U turn on 4WD H4

[4Running22]

This is my first 4WD vehicle so I’m new to this. Yesterday I ran my 4Runner in 4WD on dry pavement and made a U turn my friend told me I shouldn’t do that because it might damage the transfer case. It’s a new 4Runner trd off road with only 800 miles on the clock, you guys think I damaged my transfer case or slightly wore it out?

 

[tm965]

its fine

 

[drewsro]

Damn dude, you did exactly what you shouldn't do in four wheel drive. No reason to use four wheel drive on dry pavement.

 

[litezzz]

Probably didn't damage it. Just don't do it again. Read your owners manual.

 

[Roncu]

It's junk now. I'll give you $500 and part it out. UH you're OK. Read the manual.

 

[4Running22]

Thanks guys. When I read the manual it said to run the 4Runner in 4WD at least once a month for 10 miles. Since there are no dirt near me to test it out I figured it wouldn’t hurt to just run it on dry pavement. But I didn’t get far enough in the manual where it says not to make sharp turns in 4WD. I’m curious though what if you live in a town where it’s snowing and you have to make a u turn do I switch it to 2wd to make the turn?

 

[LandCruiser]

I do it all the time. Lots of roads and parking lots have huge patches of ice and snow and then dry spots where you sometimes have to turn into a parking space or do a U-turn. If it's dry all around I shift out of 4WD, if it isn't I just enjoy the drivetrain bind. It even does it on gravel roads sometimes, that's what we get for not having an option to buy one with a center diff except on the LE (spare me the sermon on how a center diff may wear out faster than with a truck without one).

If you're just exercising the 4WD per the manual, shift back into 2WD when you turn.

 

[drewsro]

Thanks guys. When I read the manual it said to run the 4Runner in 4WD at least once a month for 10 miles. Since there are no dirt near me to test it out I figured it wouldn’t hurt to just run it on dry pavement. But I didn’t get far enough in the manual where it says not to make sharp turns in 4WD. I’m curious though what if you live in a town where it’s snowing and you have to make a u turn do I switch it to 2wd to make the turn?

Most will just wait until it rains/snows to do it if they don't have trails/dirt to take it on. If there's snow on the ground or its wet, you should be fine, but don't quote me as I'm still fairly new to four wheel drive myself

 

[RuskiE39]

I generally pop out of 4WD when I have to make sharp turns unless the road is completely covered in Ice/Snow/Gravel/Sand/Etc

 

[SwayzeExpress]

This is my first 4WD vehicle so I’m new to this. Yesterday I ran my 4Runner in 4WD on dry pavement and made a U turn my friend told me I shouldn’t do that because it might damage the transfer case. It’s a new 4Runner trd off road with only 800 miles on the clock, you guys think I damaged my transfer case or slightly wore it out?

Nothing was locked so no need to worry - vehicle is pretty smart. It's not like rain would have tires spinning in a u turn anyway. Keep having fun and it's a Toyota you dont need to sweat stuff like that!

 

[jhguth]

Nothing was locked so no need to worry - vehicle is pretty smart. It's not like rain would have tires spinning in a u turn anyway. Keep having fun and it's a Toyota you dont need to sweat stuff like that!

The center is locked, so its binding and scrubbing tires.

Tires will chirp before something is damaged, but it's still binding and scrubbing tires - no vehicle smarts apply

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[SilverTEP]

For the monthly 4WD just go straight for couple hundred yards on the pavement and you will be fine.

 

[SwayzeExpress]

The center is locked, so its binding and scrubbing tires.

Tires will chirp before something is damaged, but it's still binding and scrubbing tires - no vehicle smarts apply

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Center sends power to 2 wheels x2 axles that aren't locked together. I'm not a mechanic though but have had 4x4s from 60s without syncromesh lol and this at most may cause issues if repeated twice a day, aggressively, for years on end. Still a maybe in my book.

I'm curious of anyone with a 5th gen who has suffered this sort of damage can post up. No crap I am interested in learning and not trying to stir the pot lol

 

[3wbdriver]

Center sends power to 2 wheels x2 axles that aren't locked together. I'm not a mechanic though but have had 4x4s from 60s without syncromesh lol and this at most may cause issues if repeated twice a day, aggressively, for years on end. Still a maybe in my book.

But on dry pavement in a tight turn all 4 tires are trying to run at different distances. This will translate back into the locked center diff (transfer case) and can cause it to bind or feel like it is binding. You can feel the same affect on dry packed dirt as on pavement even though the dirt allows a little more slippage. Does doing it once or twice damage parts? Doubtful, but it's still not recommended.

Most of the older 4wd vehicles I owned ranging from a 46 CJ-2 up through a 78 Jeep CJ-5 needed to be backed up several feet to relieve the bind BEFORE you could get the transfer case lever to release it from 4wd. It just plain wouldn't release without a hard pull if you didn't. Even if it had never seen pavement while engaged.

The 4Runner doesn't do this to me even after 4 days of 4hi/4lo travel on trails. But in my brain I know the bind is still there.

 

[mtnbiker49]

As others have said, you are fine, but do not do it again.

If you want to keep the drivetrain "lubed up" every month, put it in 4hi in a parking lot and drive straight for a couple hundred feet. Then engage 4low to make sure it engages, then disengages. And that is being generous with maintenance. Don't drive 10 miles every month on dry pavement. That number is simply ludicrous.

The #1 thing you should not do is engage a locker on dry pavement, especially at any speed. Modern vehicles have safety buffers in place to prevent that, but those can be worked around, and a clumsy flip of the switch can grenade the diff.

 

[LandCruiser]

As others have said, you are fine, but do not do it again.

If you want to keep the drivetrain "lubed up" every month, put it in 4hi in a parking lot and drive straight for a couple hundred feet. Then engage 4low to make sure it engages, then disengages. And that is being generous with maintenance. Don't drive 10 miles every month on dry pavement. That number is simply ludicrous.

The #1 thing you should not do is engage a locker on dry pavement, especially at any speed. Modern vehicles have safety buffers in place to prevent that, but those can be worked around, and a clumsy flip of the switch can grenade the diff.

Honestly it's not much different than having it engaged when sitting on a big rock.

 

[Jungoes]

wait till the guys in the 3rd Gen section read this :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

 

[SwayzeExpress]

But on dry pavement in a tight turn all 4 tires are trying to run at different distances. This will translate back into the locked center diff (transfer case) and can cause it to bind or feel like it is binding. You can feel the same affect on dry packed dirt as on pavement even though the dirt allows a little more slippage. Does doing it once or twice damage parts? Doubtful, but it's still not recommended.

Most of the older 4wd vehicles I owned ranging from a 46 CJ-2 up through a 78 Jeep CJ-5 needed to be backed up several feet to relieve the bind BEFORE you could get the transfer case lever to release it from 4wd. It just plain wouldn't release without a hard pull if you didn't. Even if it had never seen pavement while engaged.

The 4Runner doesn't do this to me even after 4 days of 4hi/4lo travel on trails. But in my brain I know the bind is still there.

I do agree you explained it well. My point was if the axles aren't locked those tires can rotate at different speeds. I also remember reversing to disengage 4wd lol! Now there are sensors all over that won't trash the tcase. Think how much r and d went into atrack crawl control etc. Even the lag between drive and reverse shows the old days are gone and a computer is between the pedals and the tires

 

[jhguth]

I do agree you explained it well. My point was if the axles aren't locked those tires can rotate at different speeds. I also remember reversing to disengage 4wd lol! Now there are sensors all over that won't trash the tcase. Think how much r and d went into atrack crawl control etc. Even the lag between drive and reverse shows the old days are gone and a computer is between the pedals and the tires

they can't though because it's locked in the middle, you need a center differential for them all to rotate freely. it's not just side to side that needs to turn at a different speed, it's also front to rear.

no amount of sensors or fancy electronics can prevent the fact that when you have a part-time 4WD system in 4WD and take tight turns on a surface with traction, it is going to bind and/or scrub tires

 

[SwayzeExpress]

they can't though because it's locked in the middle, you need a center differential for them all to rotate freely. it's not just side to side that needs to turn at a different speed, it's also front to rear.

no amount of sensors or fancy electronics can prevent the fact that when you have a part-time 4WD system in 4WD and take tight turns on a surface with traction, it is going to bind and/or scrub tires

I see thank you for explaining. I know of 2lo for tight trails but are you saying on high traction rocks making tight turns 4wd should be disengaged? Just curious and thanks for the insight