I have been trying to get my stretch out my 4Runners 4wd parts on some long Texas dirt roads every now and then, but everytime I do, something weird happens. After 15-20 minutes of being in 4H my 4Runner seems to almost be able to brake by itself or in other words it slows down without braking. Even when I have it in nuetral!!!(the transmission not the transfercase, when I put the transfer case in neutral it will roll with ease)
Any ideas on what this is? It does not seem normal because when I get it back into 2H everything seems fine. For sake of giving you all the info you might need it has a 5-speed 4wd transmission and it seems to have automatic locking hubs since when I take the center caps off the front rims there is nothing to turn or anything like that.

 

Are the front wheels able to "slip" on the dirt roads?
If not it will create alot of binding.

BUt you might just have to lube up the front end some, whens the last time you changed your diff fluid?

 

Yeah I just bought the truck a couple a months ago and all I have done so far is an oil change. I will see about changing the oil in the front differentail. I geuss I should also change out the fluids in the transmission too. Is the transmission and the transfercase all one fluid system or are they done seperatly?
Thanks for your help. Is there any thing else I should check before I get out into sticks stranded. I have a problem with my cv axle (whenever I turn sharply and hit a bump I can hear the half shaft make a loud "pop" sound). Do you think that it could put on the back-burner for a bit or is it something that requires attention before my next outdoor excursion.

 

Well, as most people will tell you, street wear and off-road on yout drivetrain, suspension, etc... are like night and day. If this were a street truck only I'd say that it might be able to wait a little longer, but everything is gonna take a good beating if you really use it off-road. As far as your diffs/tranny/x-case, go ahead and change ALL yout fluids simply because you have no idea when they were changed last, or if they've ever been. Make sure you change all fluids and make sure eveything is properly lubricated. Then make sure everything works as it should, and have fun

 

They are done seperately.

 

Yes, but most guys do the exact same fluid incase the gasket fails, they will not contaminated each other.

redline mt-90 is one of the best tranny/t-case fluids.

 

Wow, thanks alot guys I am gonna see about those halfshafts up front. I have plans to go to this part of padre island that is only accessible to 4wd with some freinds and it would really blow to leave all of us stranded. So I will see if I can get that done before I go and get stranded. Will any manufacturer for those half-shafts be good or is there one that any of you know about that will last longer than an Autozone supplier. Oh and is there a good tech write up on yotatech to lead me along the way.

 

I am at a loss. I went ahead and changed all the fluids hoping (oddly enough) that either the front diff. or transfercase will be low. Not only were they not low the fluids looked almost un-used?!!???

So any ideas from here would be great...

 

Front drive shaft lubed? Are all the tires the same size?

Your front hubs on that truck are always locked (live hubs), the drivers side axle is disconnected by VSVs and vacumum lines with the ADD (automatic differental disconnect)

 

Are the front and rear tires the same size and worn similarly and inflated equally?

 

Ditto on lubing the front CV shafts, i would also change all the fluids and then read a thread on installing front and rear differential breather extensions. Keep the fluid nice and uncontaminated should the diff be submerged.
As for not coasting in gear, that could be gear related, depending on how low your gears are it could be normal... though im not sure if it does the exact same thing in neutral

 

I will see about lubing the CV shafts. I went ahead and lubed the front and rear shaft with a lube gun when I was changing out those fluids. Are the CV shafts done the same way? Do they have those quick-connects like there "big brothers"? Or do I actually have to go in there and repack the bearings?

 

Dragging front calipers? If the last person replace the master cylinder and did not set the clearance as outlined in the paperwork, then fluid pressure builds as you use the brakes. Do you have this problem on the street? As for the FWD, if someone replaced one of the differential gears and its not the same ratio but close, that would attribute to the wound up condition. Just a thought.

 

You would have to repack the bearings, but before you go to all that trouble just jack up the wheel and spin it and see if there is a lot of resistance. Usually the CVs go in a big bang type failure unless the boots have holes or something.

My guess is the transfer case is just binding up from driving on a high traction surface in 4wd with maybe slightly different size tires or gears.

 

Does this mean (as it sounds) that y'all are going "alone" that is with only 1 4wheel drive vehicle ?




Fred

 

yup... why, what's up?

 

All of the tires are the same. Even the tread is wear down pretty evenly. If it was a problem with the gears being uneven (from differential to differential I am guessing) is it OK to go on like that? And that high traction surface bit, all I can say is that the gravel that I was on in both instances seemed to be pretty loose but I guess the trip to the beach will be the ultimate test to that problem (after I raise the truck and check to see if it is spinning good, thanks for that quick check idea )

 

Ok, yeah loose gravel shouldn't let there be much of any binding. If there is different ratio beween the front and rear diffs you shouldn't have too much of a problem in sand. The diff that is spinning faster than the other would just dig the tires into the sand faster and maybe get you stuck easier but it won't hurt the drive line like driving in 4wd on a high traction surface would.

 

I once put my truck in 4wd on the pavement (going real slow) when it had 5.71 gearing in the front and 5.29 gearing in the rear and it was like I had hit the brakes. I came to stop real quick from the binding. That's just one step difference in gearing.

 

That's about one of the dumbest things that you can do.

One of the first rules of wheeling is NEVER wheel alone.

It's dangerous enough for the seasoned drivers, but for newbe's it's simply asking for to much especially in some area even the slightest bit remote. By your own statement of not wanting the leave you and your friends stranded, you pretty much say it all.

You don't know much about the vehicle, you don't know what it can do and, most importantly, you don't know what it can't do.

That's simply asking for trouble and possibly creating more bad press for wheelers.




Fred