88-89, Toyota 4Runner SR5 – Automatic Locking Front Hubs

This is the odd-ball 3.0L V6 with a 5spd Manual and Automatic Locking Hubs. We are in the middle of swapping a CV Axle and found a bone dry AutoLocker. AFAICT these were only available on the SR5.

Source: Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_4Runner#First_generation_(N60;_1983)

There is a bit of a black hole around the Automatic Locking hubs. The Forums H A T E them and youtube only skirts it well. You can find the information but only in out of context content… like…

Dude wants to replace the rotors, topic covered
Dude wants to swap to manual, topic covered
Dude wants to scrap/salvage, topic covered

Here is a 1988 hard-link ripped from the WBM which was ripped from elsewhere. Basically non-searchable but the FSM fo’sho. At some point someone purged the earth of all these FSM’s. Greedy fools I suspect.

toyota_truck_and_4runner_88 Download

Here is the 85, thanks to the WBM. Dont say their name here or someone will no doubt try and delete that too.

1985FSM_OCR Download

I am over here doing my Schindler Jumping Jacks… realizing that I am not 26 anymore and my skills have atrophied.

Youtube Playlist of Debugging the LOUD CLICKING at the Passenger Front that only appears in 2WD, not 4WD… including an Axle Swap that (as of time of writing) may or may not have been required…. on the way to… possibly great differential sorrow… lol

Beware that is a “Playlist” and not a video, it actually goes on for HOURS AND HOURS lol… including a nice fail-sequence where I try to Impact Wrench on 2′ of Extensions. There is a special bonus where I whale the axle out with a 4lb hammer (BEFORE) relieving the axle retention rings….. sigh.

Anyhow – Link Dumping here this morning.

TSTART – 0750 PDT
LEARNINGS BLOCK

The searchable 1985 FSM likely wont have it because this only existed in limited models
- TBD the exact range of vehicles that got the Auto Hub
It must work by unwinding outward while spun
- No way the Axle could move in and out
- We found the teeth that Engauge and the spring that holds them back
- We know you are supposed to disengage by dropping back to 2WD and rolling in reverse 10′
- The CV Joint is different than I am familiar with, more will be revealed with that. Boot was torn but internals finger-felt fine
- The axle has a retaining ring (expected) with a toothed washer
  - I fuggered that up because on a Honda its a ring that compresses
  - I hit the axle with a 4lb hammer and launched the Ring and toothed washer into the 4.2″ deep dust in the driveway
  - I recovered the stackup…. and built it up on the bench… 99.9996% sure the washer goes to the inside and the ring to the outside BUT YOU DONT KNOW BECAUSE THIS ONE HAS MUCHO CLAPTRAP’O … right after that Ring. Like… The washer very well COULD go after the ring… Unless… Next Assembly has a hole bigger than the

D I N G

Whatever the Axle Lock Ring is pushing against (engine side), confirm that a Washer would be required there and show why it would be toothed.

RESUME