Is my 4WD screwed up??

T

ToyoNation

New member
Ok so I just purchased a 97 t100. I know its not a 3rd gen 4runner but It has the same 3.4 motor and I'm sure a similar drivetrain. After buying I realized the 4wd would not engage nor would the 4wd indicator light turn on.

I fixed this by reconnecting the vacuum hose to the ADD that had slipped off and plugging back in the indicator switch. By the looks of it, it looked like the truck had ran something over and it ripped off the vacuum hose and the plug for the indicator light. After reconnecting the light comes on and the truck will engage into 4hi or 4lo. Ok now the next issue....

While in 4wd and going in a STRAIGHT LINE, it felt as if the brakes were on (if I let up on the gas the truck would come to a stop relatively quickly). Is this normal? I know your not suppose to use on pavement but Im just trying to make sure it does in fact work correctly. I also know it will drag while turning but I was not turning. I didn't hear any strange noises but I only drove for a few feet before parking again. Also truck is on 33' tires. I just wanna make sure that the drag I felt was normal and not a binding front diff or something along that nature.

Thanks for all the help in advance, hopefully someone can shed some insight on this for me. I also have a 99 4runner that does not drag in 4wd the way my t100 does.
 
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There should be no perceivable binding or resistance while in 4WD and going straight. I would check the transfer case fluid, both diff fluids and inspect the driveshafts/ujoints. Basically, inspect all things 4WD related and see if anything stands out. It could be something internally in the transfer case, it's hard to say.

I'm assuming it coasts fine while not in 4WD?
 
yeah not binding but I feel a resistance or drag going straight. when going slow and I let off the gas it will come to a stop. feels normal in 2wd. I am going to change the diff/transfer fluids today and start there. would 33in mud tires create a significant drag in 4wd?
 
I wanna make sure I'm also not overthinking it. like I said there weren't any grinding noises, the tires weren't skipping/dragging. I just stopped driving it because I didn't want to mess anything up. will be checking front diff fluid today
 
Are all the tires the same size? If you had different size front to back that could cause your issue. Are the front and rear diff geared the same? That could cause it too.
 
Hockeyjock said:
Are all the tires the same size? If you had different size front to back that could cause your issue. Are the front and rear diff geared the same? That could cause it too.
Click to expand...



Yeah brand new 33” LT 285/70r17 all around. Not sure if the front and rear are geared the same, I just bought it up 2 days ago. Any way to tell?

Just checked front diff. There’s oil and it looks clean.


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sounds like it has different gear ratios front to rear. id guess the rear 3rd has been swapped at some point and its a different ratio from the front.

that may be why the lines were disconnected, to prevent someone from getting it into 4wd, then breaking something.
 
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nevada said:
sounds like it has different gear ratios front to rear. id guess the rear 3rd has been swapped at some point and its a different ratio from the rear.

that may be why the lines were disconnected, to prevent someone from getting it into 4wd, then breaking something.
Click to expand...

Had this happen with a truck once 10 years back. Shop was supposed to install 4.56's and installed 5.71's instead :violin:

It dragged badly in 4WD like what you described :ballchain:
 
ToyoNation said:
Ok so I just purchased a 97 t100. I know its not a 3rd gen 4runner but It has the same 3.4 motor and I'm sure a similar drivetrain. After buying I realized the 4wd would not engage nor would the 4wd indicator light turn on.

I fixed this by reconnecting the vacuum hose to the ADD that had slipped off and plugging back in the indicator switch. By the looks of it, it looked like the truck had ran something over and it ripped off the vacuum hose and the plug for the indicator light. After reconnecting the light comes on and the truck will engage into 4hi or 4lo. Ok now the next issue....

While in 4wd and going in a STRAIGHT LINE, it felt as if the brakes were on (if I let up on the gas the truck would come to a stop relatively quickly). Is this normal? I know your not suppose to use on pavement but Im just trying to make sure it does in fact work correctly. I also know it will drag while turning but I was not turning. I didn't hear any strange noises but I only drove for a few feet before parking again. Also truck is on 33' tires. I just wanna make sure that the drag I felt was normal and not a binding front diff or something along that nature.

