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ps. also installed bilstein shocks and they greatly reduced body roll in corners around town.
The 4Runner and Land Cruiser are both Toyota vehicles.
101,000 no warning tranny fluid started "pouring" out of front of tranny almost in front of AA beep beep MCO. They had to drop tranny to find problem. Bad bearing caused torque converter to wobble and trashed seals etc. We can fix it for about $2,000 includes 12 month / 12,000 mile warranty. Tax, etc. a couple extra parts $2300 I'm good to go 7 days later. No issues, nice! 13,000 miles and 13 months later(how convenient) hear whine from tranny RPM related. Bring it back to have checked. Bad pump inside tranny, Torque converter always gets sent out, repeat customer just out of warranty they covered the labor as a "good will gesture" parts $460 (3 days) fixed again OK. 3 days later won't shift into 1st gear bring it back, keep for a day doesn't do it can't duplicate not a problem. take home, next AM same thing no 1st gear after 1 minute drive. Go direct to shop, doesn't do it. Take home, next AM same thing back to shop (and buy FOR SALE SIGNS) 2 days can't duplicate problem. Have MGR take home still no problem. Pick up next day all is well. Next morning (Sunday) no 1st gear 1 minute drive, right to shop block bay door take keys home. Monday AM get to shop before they do and wait. Tech shows up, drive truck FINALLY no 1st gear, says it feels like valvebody is sticking when cold. leave truck drop valve body (dirt or something causing something to stick) NO CHARGE (WOO HOO) They always kept it in the shop 60+ degrees and the MGR has a heated garage in his house. I unfortunately have no garage so it sat in 30 degree driveway. When tranny warmed up (shop, garage, and 7 minute drive to AAMCO) the metal expanded enough to not cause sticking problem! 3 weeks later another noise sounds like pump / something rubbing out of round. Bring back, drop tranny install new bearings, bell housing, centering pins (seems it wasn't a tight fit, kind of oval from original vibration) 3 day's to get all done again, at least there's no charge and got 6 month warranty signed by owner. Truck was quiet and seemed ok OFF LOADED ASAP.
BEWARE, AAMCO only replaces the worn / out of spec parts on rebuild, not everything. So your re-built tranny has 15 new pieces (but the other 985 still have 100,000 on them) Get full info on what will be replaced and do some research even if the car sits for a day or two.
The Ford dealer and my regular mechanic would have put in a Ford Factory Re-built unit in (2 day turn around) $1900 complete at both places and OH YEA, 3 year / 36,000 mile Ford Factory Warranty!! Now I really feel good I went to the Transmission Experts.
Is 4-Hi a genuine full time 4WD that can be used continuously on concrete or dirt? Is it identical to the full-time 4WD with the V8? What are the differences, if any?
In 2-Hi, which set of wheels are the non-driving wheels? Are the axles from the non-driving wheels totally inactive and not turning when vehicle is moving? By that I mean are they fully separated from their wheels and the active drivetrain?
Thank you all.
In 2wd mode, the rear wheels are driving. Yes, the front wheels are totally disengaged.
The center differential on the TLC and 4runner (also since 1999 with the full-time capability) is GEAR-based, not clutch- or viscous coupling based. Gear-based differetial is far more reliable/durable and requires little maintenance.
I don't think that it will be a problem for the Toyota 4wd systems.
Full-time is ALWAYS safer than 2wd. Just imagine running into an oil slick in the middle of the road on a sunny day. Or how about an emergency evasive maneuver.
There's plus and minus to both systems. Durability is likely NOT a minus to the full-time system.
That's mostly what's wrong and basically unsafe about FWD, unless you practice and get really good at quickly popping your automatic transmission into neutral.
The very best 4WD/AWD system would be one that uncouples the engine from the front driveline the instant the yaw sensor indicates side forces there.
ALWAYS.
Granted, torque at the steering wheels DOES reduce available traction for steering. But if the vehicle is at the limit of traction on a slippery surface, then all manner of shortcomings accrue to any 2wd system vs an all wheel drive system which dimish the 2wd system in the overall performance envelope.
For instance, I'd bet I can get my underpowered AWD Subaru around a slippery (icy) road course faster than ANY 2wd vehicle. Yes, there'd be a corner or two where I understeered, but that 2WD vehicle would require very high skill levels to handle constant oversteer, plus be unable to accelerate on the straights like I can. No contest, all wheels driven is safer.
As for "drive train stress" mentioned above, consider this. In 2wd, you're subjecting the rear axle and components to 100% of the engine's stress and force. In 4wd, you've just cut that in half and nicely spread the stress between the front and rear axles.
IdahoDoug
My referral to front braking was with regards to engine lagging torque, the front driven wheels driving the engine, not to ordinary braking.
I am aware the 4 speed is with V6 and 5 speed is with V8
For some reason the board isn't letting me send a PM.
Steve, Host
And check out the start of 4WD & AWD systems explained too.
That should give you some background!
Steve, Host
As to your specific question, you might get better advice on the Land Cruiser topic, but I'll give you the basics here. Anything from '93 to '97 is essentially the same beast when it comes to corrosion resistance, ground clearance, power, towing and off-road capabilities. I believe it was in '95 (my memory is fading of the exact years on some of these options) that you could get a locking front and rear differential.
The engine now has 121,000 miles on it. I think it is asking for better fuel from now on. BTW, the highest grade fuel we have here is 90 octane, due to the altitude (3500 + feet).
As far as stump pulling goes, traction was still a problem. 3/4 tires just dug in. I, however, was not stuck, and easily climbed right out.
Stump pulling can run as high as 50,000lbs...
Thanks for the dozer idea, though- I hadn't thought of that.
Where is the Sequoia post area?
Recently got a 99 LC after having a 4x4 Expo... no comparison. LC has the nicest ride and smoothest engine/tranny combo I've driven in a big truck. I have seen posts talking about the superior 4x4 abilities of the pre-98's due to the solid axle. I understand that Ind Susp doesn't have the locking differential, but other than that, what are the issues?
Thanks,
I don't think there's any reason why lockers are incompatabile with independent suspension, that's just a function of the differential. Did the LC lose the lockers at the same time it got independent suspension?
In 2000, the LC switched to the traction control set up that uses the ABS to transfer power to the wheels that have traction. Prior to that, the IFS LC had an optional rear locker. F/R lockers on the solid axle 80 series were an option--not a standard feature on all 80 series.
In theory, this traction control system will get you out of a "jam" even if you have traction on only one wheel.