Problem turning when in 4x4.

[snakehead]

I have a 5.7 4x4 Crew Max. When the truck is in 4x4 (4x4 HI -- I really haven't tried LO), I find it very difficult to make turns. The harder the turn I try to make, the more resistance I'm getting. For a tight turn, it feels as if I'm standing on the brakes and the front wheels are binding on something.

I will call this to the attention of the dealer when I bring it in for the first oil change, but wanted to see if anyone on this forum has experienced anything similar.

Please let me know and thanks in advance.

-John

[Northwoods_Maine]

In this your first 4X4 by chance? Every 4X4 I've owned, regardless of brand has done that if you have 4 wheel engaged on a dry/non slippery surface.

[tonyholland00]

This is normal.......

[blackgts2002]

it is very normal . mine does the same thing. when you are in sand, grass, or otherwise soft ground, the turn will be easy. check it out.

[GGWOODY]

Originally Posted by Northwoods_Maine

In this your first 4X4 by chance? Every 4X4 I've owned, regardless of brand has done that if you have 4 wheel engaged on a dry/non slippery surface.

Yep, this is a 4x4 standard. Because the rear wheels are not pushing and rolling those front wheels into turns. Give it a touch of gas when turning in 4hi/lo and remember that you likely won't be able to coast into slow/crawling turns. In fact on dry pavement, you will hear the front tires slipping through a turn...there's a lot of torque and the truck will act differently.

use 4hi on wet pavement during takeoffs, standing water in the road, maybe on winding wet pavement, loose dirt, fire roads at high speeds, mud, dune sand, deep gravel or rocks, grass (you don't want to spin the rears and tear up the turf), snow, ice. Any situation where your wheels will spin or you need the added control of power to the front/steering wheels keep it on. Your judgement on when to use it will sharpen as you gain experience with a 4x4.

use 4lo. RARELY. Very low gearing here, and it is best for creeping up or down nasty hills.


have fun!

[Shaneshot]

You are putting alot of pressure on that front end by doing that. This 4x4 system locks the diff so that the front and rear are turning at the same speed. This isn't a system like the Land Rover or Landcruiser that they can operate at different speeds and be friendly for normal driving. This system is made to operate in the slippery stuff. It is better for working, but not simply driving around.

When you make a hard turn, the tires want to go at different speeds, the drivetrain doesn't want to.

[EAHinsch]

While using 4HI or 4LO the tires need to spin somewhat. You are only supposed to use it when you need it. That's a lot of torque and pressure on the differentials on dry pavement. Be careful or you might shred some steel components. Nothing to worry about though. It is normal.

[RMcCleary]

Originally Posted by snakehead

I have a 5.7 4x4 Crew Max. When the truck is in 4x4 (4x4 HI -- I really haven't tried LO), I find it very difficult to make turns. The harder the turn I try to make, the more resistance I'm getting. For a tight turn, it feels as if I'm standing on the brakes and the front wheels are binding on something.

I will call this to the attention of the dealer when I bring it in for the first oil change, but wanted to see if anyone on this forum has experienced anything similar.

Please let me know and thanks in advance.

-John

I feel sorry for your tansfer case, I hope you havent driven it on dry surfaces in 4wd that much. The 4wd system in most trucks is not an all time 4wd system like the LandCruiser, Audis or Subarus. It requires some slippage at the front wheels because the rate at which the tires are rotating is different between the front and rear.

[Sequoia2003]

OMG, I see you are a noob at 4x4!!!

This is perfectly normal as the front wheels are pulling with the rear wheels pushing all the while you are trying to turn on cement. Do not do this as it's bad for your 4x4 and you just might break something. Popping it in 4x4 HI is fun when it's raining outside and you want to get a jump on someone, but not when it's dry. the only time you should use 4x4 HI is when you you're stuck in two wheel or you require the extra traction like when it's snowing outside. You will probably never require 4 low and the only times you might need that is if you are climbing a really steep slipery hill or descending.

