I have a 2003 ford excursion diesel trying to find out which are the best locking hubs out there I hear the mile marker ones are but not sure how many splines I have the auto ones I have on the truck are shot can anyone tell me which ones I would need also do I need to get the auto to manual conversion kit ???

 

Not familiar with those hubs but manual conversion kit is for manual hubs, yes sir. I've always used Warn hubs.

 

X2, Warn hubs are the way to go. Not as expensive as the OEM and very dependable. Didn't bother me to get out and lock them in when I knew I was going to use 4X4. Just make sure to unlock them to save wear and tear.

 

Are aftermarket hubs available for trucks with ESOF?

 

ive had warn before not to confident with them they blew up 2x on my 2000 excursion i have the auto locking hubs on my 03 but there starting to go. i have knobby tires i do offrading hence why i ask for which is best and durable hub cost is not an issue .

 

Up to 03 and 04 you can replace with manual hubs by mile marker or Warn. After that, your options are non existent. Take the ford ones apart and lubricate. Other than that buy new. There are alternate vendors such as Dorman, I don't know how well they hold up.

 

Actually they do exist. Warn makes them. About the same price as originals.
Warn Part 95060 - Preminum Super Duty Manual Locking Hubs Black - 4 Wheel Parts

 

Same prices, and up here they are very expensive like the ford part. Good to know though so thanks for posting. Probably what I should do if replacing.....

 

Watch ebay. I ended up with just over $300 in 2 new oem ESOF hubs, both came from Ford dealers. No way I am going back to manual hubs, been there, done that.

 

Yes, for sure if I could get them on eBay for half price of what's up here in Canada, from a trusted source. I got a EGR valve on eBay and it was definitely though labelled and packed FoMoCo, it was a second and not exactly right. I had to orient it 180 degrees from stock to bolt it down. But yeah, I love the auto hub when it works. In the extreme cold, only the first year of 11 years.

 

+1

And when it doesn't work, you get out and lock the hubs just like the aftermarket hubs. I can't see paying money to have something that works exactly like a failed stock auto-locking setup.

 

The stock autos don't always unlock.

 

The auto hubs are pretty easy to work on as long as they are not full of corrosion. Once they start to bind the end is near. The manual lock only works one way, it still needs a vacuum pulse to unlock. Keep them clean, use good grease with no vacuum leaks and they work great.

 

I have used mine for 10 years. They work great at warmer temps, but I have found the that below 10 f and below not so good. They have been lubricated several times, several seal kits, vacuum pump change, lots of trouble shooting to keep em working. I end up locking manual in colder temps anyway because often only one side locks and nothin. I agree, why not replace with the real thing, but price is an issue for sure. They skin me up here on prices pretty bad. If I buy online from anyone down south shipping, duty at the boarder and extreme delay in delivery makes it a pain.