Did You Break 4WD?

[2021nightshade4x4]

Yeah, you're not wrong about the 4.0.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trashing the 4.0. I like the Jeep 4.0, actually a heck of a lot better than the Toyota one (I trash talk the Yota ALL the time!). It's just that it was a less than ideal combination with the 249 case. It was much better once I swapped in the 242. I think the Humvees actually do use HD version of that case, just without the 2wd option

I always thought mine was fairly quick until I went with 31" tires. Even with the 3.73 gears of the tow package, the extra tire weight definitely made itself known. My buddy had a similar ZJ, but with the 5.2, and his didn't even notice the 31's.

All this ZJ talk, now I want another!

I'll have to dig out my old ZJ pics, I have some flex ones where the FRONT end is flexing like the rear of a 4Runner.

I have a 1995 ZJ Limited with the 4.0 and NV249. It was my first car! Just passed inspection.


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[weezol]

Hey guys, I have a stupid question. This is my first 4WD vehicle, and the other week I wanted to take it out to get its first 10 miles in 4WD.

I don't know how I missed it in the manual, but I did all 10 miles on paved road. I think I made about 10 or so turns (Left/right turns at intersections) but other than that it was pretty straight.

I don't remember feeling any sort of binding or hearing any noises that didn't sound right. Is there a chance I messed something up? Or is the whole "don't make turns on dry pavement in 4WD" thing only really a problem when people do it regularly?

Thanks

ETA: I'm not planning to every drive it on dry pavement in 4WD again

 

[DAW89446]

So you are one of THOSE guys. You know, one of the guys who don't like to read manuals or think you understand the 4WD operation because you had something similar 10 years ago or just wanted to "test" your 4WD on dry pavement or forgot to put it back into 2WD after having it off road in 4WD or something.

I live in a rural, isolated region with plenty of open land, maintained dirt roads and unmaintained rugged trails. I spent several sessions on my dirt road and on a steep uphill trail across it getting familiar with the shift system and auxiliary traction aids in my ‘18 SR5 with the manual in my lap. Took a while to get used to the 4HI to 4LO procedure with the rotary dial and lock button on the SR5. I’ve been used to the standard Toyota J-Gate and other manual, lever activated systems in my various brand trucks over the past decades.

 

[downshift]

Hey guys, I have a stupid question. This is my first 4WD vehicle, and the other week I wanted to take it out to get its first 10 miles in 4WD.

I don't know how I missed it in the manual, but I did all 10 miles on paved road. I think I made about 10 or so turns (Left/right turns at intersections) but other than that it was pretty straight.

I don't remember feeling any sort of binding or hearing any noises that didn't sound right. Is there a chance I messed something up? Or is the whole "don't make turns on dry pavement in 4WD" thing only really a problem when people do it regularly?

Thanks

ETA: I'm not planning to every drive it on dry pavement in 4WD again

This is a very good thread that discusses making turns on dry pavement in 4WD:

Using part-time 4WD on dry pavement (TE - SR5) - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

Making turns on dry pavement will stress various components in the drive train, but for the most part they can handle that stress. There is a limit of how much it can handle though. If you over stressed something, I think you'd know it.

A very gradual turn, like turning the wheel 5 or 10 degrees, doesn't put much stress on the components. If you make a 90 degree right turn at an intersection, you're only putting high stress on the components for a brief moment. At some point you'll reach the limit of how much stress you can induce. I don't know what that limit is, but it's pretty high.

 

[Captain Spalding]

This is a very good thread that discusses making turns on dry pavement in 4WD: …

Making turns on dry pavement will stress various components in the drive train, but for the most part they can handle that stress. There is a limit of how much it can handle though.

Okay. I read the thread. IMHO it amounts to a lot of fancy guesswork to justify going against the instructions in the manual for the convenience of not having to find a stretch of dirt once a month. The instructions in the manual are plain and unambiguous:

”H4 (high speed position, four-wheel drive) Use this for driving only on tracks that permit the tires slide, like off-road, icy or snow-covered roads. This position provides greater traction than two-wheel drive.”​

While it is true that that the 4Runner’s differentials can take a lot of abuse without failing, it is still abuse. And while driving in 4WD on pavement will probably never break a tooth on the pinion gear or a spider gear, there will be cumulative accelerated wear on the gear teeth and bearings.

I’ll just step down from my soap box now…