[Torch]

If you haven't figured it out, don't do that on dry pavement. I only use 4x4 when its a slippery mofawker outside. I drive on slicks stuff 7 months of the year.

[snakehead]

Well, I sure do feel pretty stupid, but thank you all for getting back to me. Live and learn.

The only 4x4s I've owned previously are a Honda Pilot (still own it), a VW Passat and Toyota 4Runner. Obviously, this Tundra is the first serious 4x4 I have ever owned. Noob I am. I now have a better understanding of part-time vs. full-time 4wd.

I can't imagine I've done any damage, because I've not had it in 4x4 much (probably less than an hour out of 2,100 miles) and 99% of that was on straight roads. The couple turns I took on dry pavement were at quite slow speeds and I was reluctant to turn hard when I felt the resistance. The Manual does say to drive 10 miles per month in 4wd to keep things lubricated -- otherwise I probably wouldn't have even put it in 4wd.

I feel much better knowing this is normal. I like Shaneshot's explanation that "the wheels want to turn at different speeds but the drivetrain doesn't want to".

Thanks again. I really do appreciate (and obviously needed) the education.

By the way, I love the truck.

[GGWOODY]

Originally Posted by snakehead

Well, I sure do feel pretty stupid, but thank you all for getting back to me. Live and learn.

The only 4x4s I've owned previously are a Honda Pilot (still own it), a VW Passat and Toyota 4Runner. Obviously, this Tundra is the first serious 4x4 I have ever owned. Noob I am. I now have a better understanding of part-time vs. full-time 4wd.

I can't imagine I've done any damage, because I've not had it in 4x4 much (probably less than an hour out of 2,100 miles) and 99% of that was on straight roads. The couple turns I took on dry pavement were at quite slow speeds and I was reluctant to turn hard when I felt the resistance. The Manual does say to drive 10 miles per month in 4wd to keep things lubricated -- otherwise I probably wouldn't have even put it in 4wd.

I feel much better knowing this is normal. I like Shaneshot's explanation that "the wheels want to turn at different speeds but the drivetrain doesn't want to".

Thanks again. I really do appreciate (and obviously needed) the education.

By the way, I love the truck.

Don't feel stupid man! You just didn't know...I think most folks on here posted without reading what others had written, so there was a lot of redundancy, but from good folks who wanted to make sure that you knew how best to treat your rig.

Yes, to Shaneshot's point...4x4 is much different than AWD. You didn't hurt anything probably, since you're supposed to keep the transfer case lubed once a month, your small amount of drive time didn't hurt a thing.

You are good to go...Enjoy your ride!!

[PeptoBismol]

Just remember to continue to put the vehicle into 4x4 (hi) at least once a month, and go for a drive. This keeps all the internals properly lubricated. When and if you need to get into a parking lot, or tight turn, simply revert back to 2x4.


Good Luck!!

Pepto

[hbonney]

The problem in 4 wheel drive is that the front and rear wheels travel in a different arc...try driving through a water puddle (in 2 wheel drive) to get the tires wet, then drive onto dry pavement and turn sharply. Look at the tracks you made, and you will see that the front and rear wheels don't follow the same path. The same goes for inside and outside wheels....the outside wheels in a turn have to travel a greater distance than the inside wheels...hence the differential to compensate for that. You will get binding in the drivetrain if you use 4x4 on dry pavement with a direct drive transfer case like the ones in Tundras....if you think its hard to turn with a Tundra in 4 wheel drive, try a fully locked up rig(front and rear lockers) and take a sharp turn with it....I've modified the shifter on my Land Cruiser so I can shift into 2 wheel drive Low and make a sharp turn off road and once I'm pointed in the direction I wanted, I shift back to 4-Lo.

[Sequoia2003]

Yeah, don't feel stupid cause you just did not know.

Have some fun with it during the rain. Pull up next to some kid in a Honda Accord all tricked out and slip the Tundra in 4HI and launch into the next county while he's spinning his front tires.