Is this normal?

I am having a problem with the 4 wheel drive in my 2010 Tacoma which has 30,000 miles. It is not used off road or abused and works fine when going straight. I have only used the 4 wheel drive twice and when I turn there is a loud noise and jurking. It sounds like I have a flat tire when turning. I have never used the low range. This is my first 4 wheel drive Tacoma.
Is this normal or do I have a real problem?

 

Normal. You are not supposed to tight turn with 4wd activated.

 

This. Pretty much all vehicles do this.

 

Yikes... do not use 4wd on dry pavement.. you'll wreck your transfer case when turning. Snow, mud, sand where the front wheels can turn at slightly different speeds in a turn are fine. On a surface with traction you'll trash your transfer case due to front wheels binding while in 4WD since there is no differential gear for the front. Look it up if you don't understand... but definitely STOP doing it.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

the term is called binding. the front and rear wheels can't turn at different rates when transfer case is engaged. when you turn, you can get wheel hop etc. bottom line? it's normal. if you're gonna engage 4WD, and be turning, it's best to do it on loose gravel, dirt, etc. as it can overstress the drivetrain.

 

Nobody mentioned it but you should turn on 4x4 and 4lo every once in awhile to make sure it doesn't get seized up aswell.

 

You can find answers to this question and many more in the operators manual that came with your truck. I highly recommend reading it from cover to cover.

 

Yikes...better hope you didnt ruin it

 

Holy shit did notmknow that. I was told 4 low not to drive on clean road. Whatbabout ice and slush on the road in 4 high????

 

once in a while if you find yourself in 4x4 and turning and it is binding is OK, just know
it really stresses the works

just make it a point to not ever do it. but it can survive the occasional mistake
or a surface with more grip than slip

all-wheel drive means a system with a differential and you can use 4x4 all day all surfaces
like the 1999 4runner limited has an AWD mode...subarus are AWD too

typical 4 wheel drive is also called part-time 4 wheel drive, the 'part-time' means only
use this mode part of the time and that is when you are on a surface that can slip
the same 4runner has a lever that when pulled switches AWD into 4wd and suddenly you'll feel the
binding in corners where AWD didn't bind

Tacomas only have 4wd or part-time 4 wheel drive, best to use it when it is more slippery
than ordinary 'rain on pavement slippery'. use in snow, ice, or dirt roads

 

You are confusing the operation of 4wd on your truck to those vehicles with 'all wheel drive'.

Those SUV's can ride and turn on dry pavement in their own verion of 4wd because they have a special slip system...... Our Tacos don't have that type.

Use your 4WD on snow, sand or ice. On dry pavement, in the summer season you should excersize your 4WD , but ONLY on straight roads while NOT turing the wheel.

 

This

 

Here's a couple of links that I got from member OffRoadToy's signature.... Knowing how your system works is key.


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

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/axle-wind-up.html

http://4x4abc.com/4WD101/definition_part.html