drguitarum2005

Can someone explain to me how manual hubs work? Actually, first, what exactly are the hubs and what does locking them do? Is it an IFS thing only? How do manual hubs help? Thanks!

photoleif

they work by the user turning a knob on the top, or cap, of the hub, which releases or tightens a simple clutch to either free the axle to turn independently of the wheel, or lock them together. without these, the wheel turning on pavement turns the front axles 24/7. with the freewheeling hubs on "free", the wheel spins but the axle remains rotationally stationary relative to the wheel. the actual parts are not interchangeable between IFS and straight axle, but they both can use them. aisin and warn are the makers of two very popular freewheeling hubs.

setting them to free greatly reduces the accumulated wear and strain on your CVs and axles since they never rotate unless you go engage the hubs. this means that all the city and highway driving you do doesn't "count against" the CVs to the degree it would if you were always spinning them. this doesn't mean you can't break your axles, haha... just means they're going to last longer for moderate use.

drguitarum2005

oooh ok makes sense. so stock, are they essentially "locked" without the capability to unlock them? How much do two manual hubs run? Also, to engage 4wd, you'd have to get out and turn the hubs as well right?

photoleif

be careful about using 'locked' in this context, since that typically means the differential is locked. but i know what you mean. the wheel is "locked" to the axle shaft off the showroom floor, and is also "locked" in this way when the hub is on "lock". and yes, without these hubs there is no way to disengage the wheel from the axle. it's a convenience to the masses but because we're more likely to break our IFS, the longer we can make it last, the better. also, once your axles ARE toast, you can limp home without horrible rattling and risk of throwing an axle, since with the hubs on free, those broken axles don't get spun all the way back to civilization.

to engage 4wd, you would have to both go engage the hubs (turn to lock) and as well, use your stick to put it into 4wd. it's an extra step, one that isn't always welcome if the weather is crappy, there's 6" of mud on the trail, or there's no room to stand because you're on a shelf road and forgot to lock 'em before you started up the trail.

price varies significantly. new they're ridiculous expensive. used i've seen 'em from $45 for a dirty pair in need of renovation to over $100 for a really nice rebuilt pair. there's a recent post from a couple days ago, forget who, where a YT'er had bought some, cleaned 'em up and is selling them. do a couple searches and you can find that. you can also pick 'em up on ebay readily... just be sure you get the ones for IFS.

calrockx

it's real expensive to convert to manual hubs for a newer tacoma/4runner and keep abs. i got a junkyard manual hub swap kit for around $500.

if you anticipate 4wd being needed, you can just lock the hubs in 2wd and then push the 4wd button like normal when you need it.

photoleif

ooh, good point cal. i wasn't aware that the newer models had some extra bells and whistles up front. thanks for the clarification.

drguitarum2005

would there be more involved with my 2000 taco than just doing the hubs?

Beast

Auto hubs are vacum activated
and manual hubs have no clutchs

READ MY WORDING IT MAKES SENSE

it is simply a spring loaded ring with teeth inside and outside and in the free position it is disingaged and its outward in the hub
then you spin the hub the spring pushes (inward) the ring ON to the axle(inside of the ring)
and IN to the hub(outside of the ring) and you have a positive connection from axle to front wheel assembly(hub,rotor,rim,tire.)

IFS is a joke to serious wheeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a solid axle swap can be done for less than a grand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beast

96+ are highway trucks

NOT WHEELERS

drguitarum2005

thanks for your first post, however, on this one, im going to have to disagree with you aobut 96+ not for wheeling. There are tons of members on here with 96+ rigs that are plenty capable. They are as capable as previous year trucks, it all depends on what you put into it.

calrockx

anyway, steve has lots of info on the swap: http://sonoransteel.com/junk_yard_manual_hubs.html

oly884

You seem to be farily dogmatic when it comes to what YOU think is the correct way of wheeling. How about providing GOOD information instead of a personal bias.

d0ubledown

uhh..ever check out the trucks on ttora? all pro 3link kit? not wheelers my ass...haha

as for the manual hubs, the kits from ORS and downey are pretty pricey. junkyard is your best bet, and if you plan on keepin ABS if you have it, then look into another few hundred for new bearings & press work. search manual hubs on ttora. lotta info and opinions on manual hubs. might even find a used set for sale from the guys doing sas on their taco's....

^VooDoo^

My avatar shows a Warn manual hubs. There old a dirty so kinda ugly.
advantages are in some models
less wear on front drivetrain
a speck of fuel saving
makes stearing smother
broken axels dont spin on way home
Can play in low2wheel
Dissadvantage
have to get out and lock before use 4WD.

Tofer

one very nice thing wiht man. locking hubs is getting 2Lo

Tanto

Beast -

As far as your comment about IFS being shoddy, take a look at YT member BruceTS and his truck. Very capable machine, even though its not a SA.

As far as 96+ newer trucks being highway trucks, I would definitely not consider YT member WATRD's 2001 Tacoma to be a street queen in any way. Sure, he put a SA under his truck, but it disproves your statement.

kyle_22r

you grew up under the power lines too, didn't you?

oh yeah, and manual hubs do indeed have a clutch -- it's the splined collar inside. it has splines to engage the axle, as well as big, rough splines that engage the body of the hub itself. when you engage the hub, the clutch slides onto the splined end of the outer axle, which locks the shaft to the body of the hub, and thus the wheel.

SteveO

You sure about that?

dfoxengr

what needs changing to keep ABS.
asking specifically for my 96 tacoma.

thanks

snap-on

ummmmm ya auto hubs are a bastard design someplace between a drive hub and a manual locking hub.

auto hubs have a centrifical movement in them designed to lock up when power is applied to the front drive axle (ie the truck is in 4wheel drive). They are usually dispised by real 4wheelers as when you shift into reverse the mechnicism unlocks leaving you in 2wheel drive while you try to back out of what ever situation you found yourself stuck in going in with 4wheel drive.

vacum actuated system called ADD (automatic disconceting diferental) have solid drive hubs bolted to the wheel hub. nothing to lock/unlock. the front driveline spins 100% of the time. disconecting the 4x system is done by a 2 peice shaft, shift fork and collar.

but i know you new all of that :pat: