just bought me a 87 yota and have a few questions... will I always have to get out and lock them before gettin in some mud or can I just leave them locked all the time and still drive in 2wd?

 

just leave them locked for your whole off road adventure.... it will not hurt anything. you will be able to use 4h 4l and 2h all with switching the T case lever. Don't forget to unlock them once you are done playin.

 

I only unlock mine if I go on long trips then only if I remember.


They are locked in all winter and I think they are still locked in now

 

Unlocking the hubs just keeps the axles from turning while driving in 2wd, it wont hurt anything to keep them locked in other than MPG and a little more wear on the axles, but it doesn't take much to just hop out and lock them in. I also keep mine locked in when the weather is bad.

 

 

with my hubs locked, the truck starts vibrating at 40 mph

 

Huh. Vibrating at 40 mph. That aint right. Bad hub bearings maybe?

Toyota recommends locking them every once in awhile (don't remember the interval) and driving around just to spread grease all around the bearings. Apparently it can kinda all goop at the bottom if you don't, resulting in bearing wear next time you do lock em.

 

i accidently left mine locked for a 260 mile road trip before i realized it. Didnt seem to hurt anything.

 

i leave mine locked when wheeling and in bad weather. just get out and lock them when you get to your wheeling spot. i unlock them most of the time on the road. leaving them locked all the time might affect your mpg but shouldn't hurt anything. i lock mine every so often just to stir up the fluid and oil everything in the diff. not locked then nothings spinning.

 

might be, the old owner probably didnt use the 4x4 much, he was just an older Asian guy and he bought a brand new Chevy and parked the Toyota in the backyard

 

vibrations at 40 when the hubs are locked makes me think its the front driveshaft.