How to test 4wd

[RedneckT4R]

ok soo when i go pick up my 4runner, how do i test the 4wd to make sure it works right without actually taking it off road ??

 

[CJ3Flyr]

What year? If 4th gen what engine?

Assuming it's 4th gen read this: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41978


:cheers:

 

[RedneckT4R]

naa its a 2nd gen with the v6....and auto trans

 

[CJ3Flyr]

naa its a 2nd gen with the v6....and auto trans

Sorry, I can only speak in generalities... The lever shifts with the trans in 'N' and you should be off of the pavement. If that's impossible you can shift it through the modes and go forward and backwards a bit in a perfectly straight line. Do not go around a turn on the pavement or the t-case will bind a bit and it'll be difficult to get it out of 4wd.

I think the sun visor will have some instructions if nobody comes up with a better answer for you... Good luck!

:cheers:

 

[RedneckT4R]

sounds good Thanks !

 

[donnyr_az]

I have a 93, same stuff, make sure the GREEN light on the dash lights up

 

[KaiDarudeboy]

i just bought a 96 SR5...

when i have the rig in H4, and i make a u-turn on the pavement, it feels like it is braking (or the power to the front wheels are halting)....

I am told that this is normal.... is that true?

is it harmful to the 4runner's 4x4 system?

thanks!

 

[CJ3Flyr]

i just bought a 96 SR5...

when i have the rig in H4, and i make a u-turn on the pavement, it feels like it is braking (or the power to the front wheels are halting)....

I am told that this is normal.... is that true?

is it harmful to the 4runner's 4x4 system?

thanks!

It's normal and don't do it, yes, it could harm and will certainly add unecessary wear. The transfer case is placed under a lot of stress. 4hi and 4lo should only be used on soft, semi-slick, surfaces. Wet pavement, as a rule, isn't slick enough. That's why your 4wd is referred to as part-time 4wd, you should only use it part-time.

When in 4wd the F & R driveshaft spins at an equal speed. There's a slight difference in the F & R tire diameter. The fronts are usually compressed more due to the weight of the engine and therefore have an smaller effective diameter. At 20mph the fronts spin faster. Because the F & R driveshaft spin at exactly the same speed something has to give. The tires actually slip a bit.

Now think about pulling a u-turn. The front wheels travel significantly less disatnce. If the surface is hard and the tires don't slip to compensate for the driveshafts turning an equal number of turns something has bind and lock-up as the transfer case binds up with that extra torsional energy.

So... Don't drive in 4wd on hard surfaces with your T4R. Later models use a differential in the t-case that allows for use on dry pavement. The t-case diff on the later T4Rs compensates for the different distances the F & R axles travel.

:cheers:

 

[KaiDarudeboy]

thank you so much! that helps a lot!

Mahalo plenny!