first off i am working on a 92 4runner with the add system and live hubs
I am in the process of collecting parts for the manual hub swap.
read all the writups i could but still have one question that doesnt make sense.......
what is the purpose of the gold bolt that threads into the end of the half shafts inside the hub?????


i ask because on my old 89 dlx pickupi changed the half shafts on both sides , they had a c clip that kept the axle stub in place, not a gold bolt.

 

For pulling on when you are replacing the snap ring!

 

It's sort of a back-up to keep the free wheeling(or automatic locking) hub attached to the spindle/axle, should the nuts, cone washers, and/or studs fail. IOW, you can't get the free wheeling(or automatic locking) hub off without removing it.

 

so is it really needed? say i should accidentally shear off one or both while removing the live hubs???? can the c clip hold the works together?

 

No, they're not needed. They would only very rarely be of any use at all(if ever). Since the free wheeling hubs are more than adequately secured to the axle hubs(studs, cone washers, lock washers, nuts). I've never heard of anyone having one come loose, much less damn near fall off.

I forgot to mention the fact that they would also keep the half shafts from pulling out of the hubs, if the snap rings failed. But I've never heard of that happening either.

 

this is really all only in theory that the bolts will break upon removal. but somehow this truck was pretty well taken care of in its previous life.
thanks for the info fellas.

 

Is this the one you're talking about? Mine had a little mushroom type thing that held the center cap on. I removed the mushroom (not sure what it's called) but I did stick the bolt back in there, just so I didn't loose it. .

 

yup thats the bolt.