Buying a truck that has automatic locking hubs I've always had manual lockers, are these automatic hubs of **** design like most new technology or are they actually dependable?

Thanks

 

Depends on the age of the truck. I think they would be reliable for a few years. What causes them to fail are vacuum leaks, and even then, they can be manually locked at the wheel. Manual are generally cheaper and more reliable in the long run.

I have ESOF, and 215K and my system still works.

 

yeah thats what i didnt understand is my truck has the manual lockouts that you turn on the hub itself but inside the cab there isnt the floor shifter, its the button next to the steering column, so in a sense I dont have auto locking hubs I have manual lockers its just the way the transfer case engages is electronically rather than with a manual shifter linkage?

is there like a solenoid on the transfer case that is operated by the 4x4 switch on the dash? how does it work?

 

Like any technology dependability is a function of maintenance. If they're maintained, lubed and the lines checked/replaced they may be good to go.

For me personally, I depend FAR too much on my 4WD system to leave it to vacuum actuation and rubber seals. I pulled the ESOF hubs off and put manuals on. Mine auto hubs hadn't been maintained all that great by the time I got the truck, so I replaced them.

If you're an occasional off roader or don't depend on your 4WD system for back roads or snow I would think the auto hubs would be fine if taken care of.

Just my .02

 

please read my post above yours we posted at the same time somehow haha, use 4x4 about every day backroads and snow in winter time

 

Putting aftermarket locking hubs on an "Electronic Shift on the Fly" (ESOF) truck is a popular modification, but ESOF trucks do come with locking hubs where you select between AUTOMATIC and LOCKED. This allows you to lock the front hubs even when the vacuum system fails, because you never discover the ESOF hubs do not work when you are on dry pavement, you're usually in deep mud or snow.

Are these hubs on your truck stock or an after market product such as Warn?

 

When you switch over to 4x4 HI, your transfer case will engage and your hubs will lock. Ford, unlike Chevy and Dodge, has the **** on the wheel in order to lock your hubs if the vacuum system fails. If your system is working, you don't need to touch the ****.

 

This is my second Ford with the vacuum operated hubs, and my 5th or 6th with the ESOF t-case.

I've never had a problem with my vacuum hubs, and to be honest, never had a problem with automatic hubs other than trying to get out of 4x4. Backing up always did the trick to disengage them.


I wouldn't be worried about the ESOF system. If you absolutely need 4x4 on demand, I would replace the vacuum hubs with manual and call it a day. However, that is kinda overkill IMO. as jc8825 pointed out, if the hub fails, you can simply lock it in anyways

 

I have had 2 ford trucks with esof. The 04 I had had issues and some times would work and other times would not. I could though lock the hubs manually. The 06 has been flawless. I generally subscribe to the idea of locking them manually if I know or think ill be using it. I have had quite a few gm products that had esof. Those trucks are a nighmare. It is possible to lock the front axle if you have enough enginuity and a shovel. At least ford gave us a better system in the superduty line up unlike the other variants.

 

Don't worry about the auto part just get out and turn the **** . Thats what i always do and there locked and no worry.

 

Little quick on the trigger finger there, wasn't I?

I have driven offroad most of my life and have had several different variants of 4WD, up to and including Jeeps.

I have had zero issues with the "shift on the fly" system. When I get into 4Lo I hear the solenoid kick, and I'm good to go.

I do a fair amount of sand "dune-ing" in the winter and have never been let down by the Super Duty shift on the fly. i actually like it better than my last 2 4by's.

 

As others have said, its all about the maintenance!

Here's a few things that I do and I haven't had a problem with mine so far....

First -- I service them as outlined in Guzzle's write up. I do this at least twice a year: Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Autolock Hub Lubrication Maintenance Web Page

Second -- About once a month I twist the hub locks to keep them turning free. There's pretty tight clearance in the ****/hub interface and I've seen quite a few of them seized up. Some bad enough that folks try to use pliers to turn them and break the ****.

Third -- I engage my 4x4 (with the ****) about once a month, year round. This helps keep the t-case shifting mechanism from seizing up and it turns the gears in the front end to keep everything in there lubed up. I had alot of trouble in my '94 Explorer with the shift motor failing to engage. I started engaging 4x4 once a month on it and it has been trouble free ever since.

During these tests, always remember to reach behind the tire to turn the axle and make sure the hubs lock and unlock like they should.

Good luck!

 

Sorry if it's a little off topic, but I'm curious why so many replace the esof hubs with manual? Since the esof hubs will manually lock even if they don't auto lock cause of a vac leak, why replace them with warn or MM unless they just plain won't lock in or are broken otherwise? My hubs don't auto lock and I just haven't taken the time to track down the leak I assume is there, so I lock 'em manually. Since they lock/unlock with a vacuum pulse I understand, there shouldn't be an issue with a constant vacuum leak affecting any of the other systems in the truck correct?

Unless they don't lock, or there is some other issue caused by an improperly functioning esof system that I'm not aware of just tossing out the old hubs seems like either tossin money out for no reason or making a good purchase to dress up the truck, since, lets face it, MM and Warn hubs sure are better looking than stock.

 

I guess I'll be the standout in the crowd. My previous 05 F150 had the electronic transfer case mechanism fail/short out along with something in the front end. My previous 06 250, the auto hubs stopped working (probably vacuum leak), the 4x4 always engaged but sometimes took a while, and then the hubs were shot and needed a pair of pliers to turn them. I bought it used and the previous owner must never have done maintenance or selected MANUAL on the hub.

Now my current set up is the MSOS (manual shift on stop). The only down side is being unable to shift to 4x4 while driving. However the times when I needed it, traffic would come to a stop somewhere so this shouldn't be a big deal.

I think the ESOF system works fine if maintained like others have stated. I would use the manual engagement once a month with the auto system to keep the hubs working. I remember test driving a few trucks at dealers where the hub wouldn't even turn on a 2-3 year old truck! I just like knowing that an electrical failure wont keep me from getting into 4x4. I'm probably one of the very few who had a couple issues with these systems so I no longer want to deal with it. But I do believe these esof systems have come a long way. Maybe the day will come where the manual shift t-case is no longer offered, similar to what happened to the manual transmissions.

 

Mine would not lock, even manually. One of the dial was near frozen and no matter what I tried I could not get it to free up. I found out the first time I had it out that even though I would manually lock them, one side was not locking up consistently.

I would love to have the factory ESOF hubs on, but they're SO expensive to replace and are not completely serviceable like manual hubs. Therefore, since I DO depend on them as much as i do, I changed them out to Mile Markers. If the factory hubs didn't cost an arm and a leg I would have thought about it, but they do. My Mile Markers were $99. Not much to think about there.