problem- in 4 high, a binding in front end when turning, either direction,

my 4runner,, which i had just driven the last couple days,, has low easy mile 40k miles,,,,i was turning around in my cul de sac on pavement to load onto trialer,, it was in 4-high,, all of sudden i feel resistent as i am turning,, and then as i was turning left, the 4runner like raised on the left and lowered in the right,, like i was driving over a bump on the front left,, but i wasn't. any thoughts? i took it over to some dirt and it didn't do it in 4 high or low, but once back on the pavement, same thing in 4-high. as i drive straight, it works fine. i would be a little concenred at higher speeds in 4-high.

should i be concerned?

 

It’s hard to Towel but it’s really raised on the left side

 

That’s just how it is turning on pavement in 4 high. This isn’t AWD.

 

man,, i don't know,, it has never done this before on pavement, in 4 high. lots of resistance when turning either way,, and it has never changed it's suspension height like that.

 

My goodness!!! You are not supposed to use 4wd on dry pavement. Stop doing this to your truck! It’s heavy and you are going to break an axle or blow out your transfer case. Use 4H only in slippery conditions so it does not bind. What you are describing is binding of your gear train.

It sounds like you drive a lot in 4wd on dry pavement. (Because you say that it is binding differently now than it was before). Maybe it’s behaving differently now because you’ve managed to twist an axle, or something has finally deformed.

 

You are a bad owner and your truck hates you

 

The Limited trim has Full time 4 wheel drive because it has a center differential that allows the front driveshaft and rear driveshaft to spin at different speeds (like what happens in a turn).

The SR5, Off-Road, and Pro trims have part time 4wd. It does not have a center differential! Therefore the front and rear driveshafts are locked together all the time, which means that when turning, the wheels need to be able to slip to relieve the pressure that builds up on the dirveshafts in a turn. If not, you might break very expensive things.!

 

It's not often you can see how far OP will be dragged just by the title.

 

Exactly.

It’s almost as if the OP is trolling. 4-Hi. Cul de sac. Pavement. Ticking all the boxes. He describes his 4Runner as having low easy miles and then posts a picture of a heavily modified truck, which does not connote “easy” miles. I smell a rat.

 

You should be concerned if you drive in 4hi on dry pavement often. If you feel binding and turn off 4hi it's not a big deal. Transfer case is quite strong on 4Runners, but it's designed to drive in 4x4 when surface provides some wheel slippage, such as gravel roads, dirt roads, snow, heavy rain and so on. But if you force it often on dry pavement it can break I think.

 

Omg. I swear. No rat. I Was driving around my cul-de-sac because I was orienting it to drive it up on my trailer, and I never trailer towed it before, but I wanted to put it in four wheel low to get it up on the trailer. I put it in and out of four wheel high while driving on the highway, but maybe I’ve never turned really sharp in four wheel high, I thought I had Anyways i was going real slow so hopefully everything’s fine, I’m gonna try and post a picture so the conspiracy theories do not progress any further

 

I am halfway up hunting now, I will respond further upon my return

 

I doubt if you hurt anything, but it is best not to drive in 4-low, and turn the wheels sharply on hard pavement or concrete. I do exercise mine in 4-hi. On the pavement once in awhile, but no sharp turns.

 

ok. So bought truck like that like 2018 I think. It had pretty low miles. Easy ones. I actually have put half easy highway but then maybe I have put some pretty hard miles on it myself, but overall, it’s a 2016 trail and I think I’m at 48,000 miles. It does look a little rough in that picture. It needs major detailing. But when I got it in 2018, it was pristine. And obviously 4 low Is not good on pavement at all. I absolutely know that, but I honestly thought four wheel high wasn’t that big of a deal on pavement. I usually post on 4runner.org. I gotta ask, who in the hell would troll a forerunner forum? I can’t believe I have signal where I am at.

 

Straight roads are fine but the part time case doesn't allow the front and rear axles to turn a different speeds when turning so you get binding.

