Alright the locking hubs on my 05 were in the lock position when I bought it. I couldn't get them to budge to rotate to the auto position. Today I got the hubs to rotate from lock to auto. So I figured I would take them apart and grease them, I did and they are stuck in auto position now. When they turned today they were very hard to turn. If I break the hub down and clean it will that help them?

 

Spray some Wd-40 on the outside, handle is not connected to the internal parts of the hub, there is a rubber diaphram behind the handle, but that plastic handle gets crud in it makes it hard to turn, wd-40 works on my '04, work it back and forth and spray liberally, taking the hub apart will not help with the external handle.

 

Thanks! I'll see what I can do

 

Post back if it works, I used pliers on mine until a buddy of mine gave me the wd-40 hint years ago as a result I've broken out the cast aluminum middle of the handle, but no water leaks so far, I do have to use manual all the time, but that's a separate issue and not a big deal for me, I really don't miss the auto lock although it was convenient when I had it, but not worth buying warns or mile marker replacements and still not having auto hub. There is a great link on here somewhere about taking your hubs apart and re greasing, pretty easy and if nothing else gives you an understanding how they work, it did for me anyway.

 

Keep in mind the 2005 hubs he's working on are not the same as your 2004. The 2005 and up hubs are technically not serviceable but here's a link on how to take them apart if you so choose. Definitely not as easy as the 99-04's. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...with-pics.html

 

Thanks for the link, guess I'll keep my opinion to my self on anything newer than 2005, lol.........uh yeah my hubs are way easier than those.

 

Ya i found that thread thanks maverick22. I haven't picked up any wd40 yet, used the last of it on my squeaky fence gate last week haha.

 

The WD40 trick worked excellent. Sprayed it right in the crack in between the **** and hub cover and twisted it with pliers at first and then did it by hand, now my hubs turn freely!