auto hubs and manual hubs - how can you tell?

still shopping for my Tacoma. looking at cars on cars.com etc and you get
lots of pictures but it's hard to tell who's got manual hubs and who's got
auto hubs. can you tell by looking? if so how?

mark

On Sun, 01 May 2005 03:01:31 GMT, "Mark" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>still shopping for my Tacoma. looking at cars on cars.com etc and you get
>lots of pictures but it's hard to tell who's got manual hubs and who's got
>auto hubs. can you tell by looking? if so how?[/color]

I don't think Toyota put manual hubs on any new USA spec 4x4 vehicle
or anything from the last few years.

If you're looking at older models, look at the hub itself. Manual
hubs have rotary switch in the outside end with a small arrow. The
arrow can me moved to two positions, "LOCK" and "FREE".

Automatic hubs are smooth on the end.

Here is a photo of a typical manual locking hub:
<http://www.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?T1=26100+000&UREQA=1&UREQB=2&UREQC=3&UREQD=4&FNM=00&UID=2005050106222340>

Any manual hub will look very similar, regardless of brand. On older
vehicles, manual hubs aren't THAT bad, you can always leave them
locked during snowstorms, or lock them shortly before you leave the
pavement. You don't have to wait for ankle deep mud to get out and
lock the hubs.

That said, automatic hubs are a great improvement, and I say that as a
guy who refuses to buy automatic transmissions. <G>

Have fun!

Bonehenge wrote:[color=blue]
> On Sun, 01 May 2005 03:01:31 GMT, "Mark" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >still shopping for my Tacoma. looking at cars on cars.com etc and[/color][/color]
you get[color=blue][color=green]
> >lots of pictures but it's hard to tell who's got manual hubs and[/color][/color]
who's got[color=blue][color=green]
> >auto hubs. can you tell by looking? if so how?[/color]
>
> I don't think Toyota put manual hubs on any new USA spec 4x4 vehicle
> or anything from the last few years.
>
> If you're looking at older models, look at the hub itself. Manual
> hubs have rotary switch in the outside end with a small arrow. The
> arrow can me moved to two positions, "LOCK" and "FREE".
>
> Automatic hubs are smooth on the end.
>
> Here is a photo of a typical manual locking hub:
>[/color]
<http://www.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?T1=26100+000&UREQA=1&UREQB=2&UREQC=3&UREQD=4&FNM=00&UID=2005050106222340>[color=blue]
>
> Any manual hub will look very similar, regardless of brand. On older
> vehicles, manual hubs aren't THAT bad, you can always leave them
> locked during snowstorms, or lock them shortly before you leave the
> pavement. You don't have to wait for ankle deep mud to get out and
> lock the hubs.
>
> That said, automatic hubs are a great improvement, and I say that as[/color]
a[color=blue]
> guy who refuses to buy automatic transmissions. <G>[/color]

I have to agree that there probably isnt a vehicle sold with manual
hubs.

Auto hubs are fine, except that some of the older and most lilely newer
Toy auto hubs only disconnect ONE driveshaft and the other spins in the
diff (does not spin the diff which most poeple misunderstand).

I had manual hubs put on my auto hubbed 4Runner and the auto hub
deactivated. I am an mechanical only no auto guy ;)

Even if you have auto hubs you can add manual hubs. That way you can
i.e. use low gears for backing trailers and such. Also you can unlock
the manuals in summer and lock them when you anticipate slushe terrain.
then the autos will engage when you go in 4WD.

Anyways .. auto anything will break or malfunction sooner or later
thats why its gone from my truck.

Matt