Hello,

I usually to to the job by near trails if I have some time remaining.

Sometimes I put in 4L because it's a lot more confortable to drive with low gears but really don't need the 4WD traction. This times to not to have to get out of the 4Runner I put 4L with the Aisins in 'Free'.

Is this bad? I think it isn't because the CV's spin like in 'Lock' but unengaged, but maybe I'm forgetting something...

What do you think? Yeah, the best would be a twin stick... Too much $!

David

 

I don't believe it's bad for anything. I do it from time to time when I need to go slow and don't feel like slipping the clutch.

 

4l with hubs unlocked is effectively the same as a twin stick setup. there's no issues at all. i do it all the time when i have to parallel park on a steep hill. it's much easier on the clutch that way.

the only thing i'd caution you about is not to get on the throttle really quick. since 4L is a torque multiplier, you'll be sending tons of torque to the rear diff. if you have the hubs locked, the torque is split between the front and the rear, but without the hubs locked, all of it will go to the rear and you could break something. i doubt you'd ever really break something, but it's worth thinking about.

 

Thanks, I don't do this every day but sometimes... Thanks Mike for the appointment.

David

 

i can vouch for breaking things, i broke about half of my outer fan off by giving the old girl a bit too much throttle while in 4 lo. things really move around in 4 lo with lots of go peddle!

lee

 

For years I used 4L w/o engaging the hubs in my '86 4Runner to pull my 3500-lb boat up a steep concrete boat ramp. As other have said, I went easy on the throttle. Never had any problems – 300,000 mile test.

 

iBilinTuc, I do the same to pull my boat... leave the hubs in free and throw it in 4Lo

 

leebee, I broke my lower fan shroud this weekend while whomp'n on the skinny pedal in 4lo......go figure.

 

at least im in good company! i must have had a brain fart, completely forgot to lock the hubs. no wonder i couldnt get up those hills!

lee

 

Tell me about it! I was in 4lo, 4 on the floor and still getting stuck on this nasty massive sand/stripmine hill....the ol' yota just couldn't hack it! I did end up making it to the top of a climb that my buddy ended up flipping a fourwheeler on while coming back down! HA.

 

Running in 4 wheel w/out the hubs locked in is fine. Its essentially the same as running 2 wheel with the hubs locked in, as far as the CV's are concerned. I would listen to the advice about breaking things though. A turbo diesel prob puts out a bunch of power, in mine, i can hit the skinny pedal all i want, nothing will break as i don't have enough torque!

 

yuh i do that all the time , she loves it.

 

About 10 years ago I had an 85 toy truck lifted with 33s on it. I was messing around in low gears with the hubs free and one side of my clutch plate shattered completely. But like I said, I was messing around. The clutch was only 8 months old... But, I use it all the time in my newer tacoma just for maneuverability.