You experienced driveline bind.4 wheel drive is not meant for dry or damp pavement. Off road or snowy conditions only.

 

You can`t make sharp turns on pavement wet or dry in 4x4

 

Do you think everything is fine with the system since this only happened twice and I didn't force it? What about using the system in snow? Is that safe or should it only be used to get up hills or when the car is out of control?

 

Do you think everything is fine with the system since this only happened twice and I didn't force it? What about using the system in snow? Is that safe or should it only be used to get up hills or when the car is out of control?

I guess this is your first 4x4? The 4wd system is for snow and loose off road dirt/mud


If you dont hear any weird noises you are probabally ok I think. But for god sakes man its not a WRX or Audi AWD. Dont use the 4wd unless you are in the conditions I mentioned above. :thumbup:

 

I have an '05 Tacoma, 4 cyl eng., I put the car in 4x4. The car was fine until I hit traffic. I pulled into a parking lot and the car completely froze. I couldn't go forward. I was able to get the car to move by taking it out of 4x4.

This HAS to be your first 4x4. You are calling it a car... Thats ok newbie, I'll let you off with a warning. The previous poster is correct, you locked up the front end when the TRUCK was in 4x4 because the wheels are forced to rotate at the same speed. When you turn the wheels the outer wheel needs to travel a longer distance than the inside wheel. In order to catch up, the wheel needs to rotate faster but it cannot due to the nautre of your 4wd system. Fortunately, you bought a Toyota and it is essentially bomb proof and there is likely no damage. Had you been traveling at a faster speed you would have felt a hop or skid from the front end as the tires traction on the pavement would have given in to the vehicles inertia.

To absolve you of your mistakes send a case of redline synthetic to the moderator of this forum. Be safe this winter.

 

What about using the system in snow? Is that safe or should it only be used to get up hills or when the car is out of control?

Use the 4wd system in the snow but do not attempt to use it as a way to recover from losing control. Take the truck out on some quiet side streets or an empty mall parking lot during a snow storm and learn the vehicles handling characteristics in the snow.

 

But for god sakes man its not a WRX or Audi AWD. Dont use the 4wd unless you are in the conditions I mentioned above. :thumbup:

Sometimes I put mine in 4x4 in the mall parking lot and just drive around in circles because I like the way it feels in the steering wheel. I also like to really get the back wheels spinning, then snap it over into 4wd so I can feel that jerk of power as the front wheels start pulling.

 

This HAS to be your first 4x4. You are calling it a car... Thats ok newbie, I'll let you off with a warning. The previous poster is correct, you locked up the front end when the TRUCK was in 4x4 because the wheels are forced to rotate at the same speed. When you turn the wheels the outer wheel needs to travel a longer distance than the inside wheel. In order to catch up, the wheel needs to rotate faster but it cannot due to the nautre of your 4wd system. Fortunately, you bought a Toyota and it is essentially bomb proof and there is likely no damage. Had you been traveling at a faster speed you would have felt a hop or skid from the front end as the tires traction on the pavement would have given in to the vehicles inertia.

To absolve you of your mistakes send a case of redline synthetic to the moderator of this forum. Be safe this winter.

WRONG. what you're describing is the effect of a locked differential. in 4hi both your front and rear wheels are powered through (unlocked) differentials. they ALLOW for differing speeds left and right (with average speed=speed of ring gear/carrier), hence the name "differential". 4x4 (in most trucks) lock front to rear. the bind is due to an effect called offtracking, in a tight turn the rears follow a slightly tighter arc than the fronts. This is the reason why in a tight turn you can clear a curb with your front wheel but still hop it with the rear.

the entire binding force cannot exceed the tractive force of the tires. if the binding force is any greater it will scrub (drag) one of the tires to force it to match speed. if you get stuck, in order to break it loose, give it more gas and let it overcome the binding force at one of the axles, and roll forward/backwards in a straight line. speed front and rear should equalize getting rid of the bind. from what i've found the 4x4 sometimes needs to be either in a certian position or slightly rolling to disengange and engage. it will not disengage while bound so don't expect it to. your 4x4 is fine, just try not to take tight turns while your tires have decent grip.

