DAW89446
Member
Like others have said quite well, no. Unless you keep on shoving the lever and making it scream.
Did I Possibly Damage My 4WD System?
- Thread starter BlueRunner428
- Start date
Like others have said quite well, no. Unless you keep on shoving the lever and making it scream.
2021nightshade4x4
New member
I have a Limited with AWD but have not used 4 lock or 4 low yet at 21k miles. Should I start now or don’t start because I’ve gone so long?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Start now. It’s not critical like changing your engine oil, but it helps to exercise the systems actuators, sensors, and mechanisms now and again. It also gives you confidence that when you do actually need it, it will work.
I also drive a limited. You can switch from unlocked to locked and back while driving along mostly straight road. For the low gear I found some gravel roads that are miles long in the mtns nearby.
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BlueRunner428
New member
Another reason I've read to engage 4WD systems, at least part-time systems in general, is to rotate the gears in the front differential because the differential is half full of gear oil and so the half of the gears that sit exposed can start to rust. I've read that on the 4Runner the hubs are bolted to the axle, so the differential gears, or at least the spindle gears in the front differential, rotate even while in 2WD so long as the front wheels roll.
I am speaking of the electronic dial on limited....
Charles Bronson
Member
It's part of the 4LO driving experience 
BlueRunner428
New member
So I did something stupid, kinda-sorta. Don't think I damaged anything but just want to make sure. I had the vehicle in 4Hi and was pulling into a parking space, making a sharp left. The parking lot was icy and snowy so I thought the wheels had plenty of slippage, but at this one particular spot, apparently not. So I was turning slowly (to the left) but it was like the front left wheel had too much grip, sort of jammed, then did a big hop/skip. I know you can break like a U-joint (?) or something if you make a sharp turn with too much resistance, just want to make sure I didn't do that? I am assuming no because I didn't hear anything snap.
Whippersnapper02
Senior Member
It's fine. I thought we bought Toyotas for their ruggedness and reliability?
But why would you use 4wd for a parking spot?
T4R_Canuck
Member
Thats the vehicles way of telling you to stop doing what you're doing. In a T4R Limited, the amount of time you'd need to be in 4 High Locked (H4L) is incredibly rare, except when maybe driving on heavily slippery roads. The Limited is amazing is the majority of conditions in H4F.
H4L locks your centre differential so equal power is being sent to both the front and rear axle. This is great is terrible weather conditions (poorly maintained roads, snowy mountain passes, etc) but should not be used when in areas where tight turns are needed.
H4F still drives both front and rear axles on the Limited but allows them to turn at different speeds so you don't experience the binding you referenced when turning sharply.
As a reference, I live in a place where driving in whiteout conditions with deep snow are common. When I had my Limited, it would possibly see H4L once or twice a winter if there was a particularly large snowfall, but for 95% of my daily driving H4F was fine. Now that I drive a Trd OffRoad, i'm in 2WD for 90% of the winter for daily driving and only use 4WD for snow large snowfall events.
.... now when I go off roading its a completely different story.
BlueRunner428
New member
It was snowy/icy out and so I had the 4Runner in 4Hi. I didn't realize I should turn it off right then for parking. I like to use the 4WD system whenever possible to make sure it gets exercised.
BlueRunner428
New member
Yes, I do wish the TRD Off-Roads had full time 4WD and not just a part-time system. You want to make sure to utilize your 4WD system here and there though in order to exercise it. The owner's manual I think says you should drive a minimum of eight miles every month in 4WD.
Whippersnapper02
Senior Member
I do too but on straight roads only.
T4R_Canuck
Member
Toyota makes 4 different levels of 4Runner, each with it's own perks. One of the major perks of the TRD Off Road is the part time 4wd system with locking rear diff from factory. For anything who wants to explore off road, or build a modified off road vehicle, this is the perfect starting point. An argument could be made that an SR5 would be perfect as well, as long as the owner was going to do gears and air lockers.
The Limited is Toyotas way of softening the 4Runner just enough to maybe appeal to some buyers who may have otherwise ended up in a competitors crossover vehicle. Its still capable, but with that full time 4WD system, it gives the driver less to worry about. It acts more like an AWD system and doesn't require the driver to switch between 2wd and 4wd during their normal daily driving.
I've got 200,000kms on my 4Runner, push it's limits off road often, had it stuck far more often than I care to admit, and then I spend my weekends changing fluids, fixing problems and cleaning it so I can do it all over again the next weekend. To date (knock on wood), my 4wd system has taken every mile with a grin on its face, accepted every challenge and has never let me down.
Lexington
Member
You should be fine. It looks like your drive shaft binded up a little bit because one of your wheels couldn’t slip to relived the tension. When you are in 4H or 4L your front and rear drive shafts are locked together. When you turn your front wheels turn faster than the rear wheels. This causes your front drive shaft to spin faster than the rear drive shaft. This stress will start to twist your drive shaft. This is called binding or as the Brits call it, transmission wind up. When this happens your vehicle will start to shake and shutter. This is a warning that your drive shaft is starting to twist. If you continue turning and your wheels can’t slip it can cause serious damage to your drive shaft. This is why you don’t use 4H & 4L on pavements. Driving on a slippery surface allows the wheel that is binding to spin, which releases the tension. That big hop and skip you felt was one of your wheels doing just that. Whenever you feel your car is starting to bind, just stop and back up a quarter turn or so. That will unwind your drive shaft. A little bit of binding won’t hurt your car as long as you can release the tension (wheel slipping or backing up). If you can’t and you continue to turn, that’s when damage occurs.
Here are some good video on binding/transmission wind up.
4x4 / 4WD transmission wind up - Explained - YouTube
Transmission Windup Explained (transfer case bind) - YouTube
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