No.
There are 3 options
1) 2WD (rear wheels)
2) 4HI (4wd center diff locked)
3) 4LO (4wd center diff locked, low range)
Have SR5, thinking about Limited. Thoughts?
- Thread starter tflux
- Start date
No.
There are 3 options
1) 2WD (rear wheels)
2) 4HI (4wd center diff locked)
3) 4LO (4wd center diff locked, low range)
Ugh, this make me want to get a limited. I'm a cheapskate, so i don't want to spend any more money. But I'm also nervous about what could happen, and I want the insurance of full-time 4wd. Decisions...
phillyd2
Senior Member
Thanks. I knew that was the case with the earlier models but wasn't sure if they changed it. Anyways, that is a very MAJOR difference.
To be fair we probably should’ve been in 4wd as there was a blizzard the day before and the highway still has some residual.
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Pirateghost
New member
Traded in my SR5P for a limited yesterday. Just seemed crazy to have to shift in/out of 4wd all the time. Where I plan on driving I could have snow/bare concrete/ice, perhaps all in the same sharp intersection. What good is 4wd if you the risk of wrecking it hitting dry concrete. I got a good enough deal on trading up. Wish I would have just gone Limited in the first place.
the_fornicator
New member
I can only confirm this from a 4th gen perspective. You can turn off the traction control but not the stability control. Curious if it's the same for the 5th gens.
Hard to play the what-if game, but I had a similar incident but thankfully at a slower speed limit.
In my SR5 the other week, I was approaching a red light on a road where the limit is 60kmph and was slowing down. Before I came to a stop, the light turned green so I accelerated like normal (not even spiritedly or aggressively) to get back up to the speed limit.
Right after the intersection, while I was accelerating, I hit black ice and it kicked the rear end out with no notice i.e. instant fubar. My rear squirreled out so fast, my car rotated about 30 degrees, caught traction, and shot over to the next lane. I was able to get things back under control, but if there was a car beside me, I would have had no control over that at all. Had I been travelling at highway speeds, I might be in your wife's cousin's position.
I've tracked my car before and used to race 600cc motorcycles on a semi-competitive (regional) level. I crashed lots for various reasons but mostly due to lack of traction under various conditions (too fast and ran out of traction, tires insufficiently warmed up, cold track, wet, worn tires, etc., etc) so I like to think I'm well-versed with most things traction. As such, I can recognize, react, and have some morsel of control in slippery situations.
This was a first for me where I had no control in regards to preventing that situation short of accelerating unreasonably slow all the time thereby resulting in everybody honking at me. The stability control didn't even kick in until I was in the next lane -that's how fast everything happened.
:edited to not perpetuate misinformation:
Last edited:
03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
From my 4th gen, I do know the Limiteds are generally in RWD. When it detects a loss of traction, that's when the AWD (it's not but I hesitate to call it 4x4) kicks. Not sure what event has to happen for the vehicle to switch back to RWD. But hard to say if the limited would have prevented the same scenario from happening. So, I would say the limiteds have real-time AWD and not full-time (implying all the time without switching to RWD ever) AWD/4x4 because it definitely does start out at RWD.
Not true at all. The Limited is always AWD.
Not true at all. The Limited is always AWD.
the_fornicator
New member
Derp. I guess I should have googled it.
Odd, I've taken icy turns before with the intention of drifting around the corner and I've over-done it to the point where I spun out but with the same ease as my RWD vehicles. I've always found it super easy to throw the rear end out so figured it was RWD until traction control told it otherwise. I've taken the same turns in 4hi with my SR5 and the SR5 drifted as expected.
Very odd. Maybe user error.
matoolie
New member
Ah yes. Can you Limited people confirm/deny this?
I like being able to turn everything off, during a snowstorm, in an open parking lot, ok yes, i like donuts okay! You can turn everything off in the SR5 and slip around
If you want to do donuts in an outback, you have to pull the ABS fuse. Not convienient.
Yes you can turn off VSC & TRAC systems with VSC button. Press and release for TRAC and press and hold 3 seconds for VSC. Will allow wheel spin in slippery conditions like snow, sand, etc. But remember always AWD or 4WD no matter what.
phillyd2
Senior Member
The Limited is a real 4WD system, NOT AWD.
From Toyota:
Exclusive to the 4Runner Limited, the full-time 4WD system uses a Torsen® center differential with locking feature and a three-mode, center console-mounted switch. The system uses a 40:60 torque split in most driving situations and alters that in response to slippage. If the front wheels are slipping while the vehicle is turning, the Torsen® differential changes the split to 30:70. If the rear wheels slip while the vehicle is turning, the differential changes to a 53:47 split.
From Toyota:
Exclusive to the 4Runner Limited, the full-time 4WD system uses a Torsen® center differential with locking feature and a three-mode, center console-mounted switch. The system uses a 40:60 torque split in most driving situations and alters that in response to slippage. If the front wheels are slipping while the vehicle is turning, the Torsen® differential changes the split to 30:70. If the rear wheels slip while the vehicle is turning, the differential changes to a 53:47 split.
Bumbo
New member
Traditionally AWDs don't have a low range.
The 4Runner Limited isn't a AWD, its a 4WD with a proper low range TC.
It uses a Torsen transfer case. Its a mechanical limited slip solution which can operate locked (4WD aka H4L), or unlocked (AWD aka H4F).
No electronics or clutches... it's a pretty legit solution. Used in GX, Land Cruiser, older gen 4Runners. You don't miss a thing off-road either, it works as it should.
matoolie
New member
Agreed. :thumb:
Did it! Thanks for all the replies and insight/advice. LOVE the Limited!
