Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi Guys, just picked up my first 4wd, a 2003 hilux (VZN172R). It seems to have a problem when 4wd is engaged. If it is in 2wd it drives on the road perfectly. If the hubs are engaged but the transfer case is still in 2wd it still drives fine, but when I engage the hubs and put it in 4wd it does go into 4x4 and all wheels turn etc, but on the road when turning it lurches and at low speeds It feels like the brakes are on a bit

It feels almost as if a diff is locked, but it doesnt have lockers obviously, and doesnt happen when it is in 2wd. If the frond diff was welded or something, surely it would happen even in 2wd when the hubs are engaged, but it doesnt?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks guys

jmadden91 wrote:Hi Guys, just picked up my first 4wd, a 2003 hilux (VZN172R). It seems to have a problem when 4wd is engaged. If it is in 2wd it drives on the road perfectly. If the hubs are engaged but the transfer case is still in 2wd it still drives fine, but when I engage the hubs and put it in 4wd it does go into 4x4 and all wheels turn etc, but on the road when turning it lurches and at low speeds It feels like the breaks are on a bit

It feels almost as if a diff is locked, but it doesnt have lockers obviously, and doesnt happen when it is in 2wd. If the frond diff was welded or something, surely it would happen even in 2wd when the hubs are engaged, but it doesnt?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks guys

why are you driving on the road in 4wd? Dont like your new car?

Around my street in first gear making sure 4wd actually engages etc. Why would driving it in 4wd on the street do any harm at all unless the diffs are locked?

jmadden91 wrote:Around my street in first gear making sure 4wd actually engages etc. Why would driving it in 4wd on the street do any harm at all unless the diffs are locked?

You are binding the transfer case up. The transfer can be thought of as a locked diff between the front and rear of the car. Even with open diffs front and rear you will always have drive to one front and one rear, thus binding through the transfer.

Thanks for your help mate. So what is happening is normal for the car? I have driven my dads 99 Pajero on the road in 4wd before (when raining etc) and it does not do the same thing? If the transfer case was to bind on the road, does this mean I would have to go back into 2wd whenever I am on hard surfaces? eg dirt roads hard sand etc?

jmadden91 wrote:Thanks for your help mate. So what is happening is normal for the car? I have driven my dads 99 Pajero on the road in 4wd before (when raining etc) and it does not do the same thing? If the transfer case was to bind on the road, does this mean I would have to go back into 2wd whenever I am on hard surfaces? eg dirt roads hard sand etc?

Yes its normal for the car, im surprised you didn't find it hard to disengage 4wd. Cant tell you why the paj didnt do it. You can leave the hubs locked in on hard surfaces but make sure the transfer is in 2wd. When i say hard surface i mean bitumen or concrete. Dirt and hard sand would be ok to stay in 4wd

dillza_69 wrote:

jmadden91 wrote:Thanks for your help mate. So what is happening is normal for the car? I have driven my dads 99 Pajero on the road in 4wd before (when raining etc) and it does not do the same thing? If the transfer case was to bind on the road, does this mean I would have to go back into 2wd whenever I am on hard surfaces? eg dirt roads hard sand etc?

Yes its normal for the car, im surprised you didn't find it hard to disengage 4wd. Cant tell you why the paj didnt do it. You can leave the hubs locked in on hard surfaces but make sure the transfer is in 2wd. When i say hard surface i mean bitumen or concrete. Dirt and hard sand would be ok to stay in 4wd

Hmm I did find it hard to get out of 4wd Thanks for all your help mate, won't be doing that again. Paj maybe didnt do it due to the auto locking hubs and central dif lock etc?

jmadden91 wrote: Hmm I did find it hard to get out of 4wd Thanks for all your help mate, won't be doing that again. Paj maybe didnt do it due to the auto locking hubs and central dif lock etc?

Yeah not sure about the paj, maybe you didn't have the center diff lock locked causing it to act like and open center diff?

Pajeros transfer case has the option of full time on road 4x4 with an unlocked transfer case (like 200 series cruisers), as well as a locked off road 4x4 setting, i.e, a locked transfer. Plus they also have a rear wheel 2wd only option as well.

With any hilux or patrol, driving on road in 4wd with the hubs locked, either manual or auto, will bind up the transfer case as others have said, shortening the lifespan of your 4wd system.

Hope that clears it up.

Maverick93 wrote:Pajeros transfer case has the option of full time on road 4x4 with an unlocked transfer case (like 200 series cruisers), as well as a locked off road 4x4 setting, i.e, a locked transfer. Plus they also have a rear wheel 2wd only option as well.

With any hilux or patrol, driving on road in 4wd with the hubs locked, either manual or auto, will bind up the transfer case as others have said, shortening the lifespan of your 4wd system.

Hope that clears it up.

Sure does. Thanks for all the help guys. Glad I found this out before I did any damage

my mate, brought a second hand hilux and when he engadged 4wd with hubs locked it felt (brakes where on,crab all over the road,also had no steering control and would throw him off the road...) problem was previous owner peplaced one off the diff centres with different ratio........