Can someone tell me if there are manual locking hubs for '97 automatic 4Runners? I'd like to make that conversion but I'm not sure that I can. Downey Parts says in their catalog that 1996-2001 ADD vehicles cannot be converted to manual locking hubs. Is this definitive, and, if so, is it unlikely that anyone will ever find a way to do it in the near future?
Ana

They can be converted, just very expensively.

Check out www.offroadsolutions.com for the kit. I believe Performance Products is also selling the kit now.

If you buy all the necessary conversion parts brand new from a dealership, it would be about $1500 (one 3rd gen 4Runner owner did that a few years ago). The ORS kit cuts costs and uses less expensive aftermarket parts to get the price down to about $1000. There are lots of parts replaced, including different half-shafts. It's not at all a simple install especially due to the wheel bearings.

Jeff,
After the ORS conversion, are you left with alot of stock parts to use for any trail repairs? I'm still debating this conversion for my '01.

Anna,
Downey has a coversion kit now. Give them a call.
it's around 5-600.
It's also local to you.

No, you really don't end up with spares. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Actually, the "spare parts" you end up with just aren't usable anymore as trail spares for yourself since they won't fit with the other new manual hub parts.

In my opinion, the one problem regarding spares when you buy the ORS kit is that you have to re-use the inner CV joints along with the new ORS middle axle shafts and ORS/aftermarket outer CV joints that only work with manual hubs. The problem with this is that you don't end up with entire spare half-shafts - you end up with a pile of unusable parts for yourself that don't total up to a core return either. Or you'd be lucky to sell just the used outer CV's to someone with a broken stock CV. I attempted to use the stock spindle/hub flange with the 6 lugs in it when I redesigned my spare tire carrier, but I ended up not using that since it was so awkward and bulky.

I think it would be best if you could somehow end up with 2 complete extra half-shafts, either to use as spares, or even to use as cores for trade-ins at an auto parts store. It doubles the cost of an axle replacement if you don't have a (typically broken) core to give back to them. I had sold one of my stock dismantled axle shafts to Schaefer so he could return it as a core for a new spare axle. Everyone saved a little money that way. It's good to know that he was able to return a stock ADD axle as a core when purchasing a new manual hub axle as a spare.

I still haven't figured out a good method to recommend to others how to end up with a spare axle. Even if you'd subtract the ORS axle pieces from the kit and exchange axles yourself at a car parts store for Tacoma manual hub axles, you still don't end up with a spare. It would probably be about the same cost. The 4Runner inner CV is theoretically stronger than the Taco inner CV, so you might as well buy the ORS parts for the outer axle.

My situation was unique because I was the prototype 4Runner for the manual hubs and got the Newfield axles instead of ORS pieces which were just developed at that time. The Newfields don't seem to be worth the extra money now.