Manual locking hub

https://youtu.be/ajWmltrx_ps
Just a short clip after I installed the prototype kit. Since then I've changed some things. I designed a dust seal spacer/adapter to use a genuine Toyota dust seal. This first pair of axles were made of 4340 chromoly. Overkill, but will be eventually available upon request.

 

Awesome. Now let's see some locked BI off road abuse

 

Hmmmmm.....

 

You still gotta deal with the electric ADD. I guess you could manually put it in the locked position, then somehow trick the ecu to thinking its not. but then it would have to change when you do put it in 4x4.

2lo is very usefull... just ask the 6 speed manual guys who dont have a low enough first / reverse gear who would love 2 lo for moving their trailers around.

 

Do you live in Goleta? Rob is crazy expensive

 

@nd4spdbh good point about the ADD actuator. I know those fail pretty often too. Would it be worth looking into designing an ADD eliminator? Also something that would trick the 4wd ecu also?

 

I wouldnt say the fail often.... only times i have seen em fail is either 1. the person never uses 4x4 and it gets frozen... simple solution is to pop your truck in and out of 4x4 here n there or 2. it gets dunked in nasty water causing corrosion.

 

@nd4spdbh We see them fail pretty often here at the dealership I work at in Hawaii. Lots of people use their trucks and also drive through rivers and mud. Tacomas/Toyotas in general, very popular truck in the state.

 

Out of every state in the USA tacoma is #1 in HI. Like stated the ones you often see are the ones getting dunked. But again, if you went manual locking hubs you would still need to permanently lock out the add and then trick the ecu into thinking its in its proper position.

 

Awesome! That's the first mod I wanted to do when I bought my '08 but no support from aftermarket manufactures. 2 low is sure handy on my '85 great clutch saver etc.

Thanks,

Brett

 

This... I had one on my D***e and it worked great. I've gone so far as contacting posi-lok about developing one for our trucks too. I was thinking something like that could also be used on the transfer case too. Electronic gizmos are nice and convenient but I don't mind having to manually lock hubs either by standard locking hubs or pulling a cable. Same with the transfer case - I've yet had a lever fail to engage...

 

I had a lever on my old jeep fail.... while i was cralwing up a steep hill, popped me out of 4low into 2low..... slid backwards down the mountian... that SUCKED.

 

Were you able to figure out why it failed? Did the locking button not engage or possibly the sliding fork break/out of adjustment? So far the only failure I've had is where the 'automatic' hubs not engaging right away on a '82 K10. One side didn't lock letting the axle shaft spin. The hub then engaged causing the transfer case to see a high shock breaking the output shaft for the front axle. Put a hole in the case too. Only open way out was up a steep hill where 4x4 is a must. I got out through a wooded area by 'knocking' down saplings - so dense that it would raise the front end and then drop. Had about a 1/4 mile to go through. This was many years ago when I was a teen. Not too smart - could have gotten really stuck.

 

True, the newer trucks just aren't designed to support it. Mine obviously doesn't have add etc.

I've never heard of anyone using 2lo. I guess for short distances, or for very low speed things it could make sense. I think though if you're moving a trailer, and have to use low range to move it, you might be exceeding some design specs.

 

Negative. A few years ago when Rob had his shop back in the hole with the out house, I had a tow dolly for hauling my Tacoma up to Oregon and back. When returning to my home near Riverside, We were coming out of the Gaviota pass going around a truck when my left bearing on my NEW dolly fried. I called a wrecker and the guy hauled the dolly to Rob's place. It was after 5:30 and I just knew I was going to get fleeced. Rob cleaned the end of the spindle. Replaced the bearings with new ones,a new seal and pumped both hubs full of grease. Total cost to me was $125.00 and I was on my way. Granted...I screwed up not checking the bearings for grease when I bought the frigging dolly new a week earlier. How ever Rob could have taken advantage of me in a bad way.
He may be pricey, But what I've seen him build and his work ethics, If I lived in Goleta, He'd have my business. Kinda nice to come across an honest guy.

 

Hey Sideline, I envy your place of home. But Then most of us on the Mainland do. Wife and I spent 2 weeks in your neck last Sept when we retired. Spent a week in Honolulu with the other tourists. Then another on the North shore near the Cultural Center. Met some great people. Love it. That was my 5th trip. Probably won't live long nuf for a 6th. Sure can't afford to live there. Still don't understand the local's thing with Spam.

 

Will for sure buy one of once you get one of these kits for the 2016s I love the locking hubs I got an easy couple mpg more in my ford ranger I had

 

@Geezertaco Glad you and the wife enjoyed your stay! It is kind of pricey to live in Hawaii, Oahu in particular. Especislly to buy a house or land. I'm located on the Big Island (Hawaii island) the only one with the active volcano. Sounds crazy right!? Hahaha. It's a little more cheaper here if you ever make it back. As for spam, I eat it sometimes, some other people take it to a whole other level.

 

Would you still need ADD/ecu trick if you were converting from 2wd to 4wd with a manual FJ case, or did the convert just get easier with this kit?

 

At the end of one trip, on the way to the air port I asked the shuttle driver where he goes for vacation and the said Vegas. OMG! Are you kidding me!? That's in the freaking desert. Probably hotter that Kilawea. (Yea, I know. I probably misspelled the heck out of it. But you get my point).