Do I have Auto or Manual Locking Hubs

We recently bought a 1999 Tacoma SR5 for work and fun out in the country. We can't get it to go into 4WD (well it's missing a front axle right now so ... 3WD).

It doesn't actually have manual locking hubs ON IT, but it does have the studs for them. If it was missing an axle I am wondering if the hubs were removed also and just left off as well.

How would I know if I SHOULD have manual locking hubs or if it is equipped with ADD. IS there a difference in the wheel hub or the shifter?

And also - Thanks for all the help already! Just searching we have learned a lot on here so far!

 

I'm not sure how to lock the hubs with ADD, so not sure if there is a light or button on the dash.

Take a picture of the front differential tube.
Look at my 4WD conversion thread in my signature.
I show you the ADD dif tube (has an actuator that locks cv to diff) versus the non add diff tube.
Also in your second picture I don't see the CV.


ADD Diff Tube

Manual Hub Diff Tube

 

Is there a good story why you bought a Truck with no Hubs ??

If it has ADD there are no hubs just drive plates

 

frenchee - I think you hit the nail on the head. We definitely don't have the ADD Diff tube.

Wyoming09 - Good story? Probably funny for you guys ... just ignorance I guess. He just picked it up and drove it off, didn't check a whole lot. I didn't include the picture but frenchee caught it - we were also missing a CV shaft up front too

Oh well, we're having fun working on it and learning about this stuff. This is the most work I've done on a truck so far and this Tacoma feels really accessible and parts don't seem crazy expensive.

 

Awesome. I love your positive attitude. It's a very easy truck to work on.
I will let others chime in on your situation. I would say the most knowledgeable group with 4WD parts here are the guys that did conversions since they know which year had what etc. @BartMaster1234 and a few other guys.
Here is a video on the manual hubs that can help you understand the system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=104&v=W78RkF1mUOE&feature=emb_title

 

Also, I don't know the difference, but there is a difference with the manual CV shaft and ADD CV shaft.
If you order a replacement, get the right one. I got one at Autozone and it specifically said manual hub CV shaft.

 

silly question what does ADD stand for?

 

Automatic Disconnect Differential

 

Post a pic of the end of the axle shaft that is still in place.

ADD and manual hub shafts are different

 

Picture attached. Ordering the parts and seeing the different descriptions was what got me thinking something might be off. He said order the auto version, so I ordered the auto version, and now I get to return ... you guessed it ... the auto version! (Well, I'm going to wait to see if you guys agree based on the picture)

Also, for the enjoyment of all , the missing CV shaft (or most of it...)

 

That is indeed a manual hub CV

 

How far was the drive home after purchase. You didn't feel anything wrong on that drive home?

 

The 99 1st gen did not have manual locking hubs.

 

Perhaps but OPs truck appears to have been swapped by the previous owner

 

My dads 99 and brother 2000 have factory manual locking hubs on the 3rz. My uncle's 2000 5vz have ADD.

 

4wd is actually 2wd (1 front and 1 rear spinning) and when in 2wd it's actually in 1wd (1 wheel spinning) unless you got fr&rr locker to consider it a true 4wd.

 

Exactly, that is same as my 2000 3rz with A/T.
Manual hubs seems to be more frequent on the 4 cyl 4x4s from factory it seems, huh?

 

95-00 4WD trucks could have manual hubs. In 01-04 they were no longer available.

 

I wasn't there to pick it up but they didn't notice anything. I rode around the parking lot 100 yards or so in 2WD and it seemed fine.

Edit - I keep going back and forth on this in my mind. Should we have noticed anything while driving? Without the CV shaft isn't it basically running like a 2WD truck does?