Question about 4WD Hi

I own a 23 TRD Offroad. Got a little bit of snow and ice in my area and finally got a chance to test my 4WD system out for the first time. I noticed that when in 4-Hi and I was making a sharp turn (low speeds like the turns you would make in a neighborhood) there was a "rubbing" noise coming from the front end almost as if the tires were hitting the inner fender liner. I know tires don't rub since they are stock size and this noise doesn't occur in 2WD. I'm guessing it has something to do with the 4WD system. Is this noise normal?
Sorry if this is a trivial question but the truck is pretty new still with about 1200 miles and I'm still learning about the components.

Thanks

 

The front and rear axle are locked together so it will bind and scrub a tire if you turn sharply on a high traction surface like clear pavement.

 

Yes it's normal because 4wd locks the front and rear wheels together, when you turn they are forced to all turn at the same speed instead of being able to turn at different speeds like they would be able to in 2wd thus one or more tires have to slip to make up the speed difference.

It's not good to make sharp turns in 4wd for this reason, especially on high traction surfaces because it puts alot of stress on driveline components.

 

So basically don't use 4WD unless you absolutely have to?

 

More or less, yes. You won't destroy your truck using 4wd on dry pavement every once in a while, but you should keep it to a minimum. Even when hard core off-roading, one encounters high traction surfaces like rocks. The good part is that you can transition 2hi <=> 4hi on the fly unlike old school trucks.

 

Your fine using it but don't make sharp turns in 4wd if you can possibly avoid it, in a straight line it's not gona hurt anything to be in 4wd.

You should engage it once a month or so to exercise the actuators and prevent them from getting stuck.

 

If it's binding, then there's enough surface traction that 4WD wasn't necessary.

 

Yes I saw that was a best practice for these trucks so I will make sure to set reminders for that. The vehicle is still under warranty. Should I take it in to get looked at just in case? Cruised around town in and out of neighborhoods so a lot of sharp turns were made in 4-Hi (20 if i were to guess). A few were sharper than others to test out what I was hearing. I will have the truck looked at asap if i know there could be the slightest chance of damage to anything.

 

No, you’re good. The drivetrain is very durable.

 

Your not gona hurt it that easily you just don't wana make a habit of turning while in 4wd on high traction surfaces.

 

No need to spend the time or energy. Just let it be OP.

Really only use 4WD on low traction surfaces.

If you need to excercise it once a month or so try to find a dirt road or patch of grass. Or a very rainy day. No need to drive far, just a few hundred feet to get everything turning and keep the actuator moving.

 

I'm not sure what binding is but I assume that's what I was hearing?

 

This is not specific to Tacomas. All part-time 4wd rigs have the same issue, because they lock the front and rear axles together. If you want to drive around in four wheel drive all the time, you need a AWD or full-time 4wd rig. Those rigs have a differential between the front and rear axles such that they can turn at different speeds.

 

You are hearing one tire drag as it is forced to turn slower than the other tires. Binding is one name for it.

 

Really the tires just getting very tight on the pavement. 4WD rigs are not meant to drive in 4WD on pavement. That's what AWD is for. As another poster mentioned, they have different types of center differentials to allow slippage. 4WD rigs do not.

 

Wouldn't hurt to have a read through your owners manual, everything about the 4wd system and related cautions/limitations is in there.

 

this was happening to me and i tried the other day to turn the traction off when in 4hi. seemed to lessen the effects when turning on gravely sand surface.

 

Read post #59 in this thread ... it explains how the Tacoma drives all 4 wheels at the same speed in 4Hi, and how it is bad for pressures placed on the front/rear differentials:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4x4-best-practices-for-snow-covered-roads.753009/

 

That thread about snow driving was made months ago. I keep a list of interesting threads on mini-truck-models created by others, snow driving, 3rd-gen-mods, etc.

 

Bring it in asap. Major damage has been done. Thank goodness you’re still under warranty.