 

Sometimes I put mine in 4x4 in the mall parking lot and just drive around in circles because I like the way it feels in the steering wheel. I also like to really get the back wheels spinning, then snap it over into 4wd so I can feel that jerk of power as the front wheels start pulling.

Your truck and I are both praying that you are joking. :ugh3:

 

BRANDONM7 I TAKE IT YOUR ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT DONT TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU GOT:saythat:

 

I miss having a 4H - 4L shifter. What's up with all the buttons these days? Are they just trying to dumb everything down for us?

 

This might sound like a stupid question but since I've already embarrassed myself by calling my truck a car, do you guys know of any off-road classes in the New England area that would teach me how to drive the 4x4 the correct way? Also, do you guys think that dealerships are misinformed by the difference between 4x4 systems vs. AWD systems?

 

You don't need to go take any classes. But with these systems in the yotas you cant have in 4 wheel drive when ever you want, the conditions must call for it. Most jeeps and some suv's on the other hand have whats known as a FULL TIME 4 wheel drive. I had it in my grand cherokee you could be in 4 wheel drive year round with no damage because the transfer case split power from front to rear as needed I think it was 60/40 front to rear on a regular basis. This helps prevent the binding that you had felt. Toyota does not have the same sytem so you really need to be in snow or at least on dirt to use your 4 wheel drive.

 

WRONG. what you're describing is the effect of a locked differential. in 4hi both your front and rear wheels are powered through (unlocked) differentials. they ALLOW for differing speeds left and right (with average speed=speed of ring gear/carrier), hence the name "differential". 4x4 (in most trucks) lock front to rear. the bind is due to an effect called offtracking, in a tight turn the rears follow a slightly tighter arc than the fronts. This is the reason why in a tight turn you can clear a curb with your front wheel but still hop it with the rear.

the entire binding force cannot exceed the tractive force of the tires. if the binding force is any greater it will scrub (drag) one of the tires to force it to match speed. if you get stuck, in order to break it loose, give it more gas and let it overcome the binding force at one of the axles, and roll forward/backwards in a straight line. speed front and rear should equalize getting rid of the bind. from what i've found the 4x4 sometimes needs to be either in a certian position or slightly rolling to disengange and engage. it will not disengage while bound so don't expect it to. your 4x4 is fine, just try not to take tight turns while your tires have decent grip.

First intelligent reply about 4wd. Ok now back to "you're going to break it, it's going to blow up now" posts.

 

Jomano, I don't know what kind of problem your truck is having (if any) but I used to drive my '99 Tacoma 4WD in the rain, on city streets, all the time. Of course, I'd keep it in 4 Hi and, granted, you had to be careful taking turns, as it wouldn't corner as good as it would in 2 WD. But in six years of doing this frequently, I never had any problems. Sometimes the city streets are as slick as snot, and I think it's fine to drive in 4WD.

A Toyota mechanic turned me on to doing this, and during those stretches away from true off-road adventures, it's one way of keeping the 4WD system in shape.

I maintain that 4WD is a tool and it's meant to be used (not on dry pavement, of course). I know others will disagree, but my experience indicates otherwise.

Best of luck to you,

Count

 

BRANDONM7 I TAKE IT YOUR ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT DONT TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU GOT:saythat:

:rofl: :kookoo:

 

No need to freak out about using your 4wd, as others have said avoid cranking the wheel in 4wd on traction surface. In general keep 4wd for snow and dirt rather than rain. In lake effect snowstorms I often go from whiteout to clear to whiteout in a couple minuntes. I dont shift in and out of 4hi every time. Doesnt hurt anything to straightline without snow for short periods in 4 hi.