does anyone else's 4x4 fight against tight turns?

My '08 is the first 4x4 I've ever owned, so I didn't think much of it when I first noticed that it wasn't easy to make tight turns in 4 hi. Then I drove a newer tundra in 4x4, and the fighting and jerking of the steering wheel that I'm used to was completely absent. Took it to dealer and asked. The mechanic (service technician) drove it around the parking lot and was kinda surprised by how rough the turns are, but since there's no error light they ultimately said there's no problem.

Is my truck behaving normally? Does everyone's 4x4 jerk and fight on tight turns?

 

yes they do.. not suppose to use 4-wheel drive on dry pavement while turning wheel sharply

 

thanks.
I first noticed this while climbing out of my driveway in several feet of snow this past winter. I haven't been gifted any further adverse conditions to test it in since

 

Yes, and on my bro's 06 Tundra 4X4 as well - 4hi or 4lo. This is normal in a 4X4 system. In 4X4 system, the transfer case splits power evenly between front and real differentials. Both drive shafts to the diffs want to turn at the same speed. The more sharply you turn the more the inside tire wants to go slower, and slow down the front drive shaft along with it. This is why in a 4X4 system, you only want to drive off the pavement - so that the slower moving tires slip on the sand/dirt etc... If one insists on driving 4X4 engaged on pavement, they will greatly accelerate wear and tear on the CV an U joints. Not sure why the Tundra was smooth; maybe it has limited slip in front diff, not a common thing to see.

 

Please stop making turns (tight or otherwise) on dry pavement while in 4hi or 4lo. It is advised to exercise your 4x4 in 4hi and 4lo in your owners manual, and by all means please do... But you are going to snap a half shaft or worse if you keep forcing it through turns on pavement.

 

the only thing you should do 4x4 tight turns on pavement with are AWD systems

AWD has a center differential

so front and rear can go different speeds and not bind

in old school 4wd, which is called part time 4wd, which is what almost all pickups have,
it will bind up when turning on pavement...so only run it on loose surfaces
where you need it, and if it wants to bind it can break loose and reduce stress on the driveline


it won't hurt anything once in a while, but you should get used to switching to 2wd as soon as you know conditions are no longer slippery and don't require 4wd

 

The jerking is the driveline binding because all four wheels are engaged and moving at different speeds while turning. Normal, but not a good thing to do if at all avoidable.

Also, I would steer clear of shops with mechanics like this...

 

That binding is your transfer case saying a big "FUCK YOU!". As others have stated...don't do that unless you have spare vehicles and disposable income.

 

Wait.........the "mechanic" didn't know you shouldn't be doing that in four wheel drive????????????

 

Billable hours and job security.........he knew, just didn't care.

 

On the bright side, you can go back to the stealership and teach them?

 

In OP defense it does sound like maybe his is binding to fast? then again I've never turned in 4wheel on dry pavement so I wouldn't know

 

I made the mistake (once) of pulling out of a swamp on to a hard road in a downpour lightning storm, and not getting out to unlock the front hubs (back in pre gizmo days).

At about 60 mph the front diff let go, locked up and almost lifted the rear of the IH TravelAll off the ground. Again. Again. Again...... until every tooth was stripped off the ring gear, and it rolled nice and free. Would have qualified as an E ticket ride in those days, for those old enough to know what that means...........

Boy was I glad it was a company truck

 

There's a video floating around on youtube that illustrates exactly how the wheels spin while in 4wd. "Oscillatory" is the only word I can use to describe how the force is delivered out to the wheels when turning. Youtube is blocked for me at work, but if anyone can dig it up and post it I bet a few folks would better understand that the application of torque to the wheels is not linear.

 

This alone is amazing.

 

I've never had my Tacoma bind on "slick surfaces" I haven't tried it on dry pavement, because that's not really a good idea...The only time it's been in 4x4 on semi dry surfaces is when I load fire wood at the camp and I have to back up a hill and turn in the middle of it. I can't get up there without being in 4x4. I never noticed it binding when I'm going around the turn.

Although I will say, some trucks I have driven are more "sensitive" to binding or its more "noticeable"

 

Check out the links in @OffroadToy signature. They explain a lot.

 

Eh, most AWD's these days *do not* have a center differential. Most AWD's are actually FWD's with a hydraulically actuated clutch that binds the rear axle after it detects a slip exceeding some predetermined threshold.

Noteworthy *genuine* AWD systems;
Audi Quattro,
*SOME* Subaru -- Viscous and DCCD -- their others are NOT center differential,
Some others.

 

yeah awd can be different than full time 4wd

I am basing this off my 1999 4runner limited which has pt 4wd and full time 4wd because it has a center differential that is deactivated when you go to part time 4wd

so I should have said full time 4wd has a center diff. can leave it in full time all the time