Love the leather (ventilated and heated).
Love the key (no need to take it out of your pocket).
Love the full-time 4wd.
Love memory seats.
Don't really like 20" rims (changeable).
Sunroof cuts into headroom a little.
Love the leather (ventilated and heated).
Love the key (no need to take it out of your pocket).
Love the full-time 4wd.
Love memory seats.
Don't really like 20" rims (changeable).
Sunroof cuts into headroom a little.
Attachments
RichinRidgewood
New member
Torque split of T-3 used in Limted.
Torsen - Wikipedia
“As of 2008, there are three types of Torsen differentials.
The original Torsen T-1 (Type A) uses crossed axis helical gears to limit torque split. The Type I can be designed for higher torque bias ratios than the Type II, but typically has higher backlash and the potential for Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) issues, and requires a precise setup/installation.
The later Torsen T-2 (Type B) uses a parallel gear arrangement to achieve a similar effect. There is also a specialist application of the T-2, known as the T-2R (RaceMaster).
The latest Torsen T-3 (Type C) is a planetary type differential, in that the nominal torque split is not 50:50. The Type C is available as single or twin version; the Torsen twin C differential has front and center differential in the same unit.
The Torsen T-3 is currently employed as the center differential in all non-Haldex Traction Audi models with a ZF-sourced automatic transmission Quattro four-wheel drive, such as: Audi A6, Audi A7, and Audi Q7. Audi uses a mechanical "Crown Wheel" center differential for all longitudinal implementations using dual-clutch transmissions, such as the 2013/14 S4/RS4. Alfa Romeo used a Torsen C twin differential in the Alfa Romeo 156 Crosswagon Q4 and also in the 159, Alfa Romeo Brera and Spider Q4 models. Also, Toyota uses a Torsen T-3 in the center differential of the 4Runner Limited, FJ Cruiser 6-speed manual, Land Cruiser and Lexus GX470, with manual locking feature, and General Motors used a Torsen T-3 center differential in the transfer case of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS and Saab 9-7X (Aero model only).
Behaviour of Torsen differentials[edit]
The Torsen differential works just like a conventional differential, but can lock up if a torque imbalance occurs, the maximum ratio of torque imbalance being defined by the Torque Bias Ratio (TBR).[2] When a Torsen has a 3:1 TBR, that means that one side of the differential can handle up to 75% while the other side would have to only handle 25% of applied torque. During acceleration under asymmetric traction conditions, so long as the higher traction side can handle the higher percentage of applied torque, no relative wheelspin will occur. When the traction difference exceeds the TBR, the slower output side of the differential receives the tractive torque of the faster wheel multiplied by the TBR; any extra torque remaining from applied torque contributes to the angular acceleration of the faster output side of the differential.
The TBR should not be confused with the uneven torque-split feature in the planetary-type Torsen III. The planetary gearset allows a Torsen III center differential to distribute torque unevenly between front and rear axles during normal (full traction) operation without inducing wind-up in the drivetrain. This feature is independent of the Torque Bias Ratio.”
Torsen - Wikipedia
“As of 2008, there are three types of Torsen differentials.
The original Torsen T-1 (Type A) uses crossed axis helical gears to limit torque split. The Type I can be designed for higher torque bias ratios than the Type II, but typically has higher backlash and the potential for Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) issues, and requires a precise setup/installation.
The later Torsen T-2 (Type B) uses a parallel gear arrangement to achieve a similar effect. There is also a specialist application of the T-2, known as the T-2R (RaceMaster).
The latest Torsen T-3 (Type C) is a planetary type differential, in that the nominal torque split is not 50:50. The Type C is available as single or twin version; the Torsen twin C differential has front and center differential in the same unit.
The Torsen T-3 is currently employed as the center differential in all non-Haldex Traction Audi models with a ZF-sourced automatic transmission Quattro four-wheel drive, such as: Audi A6, Audi A7, and Audi Q7. Audi uses a mechanical "Crown Wheel" center differential for all longitudinal implementations using dual-clutch transmissions, such as the 2013/14 S4/RS4. Alfa Romeo used a Torsen C twin differential in the Alfa Romeo 156 Crosswagon Q4 and also in the 159, Alfa Romeo Brera and Spider Q4 models. Also, Toyota uses a Torsen T-3 in the center differential of the 4Runner Limited, FJ Cruiser 6-speed manual, Land Cruiser and Lexus GX470, with manual locking feature, and General Motors used a Torsen T-3 center differential in the transfer case of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS and Saab 9-7X (Aero model only).
Behaviour of Torsen differentials[edit]
The Torsen differential works just like a conventional differential, but can lock up if a torque imbalance occurs, the maximum ratio of torque imbalance being defined by the Torque Bias Ratio (TBR).[2] When a Torsen has a 3:1 TBR, that means that one side of the differential can handle up to 75% while the other side would have to only handle 25% of applied torque. During acceleration under asymmetric traction conditions, so long as the higher traction side can handle the higher percentage of applied torque, no relative wheelspin will occur. When the traction difference exceeds the TBR, the slower output side of the differential receives the tractive torque of the faster wheel multiplied by the TBR; any extra torque remaining from applied torque contributes to the angular acceleration of the faster output side of the differential.
The TBR should not be confused with the uneven torque-split feature in the planetary-type Torsen III. The planetary gearset allows a Torsen III center differential to distribute torque unevenly between front and rear axles during normal (full traction) operation without inducing wind-up in the drivetrain. This feature is independent of the Torque Bias Ratio.”
