Hi guys and gals! I have a 1989 Pickup std cab with 4x4. the other day i was trying to shift back to 2 wheel drive and it took all of my might to shift it. anyone have any idea what the cause may be...?

 

Since you don't have a middle differential, do not drive it on 4wd on the street. Ever.

The front of your truck moves slower when you go around corners. It binds up in the transfercsse. Input and out moves equally, all the time.

In gravel, just go straight ahead for a couple feet, stop or drive 1mph and shift. Should go smooth as butter.

youtube vids can show you how it works.

 

Mine has done the same thing about half the time I've gone to shift outta/into 4wd. Moving the truck backward/forward slightly to try to ease any loading off the gears sorta seemed to help, something like when trying to shift a dirtbike with the engine off.

 

My 85 was doing that. I did a bunch of running around and was in and out of 4 and 4lo a lot one day. Now she shifts great.

 

 

thanks - next time I am shifting out of 4x4 i'll be sure to move a bit to see if that helps!

 

As said, likely normal operation. If you can do it safely, just apply steady moderate pressure on the shifter while driving. Eventually the driveline bind will relax and the shifter will move easily. Backing up with the front wheels slightly turned (either direction) will also often free things up.

In the later chain-driven cases, Toyota coupled the shifter to the gears with a spring linkage such that you can move the shifter easily at any time, and then the gears will pop free as soon as the driveline frees up.