Noob 4x4 questions

[SilentYoda3]

Hey so I've had a 4x4 before and I also have had off-roading experience. I drive a 1994 4runner 5-spd Now my questions are as follows:

1)when backing up at a hard angle (wheels turned almost maxed) the truck doesn't wanna back up.
2) it feels like i have breaks on sometimes when at slow speeds like the truck wants to stop, i just dismissed this as so much more mechanics were moving that it reduced the power and such.
3) when locked in do they all spin, or do both diffs act like limited slips? (im guessing im wrong otherwise lockers would be pointless.

That's all i can think about right now. Just didn't really have problems 1 or 2 with my 83 bronco but it also had a 351 V8 so there you go. Thanks guys!

 

[Footofgod]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/111891-few-odd-4wd-questions.html

I had the same question recently. I have found that feeling as if the breaks are on to be kind of normal. I'd still love a solution though.

 

[Bad_Vision]

3. only 2 wheels will ever spin at all times. its all about power distribution if you dont have a locker or lsd you will only get one wheel per axle spinning with power.

1. backing up hard angle is binding from the front cv shafts no way around it its just one of the many flaws of IFS

2. this is called deceleration its natural and happens in many vehicles....lol but you may want to check for brake tension or your wheel bearings if you really feel like their is serous resistance

 

[SilentYoda3]

3. only 2 wheels will ever spin at all times. its all about power distribution if you dont have a locker or lsd you will only get one wheel per axle spinning with power.

1. backing up hard angle is binding from the front cv shafts no way around it its just one of the many flaws of IFS

2. this is called deceleration its natural and happens in many vehicles....lol but you may want to check for brake tension or your wheel bearings if you really feel like their is serous resistance

Thanks man! I figured about #3. Also for #1 is it bad for it? Should i avoid doing it? and finally for #2 I'm pretty sure everything is fine since i just replaced the half shafts and repacked the bearings and everything so I'm sure it's far.

Thanks Badvision you're awesome man!

 

[Bad_Vision]

you want to avoid binding if at all possible if it does happen on dirt youll be ok but if it happens on pavement you'll cause damage.
the binding happens most when the front hubs are locked in, if you still experience bad binding when your hubs are unlocked your hubs may not be functioning properly.

 

[KidVermicious]

If you need to back at full steering lock, pop it into 2wd and there'll be less stress on the driveline.

I don't notice myself decelerating faster when I'm in 4wd than when I'm in 2wd. Don't know what to tell you about that.

 

[SilentYoda3]

If you need to back at full steering lock, pop it into 2wd and there'll be less stress on the driveline.

I don't notice myself decelerating faster when I'm in 4wd than when I'm in 2wd. Don't know what to tell you about that.

I think it might have just been when i had my warped rotor, drove it around a little in 4x4 to get it all moving and such and didn't seem to do it. As for backing up, yeah the binding makes sense, guess its bad for it haha!

 

[calinaki]

Hey so I've had a 4x4 before and I also have had off-roading experience. I drive a 1994 4runner 5-spd Now my questions are as follows:

1)when backing up at a hard angle (wheels turned almost maxed) the truck doesn't wanna back up.
2) it feels like i have breaks on sometimes when at slow speeds like the truck wants to stop, i just dismissed this as so much more mechanics were moving that it reduced the power and such.
3) when locked in do they all spin, or do both diffs act like limited slips? (im guessing im wrong otherwise lockers would be pointless.

That's all i can think about right now. Just didn't really have problems 1 or 2 with my 83 bronco but it also had a 351 V8 so there you go. Thanks guys!

I have a 95 4-runner and I also just replaced the half-shafts and repacked the bearings also. Everything operates "normal" until I throw 'er into 4WD and I get the same result: feels like the brakes are on slightly when at slow speeds. And when I crank the wheel--either driving forward or backwards--the resistance increases substantially. I figured it would be something with the CV joints getting "kinked" or something but it doesn't make sense that when driving straight I would feel resistance.

Anyone else have any ideas??? The other thing I'm thinking is my two front tires don't match and one has more tread than the other. If both front wheels need to rotate the exact same in 4WD, and I have two different diameter tires, they would theoretically be fighting each other when I'm driving straight. And since I noticed this on pavement, seems like the friction would be too great to allow one of the tires to slip. Does this even make sense considering how the front wheel drive works in 4WD??

If both front wheels need to rotate together, I suppose that would explain why it gets worse when turning. (In dirt or snow you would just have one wheel slipping and wouldn't notice the resistance.) eh?

 

[JB.]

The other thing I'm thinking is my two front tires don't match and one has more tread than the other. If both front wheels need to rotate the exact same in 4WD, and I have two different diameter tires, they would theoretically be fighting each other when I'm driving straight. And since I noticed this on pavement, seems like the friction would be too great to allow one of the tires to slip. Does this even make sense considering how the front wheel drive works in 4WD??

If both front wheels need to rotate together, I suppose that would explain why it gets worse when turning. (In dirt or snow you would just have one wheel slipping and wouldn't notice the resistance.) eh?

Sounds like you answered all your own questions. The tread depth difference would have to be pretty substantial to notice it, though. Probably 1/4" at the very least. Are the tires identical otherwise? Mismatched tires are tough on the diff, but what would matter as far as feeling the binding/braking effect in 4WD when going straight is the net size of both fronts compared to the net size of both rears.

 

[calinaki]

the front tire tread is easily a 1/4" difference. The tires aren't the same brand but the are the same "size". I didn't think about the front compared to the back. The back tires match each other but they are a different manufacturer all together from either of the front tires, and they are worn even more than the most worn front tire. sounds like I just need new tires! : ) The tires on it now are from the used car dealer and I was gonna run 'em bald before replacing. I think I'll just be careful not to use the 4wd unless I'm in good dirt or snow.

Thanks!!