I am looking to put locking hubs on my 93 4runner. Newly rebuilt 3.0, newly rebuilt a340H, new urethane suspension, rebuilt differential, new accessories, new a/c system, 240000 BTU trany cooler, new HP brakes, new Toyo tires, added hitch.
Trying to reduce drag on drive train and gain more horsepower, but I see there are many brands of locking hubs ranging from $100 to $250. What is the difference in the brands?
I use the vehicle mostly for driving down washes and some desert trail blazing, no rock climbing!Are there good and bad hubs or do they all work about the same?

 

Most would say that the Aisin factory hubs are best/strongest.

The Aisin hubs are not too hard to find used, especially for IFS.

I do have a set of Warns on one of my trucks and they have given no trouble.

Both the Aisin and Warn hubs have good parts availability.

I'd stay away from any oddball brand hubs.

 

Oem aisan hubs, like most things toyota original is best. If it's not better than stock like high performance parts or stronger/better parts like lockers, springs or shocks for example your better off with original equipment.

 

Just so you're not disappointed, going to manual hubs vs. the ADD system will make a negligible difference in performance and mpg. The factory ADD system has its drawbacks, but creating mileage-sapping drag isn't one of them. It's a very efficient, low-friction mechanism.

 

I agree. And it beats the pants off climbing out into the ice and snow to fiddle with hubs. But, each to his own.

 

You won't notice much difference between the ADD and manual hub swap. Mostly its for less drag on actual moving parts. Your CV Joints, and other drive train components do not move with manual hubs.

 

I love my Warn Hubs !!

I must say pretty much all the Aisin Hubs were pretty well trashed when I got the vehicles Either rusted solid or broken parts.

The ADD on my 92 4Runner I have the manual hubs that I leave in all winter

Once the weather breaks the hubs get unlocked except for oil change days I make sure the things all work

 

Thanks for all the input. I am considering the USA made "Mile Marker" hubs. I want them mostly to disengage the cv axles when not using them. There is just to much dragging on the engine. It is a hassle turning the hubs, but the Toyota A340H tranny was just poorly thought out and between the drag from the transfer case and the cv's a lot of power is wasted. Just getting the tranny not to over heat here in AZ summer heat is a job in itself and any reduced drag helps.

 

That a340H is the main cause of your power problem. Swap in a 5 speed if you want to see some real gains.

For stock purpose, all hubs are fine. When your wheeling a locked front end on 35s + then its aisin or flanges. You can find ifs Aisins for 100 a set or less if you look, and they clean up pretty easily. (craigslist, junkyards.. etc) SFA hubs will not fit on IFS truck

 

I hear what your saying. I'm a engine builder and just built a 3.0 for a guy in a off road club. He has an 89 4runner and the difference in power between his manual tranny and my auto tranny is like night and day. He has 35's on his 4runner and be can spin the tires with the new motor. Mine has a new motor with the auto tranny and 4.88 gears and it can only spin my31 tires in sand and that's with a auto tranny I just rebuilt the tranny and it has a shift kit in it. Truly lives up to the name 3.slow. I just don't have the cash to convert to the manual. the only good thing is the lock up overdrive with the auto tranny.
the vehicle rides nice until I hit 75 MPM then there is vibration in one of the CV shafts due to an out of balance issue, that's the main reason for the manual hubs.