before some of you veteran 4x4 owners start getting on me about using the search button i have searched and im still a little confused about stuff. first let me say this is my first truck, let alone a 4x4. im used to sports cars like my cadillac ctsv. i bought a 94 3.0, auto trans, 4x4 toyota xtendedcab and cant figure the 4x4 out. i know i have aisin hubs because they say aisin on them. i always leave them in the free position even if i plan on using the 4x4. will the 4x4 engage with the hubs unlocked or do i have to get out and switch them to locked? im thinking the 4x4 is still working because when i shift to 4h or 4L the light comes on and the truck jerks like its engaging. thanks for the help

 

WHY DIDN'T YOU SEARCH.....??????!!!!!?!?!?!























LOL!!! J/K!!!!

The transfer case will engage yes, but in order to "power" the front wheels you'll have to jump out and "lock" or rotate the dial on the hub to engage the wheel to the axle shaft.

 

You should NEVER be shifting the transfer case while youre moving... very bad.


And yes the 4wd will engage with the hubs unlocked but theres no continuity between the front tires and the axle shafts with the hubs unlocked.

In other words, your front differential will be turning but the hubs are disconnected until you lock them in.

 

yes u have to lock ur hubs then put it in 4wd.

 

Oh yeah, don't engage 4lo unless completely stopped. 4hi is a little more forgiving while moving, but I wouldn't be going any faster that 5mph or so.

 

if you put it in 4wd and dont lock the hubs the front wheels get no power. the hubs connect and disconnect the cv shafts from the hubs. its designed to not wear out parts very fast. if you truck is in 2wd and the hubs are unlocked nothing in the front end will be moving "unless someting is broken". if you were to put the truck in 4wd and not lock the hubs you would still be in 2wd because the cv shafts arent getting power to the wheels. now if you leave the hubs locked and keep the truck in 2wd all of your front components will keep moving even though they arent getting power sent to them from the engine. newer models of cars have automatic hubs that do this for you when you go from 2wd to 4wd. I hope this clears things up for you. I didnt figure this out til i serviced my bearings and saw how the hubs work. haha. oh and one more thing do what bigbluepile says dont shift your transfer case unless your stopped. very bad and expensive things can happen if you shift it at high speeds. trust me i had to help my buddy rebuild tis transfer case because he did that.

 

Check your manual but with my auto I can engage 4 hi at any speed and 4 lo up to 18 mph.

 

i switch mine between 2hi n 4hi while moving but i have a 5spd and i normally only do it when im mud slingin.....and a complete stop is needed for 4lo

 

You might want to reread you manual.

I'm not sure ANY auto will let you engage 4lo "up to 18 mph." The jeeps I've driven and my wifes '06 4Runner(all auto trannys) are a stop and put in neutral drill to get 4lo engaged.

 

locking the hubs is for the pass to learn how to do. don't do it yourself. especially if it is muddy/ snowy out. make the free loaders get out. bahaha

And to marc. not positive but i believe new runners (maybe trucks) have a different syncro or engaging setup for 4wd. this allows us to engage on the fly. and now that i think about it maybe its a chain tcase thing cause i just swapped out to a gear case and it dosen't like that very much

 

I have shifted between 2H & 4H between 5-20mph many times, it is common for the hubs on my truck to be locked for days at a time, and if you are staying under 45mph it doesn't really matter (except for maybe a drop in gas mileage with the extra drag of the front axles engaged.) During most of my winter driving I rarely get above 45 & I need 4x4 almost constantly, so there you have it. The rest of the time the hubs remain unlocked (unless 4x4 is needed), and I wouldn't even think about shifting into 4-L while moving.

Anyways, blah-blah-blah, welcome to Yotatech Forums & the endless world of Toyota truck repairs & modifications!

 

thanks for the quick respones guys. that clears things up. this whole time i thought i was actually using the 4 wheel drive. guess ill have to do some real off roading tomorrow. i read the manual once when i first bought the truck and i think it does say something about shifting into 4x4 while moving but i wont do that anyway.

 

lol! First get stuck in a mud hole. Then get out and engage the hubs. Makes a big mess in your cab. The next time you won't forget about the hubs being needed to be locked in! LOL!! Get out and have fun!!! Don't get yourself in over your head and especially DONT WHEEL ALONE!!!!!

 

It says you can shift between 2 hi and 4 hi while moving under 5mph but i dont even like to do that.. the way it pops and jerks just cant be good

 

By the way EHam, welcome to Yotatech, you will love your truck

 

If he got one of the "good" 3.0's

Btw, i like your sig

 

In so far as shifting from 2wd to 4wd(H2-H4) oviously with your hubs locked, you can shift at any speed, if she hangs up a little back off the gas and it will shift right in, most Toyotas are designed to shift "on the fly" They recommend shifting into Low (H4-L4) below 5mph, I personally prefer to stop. It is recommended NOT to shift if your wheels are spinning or have lost traction. If you have an owners manual it explains this. This is out of my manual for my 91 4x4 pickup with a 5 speed. Winter time I lock my hubs and shift into 4wd when ever I need it and at any speed I happen to be going . Never damaged anything, if your tranfer case goes , it was on the way out anyways. Read your owners manual! This is the beauty of a Toyota 4wd shifting on the fly. Now the newer models may be different, thats why I say find a manual. Enjoy
Pigman

 

I have read the manual. It says the vehicle may be moving at ANY speed to go into H4. L4 up to 18 mph.

The procedures for different vehicles may vary. It's all in the manual.

Mine isn't a jeep.

 

Good luck with that chain drive droppin it into 4lo at 18mph maybe the auto slips alot to allow it?? It would be interesting to see if 4hi would engage at 45-50mph.

Mine isn't a jeep either...

 

Well, they're shift on the fly, and i've done it during the winter at around 35 mph.