Locking Hubs

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Aug 7, 2011 | 06:01 PM

cool truck 4

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Locking Hubs

Looking for some feedback. I have a 2009 F250 SD (company truck) 38" rubber 8" lift, manual locking hubs, gas engine, Eaton lockers up front. Now I realize that for long distance or extended road driving I should unlock. But during my average day I go from location to location and continually need 4x4 when I enter these sites. The owner’s manual does not say it is necessary to unlock. Keep in mind that gas mileage and long term wear and tear is not an issue. I have an almost grinding sound when locked in and the dealer says its normal "just the front shaft spinning" he says unlock any time I am not off road. The truck did not have this noise for the first 30000 miles now they say it’s normal. Just curious if anyone else leaves there hubs locked a lot. I had an old plow truck and the hubs were locked for years on end without a problem. It being a company vehicle I can only fight with the dealer so much.<O

</O

Aug 8, 2011 | 09:48 AM

drey04

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From: Midland, MI

I leave my manual MileMarkers locked pretty much all winter. I also leave them locked for the entire time I'm up north deer hunting, normally a week for so. Never had any problems. Just hurts the gas mileage a little

Aug 8, 2011 | 01:59 PM

doofuss

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cool truck 4

Looking for some feedback. I have a 2009 F250 SD (company truck) 38" rubber 8" lift, manual locking hubs, gas engine, Eaton lockers up front. Now I realize that for long distance or extended road driving I should unlock. But during my average day I go from location to location and continually need 4x4 when I enter these sites. The owner’s manual does not say it is necessary to unlock. Keep in mind that gas mileage and long term wear and tear is not an issue. I have an almost grinding sound when locked in and the dealer says its normal "just the front shaft spinning" he says unlock any time I am not off road. The truck did not have this noise for the first 30000 miles now they say it’s normal. Just curious if anyone else leaves there hubs locked a lot. I had an old plow truck and the hubs were locked for years on end without a problem. It being a company vehicle I can only fight with the dealer so much.<O

</O

On ’08 and newer Gassers (I have an '08 V10) the catalytic converters are much bigger and interfere with the front drive shaft when these vehicles are lifted. Some installers “dent” the left cat to make room..( this is an ill advised solution) Most reputable lift companies spec out having the front drive shaft re-tubed down to a 2”od with and increase in the wall thickness to .120. (the stocker is 2.5” o.d.). It’s possible when you have the hubs locked the drive shaft is spinning and hitting the left side cat. Crawl under there and check ‘er out. I alternately sprayed some white paint on the shaft as a wear indicator. It should make the noise when you have the transfer case engaged as well. You probably don’t notice it as much when you are 4 wheeling on the job site because the terrain is rough and it just sounds like normal bump and grind. Here is my thread on the subject.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...8-gassers.html