 

Others have mentioned your vehicle has part time 4WD, not AWD like the limited. So no matter if you are in 4Lo or 4Hi, you will bind your transfer case on any surface with high traction, such as a road. The only thing you should be in while on pavement is 2WD. To get on the trailer, line up in 2WD, then, without having to steer much, put it in 4Hi > 4Lo.

 

Okay okay. As your 4Runner is out with you on a hunting trip it’s living it’s best life, and that’s a good thing, and those of us who are armchair-quarterbacking (including myself) should cut you some slack.

That said - as others have indicated: according to Toyota when on dry pavement you should be in 2WD. 4WD is for looser surfaces. Toyota recommends in the manual that the 4WD system should be exercised for 10 miles monthly, and some folks without fire roads or trails nearby will bend the rules and drive in 4WD for a while on a nice straight stretch of pavement with minimal curves. This practice is somewhat controversial and reasonable people can agree or disagree. But I think everyone will agree that a part-time 4WD vehicle shouldn’t be driven in 4WD on the pavement a matter of routine.

Hope your hunt is fruitful! Stay safe.

 

It really isn't a big deal, if you are going straight. I do it frequently to exercise the system.

But if you tell to someone that doesnt have any mechanical sympathy, they will misunderstand and just commute to work in 4hi all the time. I could imagine the complaints that it handles like crap, and that a 50,000 dollar 4wd truck shouldn't break from driving it 4wd.

 

This ^^^

 

ESL? Sounds like.

Out hunting? Never met anyone who was ESL with the exception of maybe a few Mexicans who hunts. Your phrasing doesn't sound like you are Mexican.

What's the tow vehicle and is it yours? Is it in 4hi? You can manage to operate a burly ass pickup and trailer to tow with but you don't understand 4wd?

Just a few of the numerous follow up questions I have unrelated to the actual issue at hand.

 

What’s esl. Let’s stick to issue at hand So much more hopefully helpful that way.

 

Dude, you get out much? There’s plenty of “ESL’s” that hunt. Around here , I know Hmong folks that spend more time in the woods hunting and fishing than at home lol. Except they arent ESL, since they always knew two languages.

Anywho, it’s possible someone who is an outdoorsy type wouldnt know or care all that much about how equipment works, until it breaks. Or like in this case with the OP, until he notices something aint quite right, and he decides to ask to make sure. Now he knows and can start making amends with his 4runner.

 

thanks,,came back early from hunting. when i come off a dirt road, and onto pavement, which i have done many times, sometimes i forget it is in 4high, and i just reach down and put it into 2w,, but like you said, i was probably going straight most of the time. i also drive a couple other trucks and a sequoia, they never give me any problems,, well the dodge does i guess. it worked fine up hunting though. i don't drive the 4runner much really, especially the last year. trying to keep miles down so it last longer for hunting and other things. thanks to the folks who gave intelligent responses.

 

4wd to drive it up that little trailer?

I've seen and heard it all now. Don't forget to engage 4WD on them speed bumps too.

 

Nothing wrong with that, is there? I use 4wd to get up my steel ramps when I’m changing my oil. If I don’t, the 4runner can push the ramps forward and cock everything up. Much easier to let the front tires do their share of the work.

I’d imagine if I was loading a heavy 4runner onto a trailer, using 4wd would control some of the variables; I would hate to push a ramp off it’s mounts, spin my tires on a ramp, or spit out a ramp entirely with my rear tires unless absolutely necessary…which is never, when you have 4wd

 

The first time I changed the oil in my rig, it pushed my steel ramps forward across my garage floor. So, I put in 4Hi and it pulled right up. Easy!!

Cheers,
Bob

 

I have the plastic ramps with rubber feet. They grip the pavement pretty well, never had an issue pushing them in 2wd. Though I suppose the asphalt in the street in front of my house is grippier than a garage floor, haha. The joys of apartment life. :/

 

I use 4WD with the plastic ramps too.

 

Having yet to change my own oil (next go-round), I was wondering about that - whether it's ok or not to put the front end up on ramps...I'd heard you want the vehicle level, but don't know if that's really necessary or not...

 

I'm just giving him shit because I don't believe it.

You telling me with a rig like that he has no idea 4WD would do that? His little note under his name also says "overlanded to death" so he can't be clueless.