First of all, I dont have my Tacoma YET, so cannot get this from the owner's manual, and tried searching a bit on here with no luck.
This will be my first 4x4 with "pushbutton" 4x4. So, when you select 4Hi, the hubs lock after a few rotations of the front wheels I would assume? How do they unlock, by backing up for several feet like most other auto-locking hubs?
Basically I want to know if it would be OK to select 4Hi when starting out a road trip (below 25mph) then move the selector back to 2Hi. I am hoping this would engage the hubs, but leave 4x4 disengaged, so it is safe to turn/drive on dry pavement/etc. and then when the highway instantly becomes snow covered be able to flip back to 4Hi (AT ANY SPEED) safely.
Let me know where I am correct or incorrect in my thinking here. thanks.
I don't believe the '05+ Tacoma has any manner of unlocking hubs - just a drive flange, locked all the time. So when you aren't in 4WD, the half shafts are still spinning, as is the front DS, free-wheeling taking place in the transfer case.
You can go in and out of 4HI and 2HI at any time as long as you are below 55 mph. You can switch on the fly going down the highway at 55 and 4HI will engage. Flip it back into 2HI and you're back in 2wd.
You can go in and out of 4HI and 2HI at any time as long as you are below 55 mph. You can switch on the fly going down the highway at 55 and 4HI will engage. Flip it back into 2HI and you're back in 2wd.
What he said. lol In addition to that I find it works better if you clutch while switching from 4hi to 2hi and vice versa. Especially if you're under any kind of load like going up hill, etc. It'll work whenever, but you might here a loud *CLUNK* if there's any type of strain on the drive system. Clutching while doing it just makes it smoother and I would assume that's better for the truck. Not sure how it works on an auto.
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The Tacoma's drive system has locking hubs and transfer case. The hubs and transfer case both unlock electronically and you don't have to drive in reverse to unlock the front hubs they do it automatically themselves. You can engage and disengage 4Hi at any speed up to 65mph without worry. It will lock both the transfer case and the hubs at any speed up to 65mph
I know that the Tacoma has locking and unlocking hubs because I can spin the Front DS by hand when I am underneath the truck doing work. If the front hubs were always engaged you wouldn't be able to do that.
__________________ 2006 Toyota Tacoma DCab Long Bed SR5 V6 5spd Auto 4x4
Tow Package, 6 CD Changer, Rear Limited Slip Differential, 16" Alloy Wheels
Silverstar H4 Headlamps and Silverstar 9005 Foglamps, Bed Storage Utility Lock Mod, Redline Tuning Gas Hood Struts, Roll-N-Lock M-Series Retractable Tonneau Cover
No locking hubs but it does have an axel disconect. I believe it is the right side axle that is two pieces with a colar that slides over the two to connect them when 4wd is selected. So while in 2wd the left side axle turn, and the outer portion of the right side while the inner part of the right side axle (intermediate shaft) actually turns in the opposite direction and the pinion in the diff which is bolted directly to the drivshaft remains still.
Also the axle disconnect acuator is vacuum controlled
Yeah I have an auto and I find it works better if you let off the gas. You will notice less of a clunk when it engages rather than if you are on the gas. It's probably better for the truck that way too.
at times I wish I had manual hubs. excepty for the fact that when you are stuck...it usually isnt conditions where you want to get out of your truck. the electronic hubs are frustrating when they wont lock.
No locking hubs but it does have an axel disconect. I believe it is the right side axle that is two pieces with a colar that slides over the two to connect them when 4wd is selected. So while in 2wd the left side axle turn, and the outer portion of the right side while the inner part of the right side axle (intermediate shaft) actually turns in the opposite direction and the pinion in the diff which is bolted directly to the drivshaft remains still.
Also the axle disconnect acuator is vacuum controlled
Mike
That kind of sucks. Chrysler has been using vacuum disconnects on front axles in Jeeps and pickups for years, and they aren't terribly reliable when they get a bit of age on them. Maybe these will fare better, but I'd sure rather have no disconnect. Jeep ditched the disconnect, and the difference in mpg has proven to be basically nothing (like a few miles per tank, so basically immeasurable.) I'd rather Toyota just let the driveshaft spin.
The Tacoma's drive system has locking hubs and transfer case. The hubs and transfer case both unlock electronically and you don't have to drive in reverse to unlock the front hubs they do it automatically themselves. You can engage and disengage 4Hi at any speed up to 65mph without worry. It will lock both the transfer case and the hubs at any speed up to 65mph
I know that the Tacoma has locking and unlocking hubs because I can spin the Front DS by hand when I am underneath the truck doing work. If the front hubs were always engaged you wouldn't be able to do that.
Thanks.
Cool that I can engage/disengage at any speed, but I really hate all this electronically controlled 4x4 stuff.
Follow up question....How fast can you go in 4lo? I was in some very soft sand the other day, and quickly got into some harder sand while remaining in 4lo, and wasn't sure how fast I could go before I had to stop and switch into 4hi. Thanks.
He was wondering what the Max Speed in 4Lo is. I would say it is prolly around 30-40mph. You do have to be stopped and in Neutral before you can shift in or out of 4Lo.
__________________ 2006 Toyota Tacoma DCab Long Bed SR5 V6 5spd Auto 4x4
Tow Package, 6 CD Changer, Rear Limited Slip Differential, 16" Alloy Wheels
Silverstar H4 Headlamps and Silverstar 9005 Foglamps, Bed Storage Utility Lock Mod, Redline Tuning Gas Hood Struts, Roll-N-Lock M-Series Retractable Tonneau Cover
Last month I put my '06 Tacoma into 4-low and after backing my boat and trailer where I wanted them I switched back to 2-high. Hubs wouldn't unlock (or, if there are no locking hubs, as people stated above in this thread, I couldn't get it out of 4-low.
Tried backing up, going forward, backing up, going forward, etc., and gave up. Turned the truck off, went inside, came out a half-hour later, and as soon as I turned the key to 'on', I heard the 'clunk' of the hubs unlocking. I guess I essentially re-booted the computer?
And now sometimes I can't get the truck to drop into 4-low when I want it --and need it-- to. What am I missing? Any tricks?
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