besides himself?
1engineer
Moderator
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/225872-did-you-break-4wd.html
I wrote this because noobs. You seem belligerent. Relax.
Jeezuz, you guys are harsh.
OP, your truck is fine. It's a Toyota. A few minutes of playing around on pavement isn't going to hurt anything. Just, you know, stop doing that.
Any chirping you heard was your tires slipping on the asphalt, way less than some douche doing burnouts in his dad's mustang, I might add.
The grinding you heard when shifting the t-case was some gear tooth contact. No harm done. After years with an FJ40 as my daily driver with syncro on 1st gear only, I can tell you that Toyota gear sets are strong enough to take it. But, the earlier poster is right - from now on shift it like you mean it.
Go. Have fun. Don't worry so much.
OP, your truck is fine. It's a Toyota. A few minutes of playing around on pavement isn't going to hurt anything. Just, you know, stop doing that.
Any chirping you heard was your tires slipping on the asphalt, way less than some douche doing burnouts in his dad's mustang, I might add.
The grinding you heard when shifting the t-case was some gear tooth contact. No harm done. After years with an FJ40 as my daily driver with syncro on 1st gear only, I can tell you that Toyota gear sets are strong enough to take it. But, the earlier poster is right - from now on shift it like you mean it.
Go. Have fun. Don't worry so much.
Saker
Senior Member
[MENTION=144483]Bumbo[/MENTION] & [MENTION=128244]minimalist[/MENTION],
The above is not necessarily true.
One can put it into 4Hi on dry pavement as long as he/she is going straight and not making any turns.
Remember, we are to drive at least 10 miles / month in 4WD to make sure the transfer case brgns are getting oiled.
(Everyone does not have a dirt road to do this on and I would not advocate "be to hot lap it though the neighborhood park at 2AM". That may end up with you getting a nice little ticket.)
Bumbo
New member
It appears you missed the part where most of this was sarcasm...
Noobs, until they understand the systems they are working with, should take the route of caution... resist temptation to use it on high traction, and perhaps go out of their way, just a little, to find said low traction surface.
Breadman03
New member
Jetboy
New member
Eh. You could put it in 4h and go 200k without much issue. It'll wear tires and waste a lot of gas. But you won't break anything. Everything on a 4runner is beef. Even weak front cvs are about 3-4 times as strong as a d44 u joint. I'm not recommending it. But a trip around the block on 4lo won't hurt a thing. If it did the vehicle would have no business in the dirt.
bearcat90
New member
Did you watch the video?
1engineer
Moderator
The OP did not post a video.
bearcat90
New member
I'm sorry for your confusion, my comments were about the video linked in the post I quoted, the large script that says, "Too much friction." I'd be interested to know what you think about it...
1engineer
Moderator
Got it. That video has been around here many times. Those people are not real smart and I try not to pass judgement on people who are not real smart...
