Question: 1991 Toyota 4Runner 4WD Question

[anonymouschris]

I just bought a new used car. 1991 toyota 4runner 4wd. the previous owner had purchased wheel locks for the front wheels to make the card 2wd. what is this for? in the car i can also shift from H2, H4, L4. If I can shift this in the car why do i need the wheel locks? please help. many thanks.

 

[gsellis]

Because the wheels freewheel without the locks on. You can put it into 4wd all day long, but you would only drive the rears. You have to stop and lock them to use 4wd.

 

[FoBoT]

there is now a car forum
http://forums.anandtech.com/ca...tid=85&flcache=8770429
the motorheads over there might know

 

[anonymouschris]

so if they are not locked and i shift to 4wd the car will not actually be using 4wd. does it damage the car in anyway if i shift to 4wd without it being locked? wouldn't it make sense to always keep it locked and just shift to 2wd/4wd accordingly? Thanks again!

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: anonymouschris
so if they are not locked and i shift to 4wd the car will not actually be using 4wd. does it damage the car in anyway if i shift to 4wd without it being locked? wouldn't it make sense to always keep it locked and just shift to 2wd/4wd accordingly? Thanks again!

locking them has to be don to enable true 4 wheel, with them unlocked the 2 front wheels can spin independly of each other, when they are locked they cannot

all old 4wd wa slike this, till they figured out how to do it with vaccume hubs

 

[homercles337]

Haha, my only experience with 4WD is the locking hub variety. "Oh shit, time for 4WD..." was the nice phrase for "get your ass out and lock that hub." This usually occurred in the snow or mud.

 

[0roo0roo]

yup, simple locked wheels rotating at same speed is only good for low speed stuff.
turns require wheels to move at different speeds.

 

[anonymouschris]

thanks for all the info so far....but did i miss the answer to this question:

can i keep the wheels locked and on 2wd? any negatives to that? wouldn't that be the easiest and most efficient?

 

[anonymouschris]

thanks for the info on the motor forum, but i dont' see how i can move this thread now. but i will know better next time.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: anonymouschris
thanks for all the info so far....but did i miss the answer to this question:

can i keep the wheels locked and on 2wd? any negatives to that? wouldn't that be the easiest and most efficient?

you can, buy you shouldent

bad for the axle

 

[anonymouschris]

thank you guys all for the info. i think i might have been driving locked on 2wd for some time..... hope my axle is not messed up.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: anonymouschris
thank you guys all for the info. i think i might have been driving locked on 2wd for some time..... hope my axle is not messed up.

Your mileage will go up and it will get much less noisy unlocked in 2WD. Yep, not a good idea. Lock them only when using 4WD.

 

[new2AMD]

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