question about 4 wheel drive?
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Senior User
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question about 4 wheel drive?
Today I replace my wheels and for whatever reason I noticed my truck has the old school button on the hub (in front) that you use to lock in 4 wheel drive. In the unlock position the hub spins freely and then ofcourse when you lock it in it doesnt'. Inside I can also do it. The shop said I had never had the truck in 4 wheel drive unless I had locked it in on the hub. This is bull. I don't use the 4 wheel drive much but i know i have at times. Whats this old school button for?? thanks. Herb
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
Button? Not sure but I think you are talking about the hub itself the locking hub rotates to either "LOCK" or "AUTO" that will be printed on the hub face with ESOF. The "AUTO" allows it to be used on the fly with the turn of the 4x4 selection switch on the dash. the "LOCK" is for when the system has a vacuum failure and you can manually lock the hubs.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Saint Louis
When your hub is on auto and you put the truck in 4x4 it is like having a limited slip front end. Your front tires will not always spin at the same speed and sometimes one of the tires might not spin at all. If you put the hubs to lock it is like having posi. The wheels will always spin at the same speed no matter what which will make the truck hop like crazy if you are turning and hit dry pavement. This is mostly used if you are very stuck in snow or mud to keep all the wheels spinning together. Sometimes when i'm plowing very deep snow i have to lock in my hubs or i won't be able to push it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Scio, OR
When your hub is on auto and you put the truck in 4x4 it is like having a limited slip front end. Your front tires will not always spin at the same speed and sometimes one of the tires might not spin at all. If you put the hubs to lock it is like having posi. The wheels will always spin at the same speed no matter what which will make the truck hop like crazy if you are turning and hit dry pavement. This is mostly used if you are very stuck in snow or mud to keep all the wheels spinning together. Sometimes when i'm plowing very deep snow i have to lock in my hubs or i won't be able to push it.
When the hubs are in auto, the ESOF switch on the dash should lock them automatically when you switch to 4x4. When the hubs are in lock, they are locked.
There is no posi on the front end. It is a simple open differential that works the same way, regardless of the way the hubs are locked.
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When your hub is on auto and you put the truck in 4x4 it is like having a limited slip front end. Your front tires will not always spin at the same speed and sometimes one of the tires might not spin at all. If you put the hubs to lock it is like having posi. The wheels will always spin at the same speed no matter what which will make the truck hop like crazy if you are turning and hit dry pavement. This is mostly used if you are very stuck in snow or mud to keep all the wheels spinning together. Sometimes when i'm plowing very deep snow i have to lock in my hubs or i won't be able to push it.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Lakewood, Ca.
Manual lock and ESOF do the same thing...they lock the hubs to their respective axle shafts. They have nothing to do with the differential, as Mr. Chamberlain said.
fomoco60, if you're noticing a difference in the way your truck acts it may be that your hubs are not locking when you use the ESOF.
fomoco60, if you're noticing a difference in the way your truck acts it may be that your hubs are not locking when you use the ESOF.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
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Manual lock and ESOF do the same thing...they lock the hubs to their respective axle shafts. They have nothing to do with the differential, as Mr. Chamberlain said.
fomoco60, if you're noticing a difference in the way your truck acts it may be that your hubs are not locking when you use the ESOF.
fomoco60, if you're noticing a difference in the way your truck acts it may be that your hubs are not locking when you use the ESOF.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Saint Louis
Manual lock and ESOF do the same thing...they lock the hubs to their respective axle shafts. They have nothing to do with the differential, as Mr. Chamberlain said.
fomoco60, if you're noticing a difference in the way your truck acts it may be that your hubs are not locking when you use the ESOF.
fomoco60, if you're noticing a difference in the way your truck acts it may be that your hubs are not locking when you use the ESOF.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Lakewood, Ca.
If your truck acts differently when cornering with the hubs locked manually than it does when you lock them with the ESOF switch then I'd bet you're hubs aren't locking automatically. Usually that's due to a vacuum leak, often at the hub seals.
Does your heater/air conditioner only blow out defrost when you use the ESOF?
Does your heater/air conditioner only blow out defrost when you use the ESOF?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Scio, OR
I would say that your at least one of your front hubs is not locking automatically. It is really the only thing that explains what you are experiencing. You said you are sure that your front wheel was spinning. How were you sure unless you were outside of the truck where you could see the wheel spinning?
Attached is an exploded diagram of the front axle. You can see that it is a simple open differential.
Attached is an exploded diagram of the front axle. You can see that it is a simple open differential.
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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As others have said the hub locks have nothing to do with the differential. Try putting the truck in 4X with the switch then crawl underneath and try turning the front drive shaft. If it spins your esof isn't locking in your hubs. If it doesn't spin it may still only be locking one hub. Jack up the front of the truck and spin the shaft. Both tires should spin.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 86
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From: Saint Louis
If your truck acts differently when cornering with the hubs locked manually than it does when you lock them with the ESOF switch then I'd bet you're hubs aren't locking automatically. Usually that's due to a vacuum leak, often at the hub seals.
Does your heater/air conditioner only blow out defrost when you use the ESOF?
Does your heater/air conditioner only blow out defrost when you use the ESOF?
I would say that your at least one of your front hubs is not locking automatically. It is really the only thing that explains what you are experiencing. You said you are sure that your front wheel was spinning. How were you sure unless you were outside of the truck where you could see the wheel spinning?
Attached is an exploded diagram of the front axle. You can see that it is a simple open differential.
Attached is an exploded diagram of the front axle. You can see that it is a simple open differential.
