V6 4WD Question...

[mattb2003]

I just bought my 4Runner last month, and love it so far! I'm also getting the vibration (in the steering wheel) above 55-60 mph, but from searching on the thread, it seems this is normal. If there is a solution that someone came up with that I didn't find in the search, I'd be happy to hear it!

Anyway, I do have a question about 4WD mode. The manual says to drive 10 miles or so / month to keep the system maintained / lubricated. Well, today with the rain, I decided to turn it on while driving during lunch. This is the first time I've used it since my purchase. It has about 430 miles on it right now. I noticed that once in 4WD mode, it was a little rougher while driving. It wasn't terrible, but noticeable nonetheless. I'm wondering if this is normal, or something I should talk to Toyota about. I'm also wondering if maybe since this is the first time I've used it, it will maybe smoothen out as time goes on. When I put it back into 2WD mode, it felt normal again. If anyone has any input on this, I would definitely appreciate it!

Thanks in advance for any input!

Matt

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Vibration

Your tires may be out of balance, one or more perhaps. This is not uncommon. The dealership should spin balance them to make sure. Also make sure they relubricate the drivetrain zerk fittings on the shafts and differentials. They may not have come with enough lube. Also a common problem.

You don't say which tire your truck came with, the Duelers are "ok" on dry roads, but not so great on wet roads. I never had the Dunlops, which most owners here don't like.

The steering will be a little "heavier" when 4WD is engaged. almost feels like some of the power steering has left when going around a street corner. Mine has always felt this way. I leave it on from around late November until March, just because there's alot of shadows on the secondary roads I use to and from work and around town. Could be icy spots anywhere in the shadows

 

[Thai]

Toolman is right...ask your dealer to re-balance your tires, esp. your front ones. Also, you do get one FREE alignment before 12000 miles (or 1st year)...so, you may want to use this AFTER they re-balance your tires and if you still have the problem.

Good luck.

 

[MicaBlue03]

Ditto on the alignment recommendation.

As for the different feel when in 4WD, a lot of us have noticed that. Not a big thing, but some have described the feel as a more "stiff legged" one when in 4WD.

It makes sense. Chassis and steering dynamics are easier to manage when one set of wheels can do only propulsion and the other can do only steering. You may have noticed that many high-performance cars are RWD for best handling and driving experience.

Of course, the criteria for "best driving experience" changes when you're in low-traction situations and that is why it's nice to have the choice in the V6 4runners.

Some folks don't care much about the different feel and/or are in situations where they might encounter a low-traction situation at any time, so they leave the vehicle in 4WD all the time. That's just fine too.

 

[Uneek]

There is a noticeable difference in 4WD and it's normal. I find the feeling to be more of a heavy feeling personally. Thai's right, Toyota offers free one adjustment within the first 12 months or 12k miles.

 

[007Runner]

Tell me more about this first free alignment during the first 12,000 miles. Nobody said any thing to me about this. Where is this offer coming from? Is it in the paperwork you get when you take home the 4Runnner? The other thing I wonder about is needing an alignment in only 12,000 miles every 12,000 miles is going to add a significant cost to the maintenance bill.

 

[boston_kevin]

What exactly do you mean by "rougher" in 4wd mode? You will feel more resistance driving in 4wd vs 2wd since you are now applying torque to the front axle and front tires... This make the steering feel heavier. If the tires were out of balance I'm not sure why 4wd vs 2wd would really contribute that much. If the alignment was off, 4wd mode would definitely be noticable since you are applying to power to the steering which is out of alignment .

 

[4by4th]

I'm trying to catch every nuance that my 4Runner puts out due to the problems I've had with the dealer's mechanics, and have never noticed a vibration in 4WD vs. 2WD. I never put it in 4WD on dry roads though, since I'm not used to having a 4x4 where that's okay. You might take a look at the little card in the visor that tells how to use the 4WD. I thought it said something about not using 4WD over 55 or 60, but that may have just been about putting it in or out of 4WD at those speeds.

 

[boston_kevin]

I'm trying to catch every nuance that my 4Runner puts out due to the problems I've had with the dealer's mechanics, and have never noticed a vibration in 4WD vs. 2WD. I never put it in 4WD on dry roads though, since I'm not used to having a 4x4 where that's okay. You might take a look at the little card in the visor that tells how to use the 4WD. I thought it said something about not using 4WD over 55 or 60, but that may have just been about putting it in or out of 4WD at those speeds.

Yep.. Don't engage or disengage the 4WD system at speeds over 62 MPH. Personally, anything over about 40 MPH is too fast for me.

 

[AlexJet]

I just bought my 4Runner last month, and love it so far! I'm also getting the vibration (in the steering wheel) above 55-60 mph, but from searching on the thread, it seems this is normal. If there is a solution that someone came up with that I didn't find in the search, I'd be happy to hear it!

