Question about having only one hub locked.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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Question about having only one hub locked.
I recently accidentally drove a couple miles on pavement while having one of my front hubs engaged in the 4wd position. What are the chances that I damaged something by accidentally doing this?
9 ECHO 1
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Youre fine. The only thing that will happen is the front drive shaft and axle will rotate. All this does is put a little bit more drag on the truck. I know people who keep the passenger side one locked so if they get stuck they only have to lock the one near them
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
If they are going to lock the passenger side why not lock the driver side and be done with it? Different strokes I guess...
9 ECHO 1
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Because they leave the passenger side locked 24/7 and live in the city. Cant have both locked and drive around town.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
Sure you can, the (dry pavement) issue only comes into play when you engage the transfer case, but you can leave the hubs locked with the truck in 2wd and have no binding problems...
9 ECHO 1
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Hmm... I thought it was locking the wheels that causes the problem. Oh well. Good to know!
I didnt say he was the smartest guy. He drives a Chevy.
I didnt say he was the smartest guy. He drives a Chevy.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Leaving only one locked in will also wear the spider gears in the diff faster since one side is rotating at wheel speed and the others just rotating at maybe half speed (or how ever fast the drag in the bearings makes it spin). Its best to do both or none. As long as the **** or stick is in 2WD, you're fine to drive anywhere on any pavement.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
Locking the hubs only spins the axles/driveshaft but will spin freely at the transfer case.
Chevy's may be different, don't know, never owned an IFS HD truck!
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,000
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From: Nowthen, MN
Unless he has a 1987 or older Chevy, he doesn't even have hub locks.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 564
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I have a manual transfer case and manual hubs. During bad winter weather I lock my hubs when I leave the house and use the transfer case as needed. Driving around all day with one or both hubs locked is not a problem.
Trying to engage the transfer case with oinly one hub locked is a problem! One day, I forgot to lock one of my hubs. Later, when I wanted to engage 4X4, the transfer case lever didn't want to engage, grinding gears like shifting a transmission without using the clutch.
Once I engaged the other hub, everything worked normally.
Trying to engage the transfer case with oinly one hub locked is a problem! One day, I forgot to lock one of my hubs. Later, when I wanted to engage 4X4, the transfer case lever didn't want to engage, grinding gears like shifting a transmission without using the clutch.
Once I engaged the other hub, everything worked normally.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 2
From: Chico,CA.
Actually the driveshaft WON'T turn with only one hub locked, and the unlocked side will turn backwards relative to the one thats locked. This is exactly how all the GM products since about 1989 work. They use whats known as a central axle disconnect (CAD) system which is a sliding coupler on the right axle shaft. The left side is a solid connection into the wheel hub. F-150's and Expeditions use this system also, the difference being that the CAD systems disconnect point is inside the axle housing so you can't see the inboard section of the right axle-which is the part thats turning backwards. Bottom line is you didn't hurt a thing.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
If you have a Detroit locker in the front then you cannot lock both and drive around. The darn thing won't turn on pavement. At least that's how my 86 K10 is. Lockers front and rear make pretty much short work of almost all terrain. lol