4x4 Jerking/Pulling to Right and Rough

Hello all,

I am hoping for some guidance on my 2021 TRD OR Tacoma. Specifically I was driving in 4H today (which I rarely do) and the ride was very rough and I have a pretty significant jerk or pull to the right every hundred feet or so. This is on a straight road with some melted snow on the ground. Problem completely resolved when put into 2 wheel drive and returns when placed in 4H. Persisted despite traction control set on/off.

Question 1) do most Tacomas just drive more poorly even when going straight in 4H? My last truck was 4x4 and I never felt it drove this rough when in 4H, although it did ride differently.

Question 2) where is this intermittent jerk/pull coming from?

Thanks!

 

#1 no it should not be driving rough or poorly while in 4H if all is well.

#2 Since you wrote you rarely use 4H, it might be seized up

Do you go long intervals without using 4 wheel drive? The thing is that it needs to be engaged time to time, so it won't seize up. What I am guessing here is that something is seized up because you haven't engaged/used 4H for very long time

 

Any chance you had snow packed in your wheel and a chunk came out and threw it outta whack.

 

Thanks for the reply, yes snow packed is possible, however unlikely due to the fact I didn’t actually drive through a ton of snow. Will let it melt and try it again.

Also, it has probably been 12 months since I put it in 4 wheel drive. So it is possible something seized. It never drove smoothly in 4H but never this bad. I thought it was just how it handled in 4 wheel drive but unfortunately I think I may have a bigger problem.

 

Did you buy truck new? You should take it to dealership and have them check it, use warranty if you still have it. 4H should feel similar to 2H, no rough driving. Truck will just feel bit heavier if you try to accelerate but other than that 4H is as smoosh as 2H unless you try to go 60MPH or so on.

I can offer you a video about Taco 4H if you want to check . Its not about 4H issues but overall info

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FZcmDGVEmE&list=PLeFzfl0Q8rQXkSiT50RyVAkC_JIHXw318&index=4

 

You should use 4x4 for 10 miles every month ... even if you wait for rainy days with completely straight roads. Before you assume "broken", the fluid could be sludgy. If it takes longer periods between lockups, find some dirt and try continued use. If it eventually stops locking up ... change the rear and front differential fluid and the transfer case fluid.

 

Not an expert on the ADD (?), but sounds like maybe it is kicking in and out of engagement. Is the 4WD symbol on the dash lit steady, or is it blinking? Does it blink when it starts running rough?

As the others have said, you need to periodically run it in 4WD to keep the ADD lubed. I would start there - confirm/eliminate the ADD.

 

Front end is always spinning. The ADD disconnects the passenger side CV axle. The driver side CV still turns the carrier and driveshaft. The Tcase is working its gears in 2wd. When you shift into 4wd it locks the front ADD and the Tcase shifts in 4wd. It’s not like it’s all just sitting there all rusting together. It is a good idea to shift into 4lo every once and awhile. The contact points in the actuators can get a little finicky. They are covered in some Toyota electrical grease but can get corroded and not make contact when moved to a new position.

 

Off topic but if your truck has an automatic transmission follow this procedure when engaging and disengaging four wheel drive.

While in drive sitting still not moving put it in 4Hi if the light is blinking it’s still not engaged if that happens shift to reverse foot firmly on brake then back to drive light should stop blinking and you are in 4Hi if not repeat till you are.

Next while in 4Hi foot on brake shift to neutral then to 4Lo and it will usually go right in lights are all solid no blinking no alarm.

Lastly set rear locker if equipped.

Reverse procedure to get back to 2Hi

This always works for me I’m sure someone will correct me if it’s not exactly correct.

 

Bought used with 30-40k miles.

For sure should have been running it in 4H more. I will try running it gently in 4H more often and see if it works itself out.

dash 4WD is on continuously with no blinking even during abnormal pull.

 

You do not have to be sitting still to shift into 4H. That's only for going into Lo.

 

What exactly does this mean..

 

4WD tries to drive wheels equally but adjust based on slipping at the corners. If you use 4WD on dry pavement taking hard turns the differential works hard (too hard sometimes) to balance between the two front tires. Use 4WD on slippy roads (rain or snow) if on pavement.

 

The fluid in the differential can get sludgy if not used regularly.

 

Front u joints will cause this behavior, they are the weak point of using 4HI on the highway and with age they get worse.

I've had this in my own vehicles and the only real way to check is to pull the shaft, and at that point, just change the joints.

Nothing wrong with 4HI, some of live in crappy areas with bad weather, but stuff does wear.

 

Correct, that’s just my way of doing it. I rarely use 4wd on the highway I usually only use off road.

 

Bought used + “never drove smoothly in 4H” = ??? T-case, drive shaft, front diff, CV joints…

Sounds like it’s time for visit to your favorite Urgent Care mechanic.

 

Lol no. Thats not how it works. Everything is always spinning. Unless you aren't driving the truck for months

 

The actuator can seize up if it's not properly exercised.

 

No not really. There is reason why 4H or 4L has to be engaged, the parts are physically moving/engaging.