ive noticed recently that when i drive my 84 4runner with asian hubs the hubs get really warm and it gets hotter the more/harder i drive. When 4wheel drive is enganged the front 2 hubs seem to heat up super fast and get really hot (not enough to burn you but still hot). My left locker has some troubles going from free to lock and visa-versa so im wondering if oiling up the lockers will fix this and also fix the heating problem w/ the hubs. Note: The rear hub caps seem to get hot aswell. Not as bad as the front but deffiently noticable.
Anyone know what i should do or what the problem is?

 

wheel bearings too tight? need lube?

 

Sounds like it's time to do some front end maintenance. Bearings too tight is most likely. Bearings need cleaned out and regreased likely too. (They don't use oil.) Is there any noise of vibration? Locking hubs torn down and cleaned and re-lubed is probably a good idea too but it's not the problem. Check the grease in the knuckles and check the diff fluid while you're at it...

Front wheel bearings should never run hot. An old mechanic told me years ago that when in doubt, looser is always better than too tight. Also, that you know they are too tight if they get hot.

 

No there is no vibration. I just noticed the heat the other day when i went to turn on the hubs that they were really hot. And it seems to get worse in 4wheel drive. So i can just take apart the hubs and just grease it all up and make sure everythings running smoothly

 

Well, maybe. You should take them apart and clean and inspect them carefully, then if they are okay grease them up and put them back together. Although, depending on your miles, you might consider just putting in new ones now. They're cheap enough.

But just for comparison, even at the end of a long drive, even in summer time - the hubs themselves are never hotter than than the other parts around them (except the brakes, which can be pretty hot.) Completely comfortable to the touch.