4wd on dry pavement

[robertb]

I had driven home from work in a bad snow storm and left my tb in 4hi. The next day when the roads were clear I drove it again and forgot to take it out of 4hi. Turning into walmart, I heard this grinding noise and thought it was the guy behind me. Then when I went to turn in the parking space, I heard the grinding again and felt the vehicle struggeling into the turn and thats when I noticed that I forgot to take it out of 4wd. I then switched out 4hi
with the front wheels turned into 2wd and got this nasty clunk like the transmisson was dropping to the ground. I know you are not supposed to use 4wd on dry pavement, I just forgot. Everything seems to be working fine despite that. My question is, how much wear and tear did this brain cramp
cost me. I drove like that for approximately 6 miles.
Thanks in advance for any replies and merry christmas to all!

[Airjer_]

6 miles you shouldn't have any worries.

[svotta]

the thing is fine. your supposed to put it in neutral when changing from 2wd to 4wd or 4wd to 2wd

[jdmccright]

Yours is an on-the-fly electronic shift system, so shifting from 2wd to auto-4wd or 4hi can be done without stopping the vehicle, though personally I like to think that slower is better when possible.

Going a few miles in 4hi is usually not a problem when most of the distance is driving straight ahead. As you noticed, low-speed turning is the problem...without a slippery surface and tight enough radius, the inside and outside tracking tires can't slip to compensate for the difference in distance they travel to round the corner. Next time, you could back up slightly while straightening the steering wheel, shift back into 2wd, and pull on in the parking spot. Hope this helps!