So I took my 86 4runner on its maiden voyage this weekend. I got stuck 3 times, in places where not expected. The 4x4 community is awesome, not once did they hesitate to help me out. For some reason, I was unable to put my 4runner into 4x4. Many of the guys there said my hubs were probably broken since automatic hubs have a tendency to do that. I was able to smoothly shift into the 4wheel drive positions, put the front wheels never turned. How should I go about trouble shooting the problem, and whats the worse possible thing that could be wrong with my car. I ve onle had it for like a month and have already spent 1500 getting the engine to work. The guy that sold it to me didnt mention that it needed a new head, cam and timing chain. He simply warmed it up and accelerated the timing during the test drive. I bought it for 2000.

 

Check to see if when its in 4WD the front driveshaft is turning. If it is, then check to see if the front half-shafts are turning. That'll help isolate the problem. I would also guess at the hubs since toyota automatic hubs suck. If thats the problem, I would convert to Aisin manual hubs, those things will never give you crap

 

the wabbit can get you hooked up, wabfab.com.

lee

 

well if you have only spent 1500 so far, be prepared to spend more if 4WD isn't working. i payed $8700 for my 91' and have put around $9000 into it and i have owned it for just over 2 years. and i haven't even done any major work! but, it was well worth it, i have not spent a penny on my truck in repairs since i fixed it up

Hope you find out whats wrong with yours soon.

 

yeah its probably your auto hubs, your best bet would to convert to manual hubs, if you can find any in a local junkyard that would be the easiest, or online vendors such as the wabbit.

 

whoa whoa whoa you paid almost $18000 on a 91 runner
with a v6 come on you could have got a freaking elocked 3rd gen with 60000 miles if less? not bashing just catches me as a little irresponsible

 

yikes. why do you guys pay so much!

i paid $3400 for my '94 pickup over two years ago, 100,000 on the motor (22re), no rust, and hasn't given me a problem yet...

i'd convert to manual hubs and never look back. both my buddy's have A.D.D hubs (not the same as your autolocking, but the same principle) and always make fun of me for having to lock in before going off-road.

then i chuckle to myself when they pop a vacuum line and get stuck. guess who pulls them out.

 

i paid 8 grand for my 98 tacoma with 150000 miles and i thought i got ripped off. but you got a 91 4 runner with a 3 slow for a little more damn

 

Easy enough to swap out the auto hubs for manuals:
- http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/autohub/