First, rebalance the tires. Second, if this will not help, re-do the alignment. Third, still have issues - go to the dealer and fix the suspension under the warranty (bring proof of rebalancing and redoing the alignment, so dealer will have to deal with truck itself)

Anyway, I do have a question about 4WD mode. The manual says to drive 10 miles or so / month to keep the system maintained / lubricated. Well, today with the rain, I decided to turn it on while driving during lunch. This is the first time I've used it since my purchase. It has about 430 miles on it right now. I noticed that once in 4WD mode, it was a little rougher while driving. It wasn't terrible, but noticeable nonetheless. I'm wondering if this is normal, or something I should talk to Toyota about. I'm also wondering if maybe since this is the first time I've used it, it will maybe smoothen out as time goes on. When I put it back into 2WD mode, it felt normal again. If anyone has any input on this, I would definitely appreciate it!

Yes, it's normal when you feel the difference between 2WD and 4WD. Sometimes I have a feeling that I have couple extra people in the truck or tow a small boat, but IT IS NORMAL.

 

[MicaBlue03]

Alignment every 12000 miles?

007Runner, I can't see any reason you'd need an alignment every 12000 miles, even if it turns out to be helpful to get one in that first 12000.

The issue is the durability/stability of the alignment vs. something (perhaps in initial transport to you such as chaining the vehicle down to the transport truck, somebody hitting a curb hard, etc.) that messed up the alignment once early-on.

Once aligned properly, the 4Runners seem to hold alignment well. I've had no problems or pulling or unusual tire wear (I've checked on that) and I've never had an alignment done on my 4Runner.

I haven't read an alignment policy but have heard a number of forum members state that their dealer's policy to was to cover or perform an alignment once in the first year/12000 miles if there was a problem.

If the alignment doesn't solve the problem or the vehicle doesn't stay aligned it's time to get the frame and suspension checked out by an expert such as a body shop or alignment shop.

 

[Thai]

You get one FREE alignment before 12000 miles from your Toyota dealer. I think that this is in the Maintenance or Owner's Manual. It is ONLY if you need it...but you may want to do it anyway just to make it worth it.

And you do NOT need to do alignment every 12K miles.

 

[Thai]

Yep.. Don't engage or disengage the 4WD system at speeds over 62 MPH. Personally, anything over about 40 MPH is too fast for me.

Yup...what he said.

You can drive your 4runner in 4wd all day long at any speed. It's the same as if you drove the V8 4runner 4wd.

 

[Thai]

Re: Re: V6 4WD Question...

First, rebalance the tires. Second, if this will not help, re-do the alignment. Third, still have issues - go to the dealer and fix the suspension under the warranty (bring proof of rebalancing and redoing the alignment, so dealer will have to deal with truck itself).

Although not a requirement, you may want to do all of the above steps at one dealer, preferrably a Toyota dealer. Sometimes, the dealer may blame the other place for not doing it right...and give you the run-around. If you do at one place, then there should not be any questions floating around when you bring your car back (if needed). This will also help reduce headaches if this problem turns out to be a warranty problem.

In addition, the Toyota dealers have the Haweka device to properly balance your tire/wheel (see: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173). Discount Tires and other big tire stores also have this device. I would also make sure that the tire shop/Toyota dealer has the Hunter GSP9700 machine there to roadforce & balance your tires. This machine does indeed make a difference.

Good luck.

 

[Uneek]

Some tire places like Firestone offer lifetime alignments for about $160. Others like Wheel Works offer a 12 month, 12k mile warranty for alignments for $70 and you can take your vehicle to have the alignment inspected as much as you like. Good and highly reputable alignment shops will even align your vehicle to your specs (i.e. track days, racing, etc).

My friend use to work at Wheel Works and said Toyota trucks (4R's, Taco's, Tundra's, etc.) hold up their alignments really well. He's seen a bunch of 4R's come in thinking he can make money off an alignment and they leave without one because within specs and they did nothing. One 4R came back 6 months, 30k miles later and the alignment didn't change at all. Our '90 pickup never had an alignment for the 95k miles we've owned it.

A side note, you shouldn't go from 2H to 4H at speeds above 62mph or while cornering, but the manual doesn't say anything about going from 4H to 2H.

 

[boston_kevin]

Re: Alignment every 12000 miles?

The issue is the durability/stability of the alignment vs. something (perhaps in initial transport to you such as chaining the vehicle down to the transport truck, somebody hitting a curb hard, etc.) that messed up the alignment once early-on.

Once aligned properly, the 4Runners seem to hold alignment well. I've had no problems or pulling or unusual tire wear (I've checked on that) and I've never had an alignment done on my 4Runner.

Yea, unfortunately, this is not uncommon with vehicles shipped on railcars or ships. Since they have to tie them down securely, sometimes the alignment will shift (hence the dealer offering the free alignment in the first 12000 miles). GMC had that issue with their Yukons, and to do the first alignment the dealer had to remove some pins (which after the first 12 months) they would charge something like $200 to remove the pins just to do the alignment. In the first 12 months, it was covered by the dealer at no charge....