I'm looking for a 92-96 F150 4wd and would like
to hear some opinions on the pros and cons of
the various 4wd systems available on different year trucks.
Specifically I've seen push button and floor-shifter styles.
I'm not into serious off roading, just want to avoid getting
stuck in the snow.

In what year did ford switch between the two, or
was push button an upgrade option over floor shifters?

Can either type be engaged at speed?

I assume all of the push button styles have auto locking hubs.
What about the floor shift type?

Thanks
Roy

 

If i'm not mistaken, 92-96 had the option of either floor or push button. Floor i believe u have to stop to shift, push button is on the fly. Floor is probably the best if you ask anyone on here. Not many people like push button. I personally like having a second shifter to play with. Hopefully my 2wd will have a 4wd shifter soon (conversion) but my dads truck has the shifter. The auto hubs are usually switched out for manuals for the possiblity of something going wrong when you need it the least. The real only pro to push button is, to some, no shifter to play with and on the fly. I think the whole front driveshaft/axle spins while driving on a push button so that reduces MPG and encreases wear and tear. With a floor, the whole front is disconnected.



Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)


Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
92' Thunderbird 3.8L V-6 FOR SALE!
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter baby.

The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L

 

go with the floor. less can go wrong with it. I myself don't trust the button
don't know about your model but I have an 88' and I can shift on the fly. I do it all the time. as soon as the rear tires start to spin, pull back on the shifter and presto!! the front ones start spinning too, and before you know it you are stuck.

 

Problem is that the floor shift models seem
impossible to find. I've only seen one so far
on a 92.

 

I would definitely go with the floor shift. Its certainly more dependable, there are just too many things to go wrong with push button. I shift on the fly with my floor shift at relatively low speeds all the time, no problems.
-Cope

95 F-150 4x4
4.9L M5OD
Front Truetrac Rear Detroit
3.73 Precision Gears
Warn Premiums
4" Superlift Superunner

 

Roy,
"...I assume all of the push button styles have auto locking hubs." -yes
What about the floor shift type?
Our 96 bronco XL had auto hubs and manual xfer case shifter.

 

i have a 1993 with push button ,dont go off road much but love this in the snow ,you can go into 4 hi up to 88km per hour.i lke having the extra floor space.

 

Are you looking at F-series? When I was shopping for a '92-'96, the F-150/250's all had the lever with both types of hubs. The push-button is very common, maybe standard, on Bronco, Ranger and Explorer.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Apr-02 AT 07:18 PM (EST)]look for a 4x4 with a manual shift tranny and chances are you'll find it with a manual shift t-case, and auto hubs if someone hasn't changed them over to manuals yet. i have a 95 f-150 4x4 with 4.9L, 5 speed manual tranny, manual shift t-case and auto hubs. auto hubs with 5 bolt caps are more reliable than the auto hubs with 3 bolt caps. as far as shift on the fly read the owners manual, it can be done on the fly if the hubs are already engaged, if their not engaged you will destroy the auto hubs when shifting on the fly.