Hey guys, just joined the forum. Glad to be a part of it!

Quick question. Thinking about picking up a 80-86 F250, and wanted to know about locking hubs.

Does anyone know of a kit, or a way to put auto-locking hubs on these older trucks? Will a newer Super Duty auto locking hub work? Is there a way to modify the old hubs to make them automatic? Anyway to change over the spindles and front suspension to work with a newer style auto-locking hub?

Thanks.

 

not positive but i believe some trucks came with auto lock hubs, at least 92-96 did. should be able to swap if you have the same axle. most people replace them with manuals though because the autos are expensive. here is a link to this topic on this site, https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...king-hubs.html

 

personally, i prefer manual, as they can't screw up. before going into an area where i might need 4x4, i lock the hubs, then only engage the t-case when i want to. you can shift on the fly between 2hi and 4hi

 

Auto hubs are great for a highway vehicle. They are great for dirt road riding. But most people i know swap to manual because they are stronger. For a 3/4 ton i think manual would be best.

 

Auto hubs were available on these years as well. You would need all the bits from an auto hub equipped truck. They were not very reliable and were very fragile. I looked into swapping a year ago. It really wasn't worth it. I just lock the hubs in before I leave if I think I'm going to need them. It doesn't hurt anything but a little bit of mileage and heavier steering.

 

I know some people that leave their manual hubs locked in all winter. That would be fine for local driving. It sure would beat auto hubs. Nobody likes the auto hubs that I know of.

 

One downfall of auto hubs, when coasting, they can unlock. Some of the newer ones (saw this on an excursion) have an auto setting and a lock setting. Not sure how well they work.

 

I would rather just get out an put them in or put them in when you think you may be needing them or peridocally to lube everything in there. If you put them in then you know for sure they are in, if the truck does it you're hoping they are, and with the coasting I know a guy that tore his truck up due to this as it slipped on one side playing in the mud. As with anything though if you want them auto you want them auto and I'm sure with some work, probably a bunch or work, you could swap but unless you're disabled and can't put them in yourself you'd probably be better off manual.

 

Look at the merry Christmas post it has an ad that says 80-81 now with optional auto hubs. So that means there somewhere!