Can I install locking hubs?

I have a 98 taco 4x4 with manual hubs. Can I install auto locking hubs? If so do I need to do anything inside the front diff? What brand hub would be best?
Thanks for any help, Steve

 

You would need to replace the wheel hubs that get pressed into your spindles. May as well buy new wheel bearings to go with.

You will need cv axles, as they differ from those on manual hubs.

You will need to wire up your (I believe its 12V) signal wire from the transfer case to the front diff actuator. This actuator is found on the passenger side extension from your diff, as you'll need to pull your current one off and replace it with that from an ADD vehicle.

You'll also want a 35mm socket for installing your newfound cv axles.

 

Ok thanks for the info, looks like more money and labor than I want to spend on this truck.

 

Just a quick question - why would you want to do that?

 

I did the exact opposite for my ADD and added manual locking hubs. Now I have best of both worlds and can save wear and tear on cv axles. I would keep your manual locking hubs though.

 

Most people I know just leave their manual hubs locked in all the time.


Specially during the winter

 

Why would you do that. Pretty sure that’s not most people.

 

Pretty much a totally different system.

You can but why spin the axles? I would swap the entire mess in my 2011 I have no problem with locking hubs better then spinning all that stuff for no reason other than being lazy. Takes gasoline to spin that stuff while it does nothing.

 

Cause getting out in the snow and mud to turn hubs is annoying
N if you really wanna get into it, manual hubs have weaker cv axles

 

You ever lived in snow and salt county?

Water will find it's way in there freeze and or rust then you *can't* get them to engage when you need them to.

Powder on the ground lock and leave them better to know you have 4x4 at the beginning of the season rather than hoping for 4x4 when you're in a ditch after black ice an hour from home on a Sunday night during a blizzard.

Most of my family whom has or has had manual hubs locks them the fist good snow and leaves them locked till the thaw.

 

I live in Maine never had issues with my old hubs 1 had 300K on it. When I was expecting bad winter weather I just locked them in there really isn't a lot of difference the electric ones turn the axles any way. By the time the snow is done the hubs were plenty warm enough to unlock. More often then not with old ones I just shifted out and drove home the the axles spinning My electric ones can be a pain quite often sit there blinking at you and half the time I have to shut the key off and start all over again.

 

Swapping from factory manual hubs to the ADD system requires internal diff work along with the previously mentioned items. Specifically, installing an oil slinger and needle bearing in the passenger side of the diff not found in factory manual hub diffs.
Going the other way, from ADD to manual hubs is a pretty straight forward "bolt on" operation. The slinger and bearing in the ADD diff do not interfere with the use of manual hub axles.

 

I don’t leave mine locked all the time and I live at 7000ft. But in the winter I do lock them and leave them until winter is over.

 

Yes the electric system is different it unlocks the pinion so it does not spin the ring gear but there is still a lot of parts spinning. The front wheel bearing assemblies are different also tapered vers ball. I use low range a lot in the winter to push snow because I like my truck I push snow I don't try to launch it into the woods and switching the electric FWD system to me is a pain it is too finicky to make matters worse it's a manual. I'm 76 and still able to turn the hub locks by hand and sure wish my 2011 had them. Granted the manual hubs locked turn a bunch of parts but that's OK because I unlock them out on the dry pavement any way.

 

I have a steep gravel and long driveway and it is almost impossible to go up it without spinning the tires and creating deep ruts. I looks like I will just keep the hubs locked in all the time. I don't put a lot on miles on the truck maybe a thousand in a year.

 

He did say "most people I know"...

If you live where it's legitimately cold and snows all the time, locking your hubs preemptively is common practice. When you need them locked, you're never in a situation where it's easy/convenient to get out.

 

Copy, sounded like he was talking about all the time outside of winter.

I know with my 2.7, if I leave the hubs locked it feels like I’m driving around with aired down tires.

 

You gotta feed them gerbils better!

It's been a while since I've had manual hubs but I don't really remember being able to tell much of a difference. I remember leaving them locked a few times, and never noticing until the next time I went to lock them, lol. I had the 22R-TE motor in my 86 4Runner.

 

Especially sucks if you're in winter weather and you hop out to find they're frozen in place!

 

Technically, yeah, the outer CV stub shaft is smaller than the ADD. I've never seen one break at the outer stub shaft though. Saw a manual hubs truck on 35s break one crawling last weekend and it was at the CV joint itself