Axle binding / Driveline windup... should I be worried?

Forgive my stupidity, all my previous vehicles have been able to drive in 4wd on dry pavement.

How does the Tacoma 4wd system handle something like Moab where there is dry sandstone? It seems like that would be as grippy as asphalt.

 

If you're talking about your Subaru or something AWD, this is different.

 

Welp, all the subsequent websites, videos, posts, and manuals I have read since learning about this apparently for any part-time 4WD system, if your wheels can't slip some don't drive on it in 4WD. It seems from this as far as I have determined part-time 4WD is just a very selective ad hoc tool to be used only when really necessary, and by then it may not do anything anyways. Basically, my takeaway is I'm not going to use it until I can go offroading proper, and then it'll be an ongoing concern. It's kind of like the super special power-up potion in your favorite video game. Save it till you REALLY need it and end up going through the whole game never using it.

Real 4WD (full-time 4WD or AWD) has an extra differential that solves this problem.

Where I first found out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcTTPV9JmIE

Other resources:
http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/axle-wind-up.html
http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/def_turnpart.html
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/four-wheel-drive.htm/printable

 

"UNREAL" !!!!!!

 

No, all my previous trucks/SUVs had open center diffs or full-time 4wd that allowed driving in 4wd on dry pavement. To "lock" in 4wd there was a center diff lock.

 

Well, shit. If it's on the internets, it MUST be true. Well, maybe not these:
AWD and 4WD ARE completely different.
If a full time 4WD has a special "extra differential" to allow it to be driven on pavement, then why does my old Chevy with full time 4WD buck like a horse when I turn a corner on pavement?

 

We have part time 4WD. It's in the owners manual on how/when to use it.

 

Still learning. Not professing to try to research out the history of and all possible models/technologies that have been used by all manufacturers throughout automotive history. Unfortunately I cannot say that I know enough to help answer your question about your old Chevy. Maybe you can find some info out there that will help.

It does seem there are differences between AWD and full-time 4WD. As others have said, and the video link I posted showed, there are some that have ways to lock the center differential... and I believe these are termed the 'full-time 4WD'... at least that's what I gather, though it seems there's a lot of sloppy use of the language.

 

The sandstone is grippy, unless it's wet. But you aren't on sandstone all day and there are plenty of areas of sand and rock and whatnot. Also, there are a lot of steep sandstone climbs where you slip some.

 

Yep, I got that. My question was more about how people are using it in what appeared to be high traction conditions, like driving on sandstone.

 

I just talked to Manual and he said to not drive in 4WD-LO on DRY pavement.

I've done it... truck still works. Probably the worst thing to do is drive on icy roads in 4WD-LO where you some times have traction on one side and not the other side and then spin tires on one side and that side thats spin'ning all of a sudden gets traction with engine revving... that will fuck shit up.

Doing a 3 point turn in 4WD-LO on dry pavement might bind the front axle a bit but you can feel it and turn the wheel less .... The front diff is not going to explode unless you do something stupid. Learn to drive the 4WD... only way to do that is drive it.

 

If you have traction, you don't need 4wd.

 

Thanks for the valuable input.

 

Not completely true. There are a lot of sandstone climbs where while you have traction, you may need to be in 4Lo to get enough power to climb due to how steep the hill is, as well as having the power more controllable at the slower speed required for offroading.

 

Generally, AWD is reserved for vehicles without low range while full-time 4WD have low range. But not always. Otherwise operation between them is the same-- there is an extra diff connecting the front and rear to allow not only side-side difference in speed but front-rear differences as well. How they implement it varies but all 4 wheels are always on so by the strictest definition, both of them can usually use the terms interchangeably. But since 4WD is usually stuck to off-road scenarios, usually refers to vehicles with either part time or full time 4WD and, usually all those vehicles have low range, then I would make sure to make the distinction by sticking with 4WD vs AWD depending on the vehicle.

 

It's clear now, thanks for clarity!