4WD INOP. 1984 4Runner.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Okay, so I was out wheeling around the house last nite, and 4WD wasn't working, hit a tough little ledge, and the rear tires would spin and push me around, but neither front tire turning. Once I was able to get the Taco and pull the runner out of the spot, I got it back to the garage, and tested out several things...

1)Hubs - Jacked up the front, put it in 4WD, locked both hubs and spun a tire by hand. The tire does spin, and the other tire spins the opposite direction. hubs, check.
2)Transfer Case - Jacked up the rear, turned rear driveshaft by hand, transfer case spun the front drive shaft and therefore the front tires also. T-case, check.
3)Extreme 4WD test - Pulled the rear driveshaft out, left it in 4WD, and drove it around, proving the front wheels turn. 4WD, check.

Now with the advice of Fustercluck and 1moreyota (if anyone ever sees that screenname around) I performed the above tests, and everything looks good. I have narrowed it down to probably operator error, or a sticking hub.
I am pulling the hubs (as a complete unit) tonight and clean then with a stiff brush and some paint thinner see, what I can get out of them... and then regrease with some lithium grease, something not to heavy. Sound good?

What else do you guys recomend?

I have the Tellico Spring Fling this weekend, and don't really have the time between now and then to tear down the hubs and rebuild them, so.... cleaning as a unit is it for now, so tell me if you guys have any ideas for between now and this weekend, and also if you have anything to do afterwards. Thanks!

[HillBilly_Young01]

im going to say its OE or OSL (opperator sucks at life )

[04 Rocko Taco]

Thanks Matt. I figure its 90% chance of Operator Error, and 10% chance of a sticking hub. Cleaning as a precaution.

at work we would call this the I-D-ten-T error.

which is cool when you spell it out.

ID10T.

[AxleIke]

I would certainly repack both front wheel bearings just for fun, if you haven't done that since you bought the truck.

But, a good possibility is that you just didn't get it into 4wd, and in the dark, didn't see the lever.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Indicator light was on for 4WD, I tred both Hi and Low, the lever was definitely over where it should be, I think it is possible however that I didnt get the hub locked.

Follow-up question.

Should you be able to put it back into 2WD from 4WD without unlocking the front hubs? I have an open 3rd up front, no locker. Let me know guys.

[4runnerchevy]

Follow-up question.

Should you be able to put it back into 2WD from 4WD without unlocking the front hubs? I have an open 3rd up front, no locker. Let me know guys.

Yes, but your front driveshaft will continue to turn.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Okay this is the only thing that kept me skeptical that something was wrong, since I have had this truck, I have never been able to go back to 2WD from 4WD without unlocking the hubs, and driving about 1/2 mile then go for 2WD, or unlocking hubs, backing up like 10 feet, and then going for 2WD, but now all of a sudden I can put it into 2WD, which I've never been able to do before. But if that is normal, then prior to the spring fling (this weekend) I will just clean and regrease the hubs, and then I will look at everything else as maintenance as time allows once I get home.

[4runnerchevy]

Sometimes I have to rock the truck to get the t-case to disengage the front drive, but it has always been that way. Whenever I unlock my hubs then I give it the reverse for 10 feet, mostly out of habit.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Also posted this in my garage thread.

Last nite, I got into rebuilding the outer portion of the manual hubs. I didnt pull the hub bodies, just the dials and a clutch lockrings.
They are actually in really good shape, they show very little wear internally, and no rust at all, there was plenty of grease in them, albeit slightly runny, watery grease, but the seals were intact and mostly clean.

Pulled them off the truck, and cleaned out the hub bodies best I could without removing them.

Here it is covered in runny watery worn out bearing grease.

Here they are after a first light scrub in dish soap (cuts grease) and the hottest water I could stand.

Disassembled and cleaned. I did leave the small spring on the pawl, and that assembly on the clutch ring. I didnt see the need in removing this.

You have to be VERY careful not to lose the spring and detent ball out of the hub handle (pictured in the lower bag)

Hub handles and dial faces soaking in Paint Thinner overnight.

Not to many women let thier men put truck parts (clean or not) on the kitchen table.

This morning - Fresh out of the paint thinner.





Painting - Greasing - Reassembly - Reinstallation tonite. I'll post pics of that when the time comes.

[4runnerchevy]

Glad it worked out, they do look in decent shape. I hope it solves your problem. Your wife should talk to mine about the dirty parts on the table