Thanks for all the help in advance, hopefully someone can shed some insight on this for me. I also have a 99 4runner that does not drag in 4wd the way my t100 does.
Click to expand...

My 98 (which has stock gears) does slow down slightly faster in 4WD on pavement but it's not noticeable unless you are going really slow. It will eventually come to a very near stop.

I just chalked it up to more drivetrain parts having to turn (gears, transfer case, 4 tires) so it takes a bit more gas to get it moving.

However, if you can do the gear ratio test (counting tire vs driveshaft rotations) on your rear tires that would be best. Sometimes people put bigger tires on and re-gear the rear differential and never plan on using 4WD, so they do not spend the money to regear the front differential.
 
Last edited:
nevada said:
sounds like it has different gear ratios front to rear. id guess the rear 3rd has been swapped at some point and its a different ratio from the front.

that may be why the lines were disconnected, to prevent someone from getting it into 4wd, then breaking something.
Click to expand...

Yeah I was kinda afraid of that. the indicator plug looked slightly broken like it had been ripped off by something but that crossed my mind that someone could have intentionally disconnected stuff to prevent 4wd use...
 
gamefreakgc said:
My 98 (which has stock gears) does slow down slightly faster in 4WD on pavement but it's not noticeable unless you are going really slow. It will eventually come to a very near stop.

I just chalked it up to more drivetrain parts having to turn (gears, transfer case, 4 tires) so it takes a bit more gas to get it moving.

However, if you can do the gear ratio test (counting tire vs driveshaft rotations) on your rear tires that would be best. Sometimes people put bigger tires on and re-gear the rear differential and never plan on using 4WD, so they do not spend the money to regear the front differential.
Click to expand...


Yeah I'm beginning to believe it has to do with the gearing. I took off the 33"s mud tires and replaced them with a street tire 265 70r17 and still has the drag and what feels like skipping in the front. I will have to check for any signs of replaced drivetrain parts, then perform the test. thanks for the tip
 
thank you everyone for the help so far! I like being able to rule some things out first.

what about possibly the torsion bars that come with the t100?? the guy I purchased the t100 from said he had adjustable them to get the height he wanted. they seem very stiff and looks to be high in the front....especially with the smaller tires now. worth a shot? would it help to loosen them a bit after I spray them with some penetrating oil? (I hear they have a tendency to snap)
 
ToyoNation said:
thank you everyone for the help so far! I like being able to rule some things out first.

what about possibly the torsion bars that come with the t100?? the guy I purchased the t100 from said he had adjustable them to get the height he wanted. they seem very stiff and looks to be high in the front....especially with the smaller tires now. worth a shot? would it help to loosen them a bit after I spray them with some penetrating oil? (I hear they have a tendency to snap)
Click to expand...
Are you asking if the torsion bars could be causing the hopping, skipping thing?
I'm thinking, no.
 
alumarine said:
Are you asking if the torsion bars could be causing the hopping, skipping thing?

I'm thinking, no.
Click to expand...



Ok guess the gear ratio is off. Thankyou if anyone has any other suggestions let me know. Meanwhile I’ll try the gear ratio test


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Good call guys on the gear ratio, didn't think of that.

I bet that is the problem especially since the 4WD was disabled. Hopefully you can find some matching gears.

Good luck
 
Definitely following. I just brought home a super clean 3rd gen, and it's doing the exact same thing. Everything checks out. Im about to try marking the tires at the bottom and driving 30' on pavement and seeing where the tires end up. If the mark is at the same spot on both fronts, and both rears, then I think its gotta be a different ratio.

Ill let you know what happens!
 
You could try jacking up the truck with one front tire and one rear tire off the ground. Make sure the none of the diffs are locked, put it in 4wd and in gear and let it idle, and see if the front/rear tires turn at different rates. If they do then you’ve confirmed your gear ratios don’t match.
 
To kind of piggy back off of the group idea for gears and not the brakes being on, like you questioned earlier in the post. The issue would also arise in 2WD if it was a brake problem, but since it is exclusive to 4WD, I'd perform a gear ratio test. Good luck! Hopefully it's nothing too sinister, but it does sound like a re-gear is in your future, maybe add a locker while you're at it? :nod:
 
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