Steering while in 4WD question

Forgive my noob question, this is my first 4WD vehicle and have just now started using the 4WD function in mine in the snow. I have noticed that while turning into a parking space or turning a tight circle while in 4 High, the truck does not enter the turn as easily requiring more gas and produces a slight mechanical sound with the turn.

Is this normal for these trucks? I'd assume it is since they can also be driven as RWD as well with the front wheels not being actively engaged.

 

Normal.

I'd suggest reading the visor above your head as well.

 

It’s not recommended to use the 4wheel drive on solid ground!
Different story on all time 4x4 but they’re made for that, our ones ain’t
The manual will explain everything.

 

What I am reading is that:
-normal conditions use 2WD (I do)
-4High for uneven, icy, or snowy roads (icy and snowy is when I’ve been using it)
-4Low for slow offroading (never been)

Based on this I believe I am doing nothing wrong/harmful. I shift into/out of 4High at no or low speed as directed.


The answer to my original question though still remains partially cloudy. However if Dillusion and others also experience what I am while turning at low speeds, then I am fine.

 

The short answer to this is that you should do neither of those in 4wd, while in a parking lot unless it is full ice or snow covered. If the parking lot is on a slope to where you believe you need 4wd, it’s generally a better idea to find a different spot to park.

 

My apologies if I have not quite communicated effectively; hopping over to this forum in between smaller tasks at work.

With these last few bouts of snow and ice, I have been driving in 4High on my commute to work -- suburban roads and highways, and sometimes turning into a parking spot at the gas station or at work (office building). Is it the consensus here that I should not drive in 4High in these situations and just leave it in 2WD, with a chance of slipping and sliding?

 

Driving in snow and ice in 4HI is fine.

You binding is happening at low speeds parking and tight turns which you should avoid.

 

I’d never used 4wd on pavers even when they’re covered with snow but I don’t think it’s a bad idea but you should disconnect it as soon the ground you driving on delivers equal grip.
the wheels wanna go at the same speed but the inner one has actually a shorter way as the outside wheel - no worries on loose surface, the wheels will spin without a lot of resistance but on solid ground that will cause tension! This tension cause as well some sounds and resistance on steering.


Edit: “I’d never” is the wrong word but I never need it so far and I drove a lot on snow covered roads and sidewalks back in the days with a Suzuki samurai for snow plowing...

 

So, to answer your question, if your vehicle has the selector that you turn (like your radio dial), your vehicle is full time 4WD. You have a centre differential, which will allow for the speed difference at each wheel, while each wheel "powers" the vehicle. The TRD off road and Pro have what's called a "part time 4WD system". This is ONLY to be used when conditions are slippery. Like I tell other folks, if the front wheels can slip, it's ok to use. These 4Runners with the part time system with the pull lever don't have a centre diff, and the front wheels spin a little faster than the rear. Keep driving it in 4WD on dry pavement, or non-"slippable" pavement, you will ruin your centre diff and transmission...

Cheers,

Sean

 

Lots of bad info here. An sr5 also has a turn dial selector which is a part time Tcase. Front wheels don’t turn faster than rear wheels when in 4wd. I believe you are referring to, when in a turn, your outer tire will cover more ground than the tire on the inside of the turn.

correct answer.

 

Forgive me... I was thinking about the TRD ORP vs Limited 4WD system... Didn't realise that the SR5 went to a knob from 2013... Always remembered it with a lever before, and was under the impression that the knobs (like in the Limited) were full time. My 1st 4Runner was the 2003 Sport Edition V8, which was also full time.

With regards to the front wheels spinning faster than the rear... From an engineering standpoint, think about it... the engine is in the front... There is less of a loss of power at the front than the rear. Trust me on this... If you drive for 200 miles in a straight line in 4wd on a part time system, you will still bind up your transfer case/transmission. This is why Toyota advises against driving in 4wd on dry pavement.


