Turned sharply in 4WD on dry pavement!

[dlee275]

I am an idiot. I just got an 89 truck and I had read that you are supposed to drive it in 4wd a little every once in a while so I did. I was turning out of a parking spot and I heard a popping/grinding like a bad cv joint. I tried it in 4wd low and it was doing the same thing. I was thinking that I had a problem but come to find out on these trucks all four wheels have to spin at the same rate. Anyway, I didn't really do it that much but I am wonding what I may have broke and how I can check. Should I just take it out to a dirt road and see if it makes a noise in 4wd and if not I should be okay?

Damn I am mad at myself!!!

[Smoke]

Try it!! Hope you learnt from your mistakes!!

[Bakemono]

My '91 4Runner's owner's manual said the same thing.
I look at it this way, driving on dry pavement in 4x4 is MUCH worse than not using the 4x4 system all summer.
You really dont need to worry about using it in 4x4 in the summer months, its not as if the gears inside the transfer case are going to rust or anything.
When you are going down the road, the gears in the diff are constantly spinning and splashing oil around because they are constantly connected to the CV joints.
Cap'n

[Tercel GTS]

I'm betting the noises came from the front drive shaft. Don't let anybody talk you into driving in 4WD on pavement.

[Bakemono]

I wonder, how is it that a LandCruiser is full-time 4x4 but yet they dont have problems with breaking driveshafts and joints like other 4x4s do?

I can see how the RAV4s can be full-time 4x4 on dry pavement and not break because they have a viscous coupler which allows the wheels to turn at different speeds and which limit the torque that each tire gets.
However, the LandCruiser doesnt have this technology...
Cap'n

[Forstr]

That "popping and grinding" could also be a result of some damge to the ring and/or pinion. I heard the same noises prior to having to replace my gears. When I tore it down, I was missing several teeth on the pinion gear and one or two on the ring gear. My CV's weren't damaged. Not saying that's necessarily the case with yours, but it's a possibility.

[alltrac165]

out of curiosity, did you lock your front hubs? IF you DIDN"T, then no worries, the wheels weren't connected to the drivetrain. If you did, then it's still unlikely that there is any problems. You shouldn't do it all around town, but an occasional turn on dry pavement in 4wd isn't likely to break an axle. What is far more likely is it will buck and shimmy a little while the tires wind up and break loose trying to compensate for the differing turning radius.
Did the noise happen at full wheel lock? Like turned all the way? If so, then that's normal Toyota. The steering stops have little plastic cups that wear away and then at full lock it's metal to metal and you get lots of popping and squeaky grinding noises. You would get that whether you were in 4wd or not, though.

[dlee275]

Yeah, my 89 has automatic locking hubs. But my wheels weren't turned all the way, maybe 2/3 of the way. When I got home I tried it on a dirt road and it was still making a little noise when turning almost all the way but not as much. I guess whatever is giving is a little weaker than it should be because even on dirt my front tires (which are new) don't slip enough for whatever is popping not to bindup. I think the 4wd is working though.

[Bakemono]

I think that "pulse vacuum hublocks" (automatic hubs) came out in '87, so he has no hubs to lock.
The diff is always connected to the wheels via CV joints.
Cap'n

[snowboarder2359]

Did it only do it when you were turning? Or when you were going straight?

[snowboarder2359]

Most toyota pickups make popping and grinding noises when you have the wheels turned all the way and you hit a bump. Mine and all my friends do this. I this it is because there is a steering stopper or somehting that prevents you from turning the wheels any farther and then it hits it and you go over a bump while turning sharply it will cause a popping and griding noise. I don't think it would of had anything to do with you having it in 4wd other than since the front wheels are locked it could of been slipping and bounicing a little bit while turning and that could of caused the steering stopper to grind up and down and cause the noise you are hearing. Hope this helps.

[ultrasonic]

I have a manual 4x4 with manual locking hubs and I just took it off roading. At some points when I was on a hill I had to lock the hubs cos the limited slip will give out.

My question is -whats this big deal? So your in 4x4 on the street and you drive it a couple blocks or so. I know if you have locked hubs the tires turn at different speeds "WHEN YOUR MAKING TURNS" otherwise everything is in sync. The worst that could happed is that the front-end hopps a little and you kill your tires. Are Yotas this suseptable to 4x4 outages and damages?

The reason I ask the question I do, is because if and when I take mine off-roading and I am going from muddy terrain to a slick gravel then to dirt road - am I doing damage if my hubbs are locked in 4-high? Should I only be locking hubbs when I absolutly need them or can I leave them on for everything I face off-road? I just got a 92' yota and have been loving the 4x4 with NO problems. Is there something I should be aware of, being a newbi to 4x4'ing?

[snowboarder2359]

sounds like what you are currently doing is fine.

[00Yoda]

Leave your hubs locked in just don't put it in 4H or especially 4L on dry pavement. just slip it out of 4H when you go to run on the pavement. I there's snow/slush/ice whatever on the roads and they can slip a bit to unwind themselves it's no problem.....I drive mine at 75 on the interstate and just let off the gas and slip it into 4X4 if it looks a bit slippery...just don't reach for the handle if your wheels are spinning, major damage can result

[ttownjoeshow]

my crapper makes the same noises, But i'm sure its the torshion bars er something like that...its happened to all my trucks...i'd say its common and yes even after a lube job n all that