Really hard to turn in 4hi

Hello,
I had my truck in 4 hi today and while backing into my driveway, it was very hard to turn, like the front end was locked up. I think I smocked out my clutch. Is this normal? Should I be scared I just tried my clutch? Why does it feel that way?

 

Might want to learn a bit more about 4WD. Turns, particularly sharper turns, are best done on softer, more giving surfaces like sand or mud or snow. But NOT on pavement. Think about it - ya got 4 wheels on the ground all locked together to give you great traction. When you turn, the inside wheel turns fewer times than the outside wheel but, since it's 4WD it HAS to turn the same number of revs. When you do this on pavement, something gonna give - sometimes the tires first, sometimes not.
If you're lucky you did no damage.

 

I thought asking questions is learning more.
Thank you for the reply. This makes sense.

 

I tried doing a 3 point turn in 4WD and I literally got stuck and couldn't move haha

 

You shouldn't be in 4wd on dry pavement

 

What he meant was... read your manual. It’s a very expensive and sophisticated piece of machinery. At least read the dang manual. It’s all in there.

 

Thank you. I think I understand why that is bad now lol oops....

 

straight line driving and normal turns in 4wd = no change from normal 2wd. sharp turns and full turns = not so good and binding. strangely awd vehicles are so much easier and forgiving to drive.

 

Binding in the driveline occurs front-to-back, not side-to-side.
Your diffs allow your left and right tires to rotate at different rates.
Your transfer case does not allow your front and rear drive shafts to rotate at different rates.

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/def_turnpart.html

 

AWD have a different set up in the diffs and Xfer case than a Part-time 4WD.

AWD systems allow the wheels to handle turn differences. They will "lock" when slip is detected. Sorry, not real technical, just a simple explanation.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/switching-from-2wd-to-4wd-constantly.250338/

 

This is the correct explanation.

As stated, it’s binding and that is completely normal. To avoid this in the future, when your on dry ground, put it back into 2wd. You’ll get used to it enough that you’ll train yourself to put it into 2wd when pulling into a parking spot or whatever tight turn during snow storm.

 

We stand corrected.

I was just trying to explain it in simpler, easily understood terms. Not everyone would recognize or understand the binding front-to-rear as being the real culprit.

 

Not going to harp on you too much but you’re talking about limited slip and locking differentials. That is not what is going on with what the op is explaining. He is explaining the natural binding that happens with selectable 4WD vehicles that have a transfer cases. As explained above, it has to do with the front and rear not wanting to move at different rates due to the transfer case.

 

But nonetheless, reading and understanding the manual should be required prior to trying out all of the idiosyncrasies of 4WD combined with today's techno gadgets.

My manual will be next to the 'throne' for the first few weeks after bringing home my '21. A lot has changed since '98 and '06....

 

The principle is still the same as I originally explained. There's a slight difference in the number of driveshaft revs between front and rear when navigating a turn. Consequently something's gotta give (usually the tires) and until it does, things bind up.

 

AWD systems do not have a transfer case. A center differential acts as a way to allow difference in front and rear axle speeds just as the front/rear differential allows a difference in left/right when speeds. One can think of a transfer case and a locking (center) differential as the same thing from a function standpoint. Many AWD vehicles do not have any "locking" ability, though they may have limited slip or computer controlled/simulated limited slip systems.

 

@poopshute.

Yes, agreed.

I was addressing what Goldenbrew said about AWD. "....strangely awd vehicles are so much easier and forgiving to drive."

 

For what it’s worth... I once had a flat tire and changed it on the icy highway where I was running in 4hi. It slipped my mind that the spare was a size smaller and when I hit the road again, bad things happened, for the reasons noted above.

Sometimes you get a lot of unsolicited advice from asking a newbie question. That’s just how it is lol. Everybody means well in their own way. Now you know what’s up... real 4wd binds up if a tire or two can’t slip while you are turning.

 

Because all wheel drive vehicles aren’t geared super low like a truck in 4wd is. Also gotta remember only one wheel is spinning in the front and rear in 4wd unless you have front and rear lockers you can simulate awd. awd built cars also have different steering components.

Edit did research DONT listen to me
But definitely don’t use 4wd on pavement