Cheers,

Sean

 

This is no different than driving on rock why worry about it? Leave it in 4wd.
IMHO
R

 

Coming from 15 yrs with one F-250 and a '94 Ram diesel & another 10 yrs in others plow trucks; I can simply say that yes, your turning radius it affects by using 4h.
If I am plowing a lot & I need to make a tight turn I flip it back to 2wd. Even if no slipping; the truck bucks if turned too tight. I imagine the 4runner does the same thing. My wife's daily & not enough snow yet this year for me to know.
Ryan

 

It's the turning on pavement that causes the issues. Any binding is bad and can lead to breakage or premature wear.

 

A transfer case is behind the transmission where losses can occur. Once you are in a gear, you are in a specified ratio. The difference between ring/pinion gear mesh and tolerance is negligible.

 

I think what I'm attempting to explain is best explained here: http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/def_turnpart.html


"So, with part time 4WD engaged your front wheels are forced by good traction on the ground to rotate faster than the rear - but since the front drive shaft delivers only the same rpm as to the rear there is a fight between front wheels and rotational force coming from the front drive shaft. The front drive shaft in effect tries to slow down the front wheels. This results in very wide turns (understeer) and dangerous handling on pavement."

 

I'd imagine that the small amount of driving/turning on paved surfaces, described by the OP, such as icy parking lots, should be minimal wear on the drive train as the tires would take the majority. If it's still a concern why not turn the knobityydoo to 2H once in said parking lot? You can turn it back to 4h once back on the icy road.

 

In 2H the front wheels aren't receiving any power, and because of the differential, the rear wheels spin at different rates in a turn (outside of the turn spins faster). When in 4H the front is now receiving power but there is no differential, therefore the outside wheel will not spin faster, so it feels sluggish in the turn and at the wheel. Also, because there is not locker in the front, if one of your tires looses traction in the turn, the traction control will apply breaking to stop any spin while the other wheel receives power, thus you're turning with one wheel essentially. 4L is a whole different beast but steering will be about the same.

 

In both 4H and 4L the front wheels differentiate, via the front differential, while turning.

 

This shit is so derailed in here. Y’all stop posting.

/close thread

 

Read the owners manual. Don't try to reinvent the wheel...

 

I'm pretty sure most of the time you are off roading you have some slipage so no to little binding. Hes obviously binding on the pavement.

Will he break it? Probably not.

 

There seems to be a major difference between previous generations and the 5th generation (current) when it comes to 4H. Hence a lot of what it said here is not quite right. I have a 2007 (4th G.) and the manual (and I) recommend using 4H always for various reasons. I have put over 100,000 miles (150K on the odometer) driving in 4H (unlocked C. Diff.) and as fast as 110 MPH in all kind of roads with no problems. My generation has a switch for locking the center differential which I believe is absent in the new one except for the top of the line. I use locked diff. with 4H at low speed and in mud and snow when I don't need to crawl at 4L.
In your case, I strongly suggest you read the manual because you may be doing some damage if you have a late model and not top of the line.

 

This is some good stuff to know. I think documentation should be more clear about this. There's no "WARNING: may cause damage" that I could find in either of my previous two Jeeps or the 4runner.

 

Tylandus:
I'm assuming the pictured 4 Runner is the one you are talking about. This is a 5th. generation (not Prestige) and as such 4H is not the same as the 4th gen (all) or the 5th Prestige. I believe in your case this is normal and 4H is limited to slow (25/30 MPH?) in snow and mud because there's some slip on the wheels/tires

 

You should heel your own advise...... you provided no help.......just bitching..... Yes, there are some nonsense but at the end something good came from the postings

 

Good advise.

 

Yours included.
Over the years, the 4Runner has had many changes on their 4 wheel drive systems and not all models were involved at the same time or were even included. so unless we know the year and model we are talking about we are bound to be in error. Case in point....current 5th generation.....the Prestige 5th has the same (basically) 4WD system as all 4Runners 4th. generation while the rest do not.

 

Look at the visor.

 

I'll try to remember to look in the morning.