I just bought a 97 tacoma! It is my first 4x4 with manual hubs. I have 2 questions about it.

1) can I run in 4x4 with the hubs unlocked and have no fear of drive train bind up on streets? This would be a good way to occasionally keep the front pinion seal nice and moist and give the diff a spin up from time to time.

2) can I run the hubs locked in 2x4 if I anticipate that I might need 4x4 so I can shift in without getting out? And does this have any risks of bind up or other damage with it?

I just don't want to break my 4x4 system. Thanks for the info!

 

i ran my 97 taco with the hubs locked during the winter when i lived in Upstate NY.
no issues. i did unlock them periodically over the winter when the roads were for sure dry.

I don't think there would be an issue with doing the reverse, 4WD and hubs unlocked.
just probably wouldn't recommend it for an extended period of time.

 

With the hubs open I run with the tranfercase locked, Basicly 2 low when I am in stop and go traffic.
It does rotate the oil and boots and since I have over 300K mi and no leaks it must help the seals.

 

Punchy, just want to clarify, you are running four low on the transfer case but your hubs are open or free wheeling? I could see that helping in traffic and I am glad to hear that your seals aren't leaking. I find a lot of friends end up with leaks on their front pinion seals. When I ask them when they run their rigs in 4x4 they respond "never." I think that it must help to stir it up this way. I never thought about having an option of 2 low.. That's pretty cool, especially in slow traffic.

 

I run my '85 with the hubs locked in the hunting woods all the time with no issues. Makes for shift on the fly 4x4. (I can put up to 50 miles on my truck in the woods a day.)


And you're supposed to run the 4 wheel drive every so often to keep everything lubricated, so running it with the hubs unlocked will help, not hurt. I just wouldn't go over 55-60 with it.

 

I never lock my hubs unless needed for off road, but do shift into 4X4, low & high range every month or two for a mile or so just to mix up the gear oil, spin the axles and lube the seals. I only go a few yards in low range. I never shift on the fly in or out of 4X4.
Added; I had to rebuild my front axle with a straight housing cause of axle damage and the 4x4 shop said he couldn't believe how like new the diff inners looked for an '82 with well over 200,000 on the truck.

 

wait? how does the truck drive in 4x4 if the hubs arent locked in????? then whats the point of the locking hub?

 

If you put the xfer case in 4x4 you will send power to the front diff, if the hubs are locked you get 4 wheel drive, if not you just spin the axels. That's my understanding anyways.

 

Yep, all the locking hubs do is lock or unlock the rotating wheel from the axle on back. If you were not in 4x4 and had the hubs locked the rotation of the wheel would rotate the axles, shaft, diff, and some parts inside the transfer case causing some useless wear, resistence plus effect gas mileage, never mind harder steering perhaps.

 

THe point is to, Just put it in 4H or 4L (With the hubs unlocked) to stur the parts once in awhile.
What this does as mentioned is.
Rotates the grease in the Ujoint, Stur the oil in the diff and transfercase.
1.The diff has 3 seals that don't get oil on the top sides of them and spinning lubes them up.
2. CV boots will weather (harden) and crack, Rotating them lengthens life as I have seen.
There is no excess wear.

There is a lot more wear from non manual hubs.