1. Can I drive on dry pavement in 4Hi?

2. While playing in the mud in 4Hi, I was hearing some noises from the front end that I normally don't hear on the road. It wasn't anything really loud. I know that my idler arm is bad. I don't know when the last time that everything was greased. I was reading the owner's manual and noticed that it said to drive in 4wd for at least ten miles every month. I haven't done this, but I've only had the car a couple of months. Could these noises be from not driving in 4wd very often, lack of grease, the idler arm, or a little of everything? Will everything get lubricated if I grease them and then drive in 4HI?

Thanks for any input.


Quote of the Day
"You guys line up alphabetically by height."
- Bill Peterson, Florida State football coach

 

93 Runner Welcome to the Forum! I will try and answer your questions for you!

1) Yes you can drive on dry pavement in 4wd just take it easy if your going slow and turning sharp. What happens is there is a limited amount of slip in our 4wd unlike All wheel drive cars. When you turn one wheel tries to turn more than the other and causes some things to bind up in the front end.

2) Your mystery noise could be a cause of all the things you mentioned. I would start off by fixing your idler arm. Here's a link to a tech article on how to rebuild it if your mechanically inclined. It may be the culprit of the noise and I guarantee your truck will drive better with a rebuilt one. Next I would grease every zerk you can find on both the front and rear driveline. Your sticker above your visor tells you where they are at. It's a simple task to do if you have a grease gun with a flexible hose. These are the simple things you can do. If you lube everything up and are still having noises it may be the sign of a more serious problem. I hope this helps you out!

 

Well, I assume this question is for those times when one is driving in snow/ice and there is a lot of open pavement. I'm also assuming Joey has more experience than me in this area, so I'll just say this: don't turn sharp in 4wd and on dry pavement, like in a parking lot or at a stop sign.

Steve

 

i have no info to give you on your questions. just wanted to say welcome to the forums. i have myself a 93 runner too, it rocks.

 

Welcome!

That quote is absolutely hilarious!

 

There are actually a lot of well answered threads on that subject. Just search 4Hi. Welcome to the forum! One more the the 2nd Gen. count. Oh yeah!

 

I'm buying a '99 Limited next week and want to know if the 4wd system is the same as what you've described. I was hoping that it had a different 4wd mode in which it wouldn't bind around corners. Also, I'd heard that this should still have a warranty...up to 100K...???

Thanks!

 

Thanks alot for the welcome. The ideas were very useful. I'm glad you liked the quote. I'll follow with some more. Later.


"Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing - but none of them serious."
- Alan Minter, Boxer

 

That is correct. Starting with the '99 Limiteds, a center differential was added so you can now use it on dry pavement, ala AWD, without binding. Still wouldn't recommend it as it isn't necessary. When you get it, lock the center diff (like in the driveway or something) to experience what others would feel all the time!

Huh. Just thought of something for the first time. I'm guessing there had to be some '99 or '00 limiteds that had the rear locker as well. Just haven't ever heard of anyone on the boards with one. What about you, Smittie? If you don't have the rear locker on the one you're looking at and you have plans to wheel it, you might want to keep looking!

 

Thanks, Darren. I did find information on another site that verified exactly what you'd said...I'll post below so others can see as well:

"2001: A new 4WD system becomes standard on 4WD models. Previously available only on 99/00 Limited models, push-button "Multi-Mode" enables the driver to use 4WD on dry pavement through the addition of a center differential."

I get the new rig next week, can't wait to take it up to Tahoe to try out that 4wd system. Nice that it has 4wd low to enable use of the engine to slow it down on a nasty downhill from our place up there - my Subaru SVX was nicknamed the "2 Man Bobsled" as a result of a few slides down the hill.

Let it snow!