Swapping transfer manual lever in sr5

Let me start with saying I'm sorry if this has been asked and I'm positive it has, but for the life of me I can not find the thread. What makes matters worse is that swear I saw it before but can no longer find it, so if you answer is just a link to that thread than I would also be happy with that answer too.

Now into the reason I am posting.
I love my sr5 4unner but seriously wish I have the sweet ass lever to switch into 4 wheel drive! I could care less about MTS and Craw control.

If I am willing to spend some money how much would it cost me to have a manual lever swapped? Also, is that something I could have the dealership do?

Again, sorry if this has been asked and thank you for your time and patience.

 

I agree with you, it would have been nice to have the manual transfer case shifter. My 97’ Tacoma had the lever. I do exercise it at least once a month. I’ve read that if you use it, you won’t have issues. Even the off-road trim has an electric actuated ADD and rear locker, so they still rely on electronics.

My wife’s Sequoia has the electric controlled transfer case and she never uses it. As a result it will barely go into 4H and 4L no longer works. I believe all of the new Tacoma’s use the electric transfer case.

As far as converting, it may be more trouble than it’s worth. But if you pull it off, I will be watching with interest.

I would have gone with the Off-Road if it didn’t have the silly fake hood scoop, front and rear valances and the wagon rims.

 

What's super lame is that the pre 13 SR5s had the lever

 

Agreed on the skewp and the valances but the wheels are great... And useful... And better than the SR5 or even PRO wheels for actual off road. Plus IMO they look BA Baracus.

 

Very true, I just don’t like the look.

 

Maybe this is what you saw?

 

It can be done but honestly it isn't worth it. The manual case still has the ADD front axle. The dealer will more than likely not touch a job like this.

 

I appreciate your feedback.

 

I think this needs to turn into a discussion on why ADD doesnt do much and why we should all want locking hubs manual locking hubs

 

There is a guy in HI that offers a full locking up setup for ADD axle equipped Toyotas. It isn't cheap and you add another failure point to the drivetrain.

 

So my understanding is that the axles spin when in 2wd no matter what, and what ADD does is just disconnect the axles from the front differential. Not sure if Im right though. If this is how it works, then I wonder if you'd really increase drag all that much by disabling ADD?

I wish there was a cheap way to retrofit manual locking hubs. I wonder if austrailians get locking hubs on toyotas that we could use as a starting point for the 4runner. Disconnecting at the hubs would make the loud needle bearing a thing of the past.

Back on topic…if I wanted to convert my electro-knob equipped SR5 to a physical lever, I would seriously consider using that money towards retrofitting manual locking hub disconnects instead

 

That might be worth looking into.

 

I added Toyota Asin manual hubs on my 90 with ADD and have had them for decades. Zero wear on the CVs on street driving and a overlooked benefit as it allows 2wd low range which in the 22RE’s case helps a lot with power at elevation on twisty mountain trails(more fun too). I put Dynatrac hubs on my Cummins 12 years ago as well, drives like a 2wd on the street without all the axle components/differential/drive shaft spinning, no ADD here, everything(big stuff) spins back to the transfer case without the hubs and I think it is worth at least 1mpg.
I would love to have them on my new 4R and it might make a difference in the wheel shimmy.

 

So what is all involved in retrofitting hub disconnects? It would need new spindles and CVs right to fit the hub, right? What about wheels? I honestly like this idea and could see myself going down this rabbit hole.

 

Wouldn’t it be better to just go with a SAS and call it done? This conversion doesn’t sound easy and will be a lot of work in itself.

 

Single axle? Is it really that much of a job. Yikes!

 

I only can say the 1st and 2nd gen Toyota hub conversation is a piece of cake. Take off the fixed hub and put the selectable one on, no other parts required. There is a difference between the Toyota solid axle and IFS manual hubs, they are not interchangeable. It takes almost longer to jack up and R&R the wheels than installing the hubs.
The Cummins was a bit more involved, but not bad. New outside yokes/spindles.

 

How intensive is the job? Does it require a ton of work? If the transfer cases are so similar it seems like it wouldn't be to hard. Also, what is the difference between 2013 and 2015 sr5 transfer case?

 

A lot of tacoma guys (all 2nd and 3rd gen tacomas including trd have the knob) do the fj cruiser transfer case swap. I haven't looked too in depth but didn't seem prohibitively complicated

 

You'd need the entire case unless there's a conversion kit and then you need to trick the 4WD ECU to think nothing changed.