^^If it might be icy SLOW down, if you are in 2wd and hit a patch of ice let off the gas and push in the clutch (manual) DO NOT HIT THE BRAKES! The biggest places to worry about black ice and ice in general is corners, bridges and anything in the shade. Knowing that on days that it might be icy be cautious in those areas!!! Slow down when coming into a corner in the shade, when on a hill that might be icy try and keep a constant speed and try not to accelerate up the hill and so forth.

Again as I said in my reply above just because you have 4wd doesn't mean you should go 65mph when its icy. It won't help you stop and at speed it really won't help you steer.

I have driven well over 500,000 miles in the 18 years I have been driving and have always lived in snow belt and driven 2wd, 4wd with studded tires and without and if you just drive for the conditions you will be fine!

 

Here in Texas its pretty flat and straight and thats only on freeways with lite to no traffic. Plus we only have about 2-3 days of snow and ice a year. I never said I was that good I guess I could have worded it better

My bad.....

 

I didn't really mean to slam you directly. I live in an area where we get a lot of snow and ice and people don't slow down and for the most part are driving out of control and just lucky that they haven't wrecked yet. I've been guilty of going faster then the conditions allow, like you when there wasn't traffic.

 

Thanks, this was the type of answer I was looking for. I know to slow down if the weather is bad but sometimes it sneaks up on you on a corner or something. Thanks though. The reason I asked is because I thought that between the front diff or the transfer case there was a slip mechinism that could compensate for the binding in the drive line. Thanks for setting me strait. And those of you who said that if you can drive 60 then you don't need the 4 wheel drive you're right and I know that. Again, I was just concerned about black ice and stuff but if it's personal safety or my yota's safety... The safety of my yota wins everytime, right boys!

 

Ok, so now my question is this, when we're not in 4 wheel, because a lot of our toys don't have hub releases, are we causing damage to our front diffs just by driving them? If not, why not, which part is relieving the binding between the wheels?

 

Nothing is really being damaged, they're just wearing faster. Just like socks, the drive line gets worn out from continual use. Its not really anything to be worried about, IMO, it just might wear a hole/crack in the CV boots, or the CV joints might wear out a littler sooner. And your gas mileage will decrease.
The part that really causes the binding between the wheels is the transfer case. If our trucks had a center differential, one between the drive lines of the front and rear, then we really wouldn't have anything to worry about by driving on dry pavement.

 

Thanks. Yeah the only thing I've noticed is that I have to be careful not to turn to hard or I get a real loud clunk sound when the front cv joint binds. Is that normal or is it going bad on me? Its only when I turn like all the way to the left.

 

Oh! Thats not your CVs binding, thats just the steering bump stops most likely. Its kind like a pop/clunk noise? Thats totally normal. You can put some grease or something on them and it should help to lessen the noise a little put. Just don't turn the wheel all the way Or, if you do, make sure you're right next to someone and it will scare the crap out of them

 

Yeah, so why is it doing it? Just too much pressure to keep it turned while giving it gas, because it doesn't happen if I'm not moving. And where should I grease?

 

Its doing it because the steering bump stop on the wheel assembly is hitting the steering bump stop on the lower control arm. They are there to prevent the driver from turning further than the steering components can allow and handle. If it wasn't 5 am I would go take some pics for you, but you could try searching like "steering bump stops" or something along those lines and see if you can get anything. I know I've seen pictures on this site pertaining to the exact "problem" you have. Mine do it. I just don't turn the wheel all the way anymore unless I have to.

 

Cool, thanks for the help!

 

No Problemo

 

We finally got some ice here in Wisconsin and I was driving in 4x4 and my back end started to slide out and the front just pulled the truck right back to strait as I thought it would. Good to know. Also I love the switch on the fly feature for protecting the drive train. I just put it in 4x4 when I'm at an icy intersection and once I'm moving down the road I can just slide it out of 4x4 on the fly. It makes it so much more usable then having to stop to take it out of 4x4. Plus I haven't noticed power loss in 4x4 but I'm sure there is some. Thanks for all the help on this topic guys, I know I asked a dumb question but it was because I really didn't know so thanks again and keep up the good work!

 

Yeah, once you're going faster then our city speed limit of 25 mph there is definitely a power drop off but its well worth it. I guess I never really meant to use the 4x4 on dry pavement, I was asking for those times like today when the roads have a sheet of snow and ice on them so you never know when you'll need the 4x4 on. The only odd thing for mine is that it doesn't turn on on the fly it only can be turned off that way. So if I'm driving down the road and all the sudden I hit a spot where its really bad I'd have to pull over to be able to pull the 4x4 lever... other than that I love it! I've driven it up to 65 mph for no more then 2 miles and never felt any binding except in parking lots when taking really sharp turns like into a space at a 90 degree angle. Well... Thanks again for the help and keep up the good work!

 

your 4x wont shift into it on the fly? weird... maybe something is busted... as long as you are below 55 mph, you should be able to shift into 4 hi... unless your talking about 4 low, in which case, yea... it has to be under 5 mph...

 

Not going to read all that but the manual calls out 50MPH as the top for an 85 4runner.

I would trust the manual over anyone on this site.

 

Should i push the clutch in or just move the stick? What is the proper way of switching in to 4hi?

 

No clutch, Just from a stop throw it in 4hi...

 

I'm happy that my 2002 4Runner has a selectable center differential. I can drive around in 4x4 all day long on dry pavement (if there was ever a reason to do that) without worrying. I guess the benefit is for days that there are snow or ice patches here and there, with dry pavement sections, I don't have to worry about shifting in and out of 4x4. It is a much better system than my '93 4Runner was (although I guess it has more parts that can break).

 

yeah, I just let of the gas and pop it in and it goes fine. I've looked in the manual of my 95 and it says nothing about a top speed in 4wd. My bronco's says 55, but that is a different setup. I've driven at 65-70 for about 20 miles in 4wd on the freeway, but that is because our freeway gets ruts worn in it from all the studs and it can be challenging switching lanes when it's a little icy. that was also when I first moved to Alaska. Any more, I just drive in the same conditions in 2wd. I mean, I drive 65-70 every day on the freeway, and no problems. I guess you just drive cautiously and pay attention. I've never been in an accident that was my fault, and I've only ever been in the ditch once that I couldn't get out of. I was doing like 5mph and couldn't tell where the road ended and the ditch started. I've also never been in the ditch on the freeway. We are below freezing about half the year so there is always potential for ice. I only use 4wd now when we get a good layer of snow, before they plow, or sometimes I'll pop it in real quick to pull out into traffic. I think as far as wear is concerned if you are doing higher speeds, it's not like you turn your steering wheel all that far.