Hi
I got my 2001 f 250 7.3D 183k miles a few months ago. Yesterday the grass was really wet when I went to put it into 4wd I realized that the hubs were not marked or the marking wore off. I rotated the hubs to what I thought was lock (counter clockwise) I am not sure if this is right. The front hubs did not engage I moved them clockwise then counter clockwise Finally they engaged. I just am not sure which direction is lock and if I have the lock/auto or lock/free hubs or if I have a problem. Can some one help.
I did not realize there are manual hubs that are lock/auto. My previous trucks were either auto self locking or manual. Guess I am living in the dark ages..
I have the origional window sticker and it lists as an option Electronic shift on the fly. Could I assume then that the hubs are auto/lock if they were not replaced.

 

Yes they are auto/lock....Turning to right locks them and to the left puts them in auto. I love fords and have a 04 6.0 but the auto locking hubs are beyond junk!!!. When i bought my truck my drivers side hub was completely broken and couldnt turn it at all. Went to advanced auto parts and bought a mile marker hub locker kit for $175.00. Took all of 15 minutes to install both sides and this changes to lock/unlock....no more auto/lock junk! And that was the price for both sides, where as ONE stock hub lock is like $250.00

 

As said, the factory hubs are junk. They have plastic guts. Some people like the auto lock feature, but it is run off a vacuum and pretty much everyone eventually has issues with them. Even when you manually lock the hubs, you still have plastic guts.

I went Mile Marker as well. This is my 3rd set (each a different vehicle). When I did mine, I got them from Summit. They were on sale for just a hair over $100. They might have a Christmas sale going on right now. And like Ultimate said, they take 15 minutes to install. All you need is a pair of needle nose pliers and an allen key. Your beer doesn't even have time to get warm.

 

Thanks for the advice and help

 

I just replaced mine with Warn Premiums. Great quality.

 

Thanks Firefighter
I think I'll go with Mile Marker they are on sale for $89.00 money is tight this time of year.

 

I hear that. I only went with warn because I had them on another truck a couple of years ago so know they are quality. Believe me I could have gotten the mile markers for $100 less then the warns. Just couldn't bring myself to do it. What can I say, I am just stubborn sometimes.

 

I got Milemarkers as well. My driverside factory auto/lock hub froze and when I pulled it out and shook it, it sounded like a baby rattle. Installing my MM hubs took me about 20 minutes.