This thing is bothering me. I have the shifter that sticks out of the floor without the button (like all real trucks ) and to engage 4H the lever has to be pulled towards the back of the car.

Now the force it takes to dislodge the shifter from it's original resting state of 2H is great. I mean a chick chick would have trouble with it, a guy chick may not but even then it is not a smooth shift and roughness can be felt through the shifter.

The transfer case fluid was recently changed, and it's behaving the same as before. Putting it back to 2H from 4H is smooth and easy.

If this normal?

 

you've described exactly how it works in my 2000 SR5 - actually I kinda like the feel, because I really miss driving stick and this is the only thing I get to shift in my truck!

 

Yep same for me
(how come your sig says 4sp?)
C

 

Auto = 4sp

Just using same units of measure as the manual guys

Why did Toyota make such a rough 4WD shifter? Is there a way to loosen it up?