Please explain locking hubs
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: SWFL
Please explain locking hubs
Up here in PA from FL. Driveway were I am staying has a lot of snow and angle. For some reason truck would not go into 4x4 with switch, maybe cold affected it, never happened in Fl. So I manually locked front hubs, if I use switch to go to 2wd with hubs still locked what would happen. Have to pull out in morning with trailer loaded and was curious. Never had a vehicle with manual locking.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Pa
You can run with the hubs locked. Once you get out of the snowy area, if headed back to Florida, unlock them when the weather/roads permit. It won't hurt them being locked.
Chances are you got condesation(that froze) in your 4X4 vac system, or a leak, and that is why your auto function isn't working.
Chances are you got condesation(that froze) in your 4X4 vac system, or a leak, and that is why your auto function isn't working.
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Your post makes me think that you don't normally get out and lock your hubs when you switch to 4 wheel drive. You do realize that while the switch on the engages the transfer case, if you have manual locking hubs, you will NEVER actually be in four wheel drive UNLESS you get out of your truck and lock the hubs. If you believe that you are going to be in a situation that requires the use of 4 wheel drive it is fine to lock the hubs and drive, just means that the front axle and drive shaft will turn, but the transfer will not be engaged until you flip the switch. Just as if you flip the switch without locking the hubs, the transfer will engaged the front drive shaft and axle, but the axles will spin freely in hubs, unless the hubs are locked.
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Your post makes me think that you don't normally get out and lock your hubs when you switch to 4 wheel drive. You do realize that while the switch on the engages the transfer case, if you have manual locking hubs, you will NEVER actually be in four wheel drive UNLESS you get out of your truck and lock the hubs. If you believe that you are going to be in a situation that requires the use of 4 wheel drive it is fine to lock the hubs and drive, just means that the front axle and drive shaft will turn, but the transfer will not be engaged until you flip the switch. Just as if you flip the switch without locking the hubs, the transfer will engaged the front drive shaft and axle, but the axles will spin freely in hubs, unless the hubs are locked.
In winter weather where the possibility of moisture and freezing it is wise to manually engage the hubs and leave them so until the weather improves. Much the same as one would be ill advised to use the parking brake in freezing/wet weather. (been there, done that, learned my lesson)
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Depends on how the truck is equipped. My hubs have an AUTO position and a LOCK position. Auto they lock up when the switch in the cab is used to select 4WD. LOCK position (Manually engaged) they stay locked all the time regardless of the switch position in the cab.
In winter weather where the possibility of moisture and freezing it is wise to manually engage the hubs and leave them so until the weather improves. Much the same as one would be ill advised to use the parking brake in freezing/wet weather. (been there, done that, learned my lesson)
In winter weather where the possibility of moisture and freezing it is wise to manually engage the hubs and leave them so until the weather improves. Much the same as one would be ill advised to use the parking brake in freezing/wet weather. (been there, done that, learned my lesson)
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It is in AWD as the norm. Front axle takes up pulling when the rear wheels slip.
High locks the transfer case and the front axle pulls all the time regardless of rear wheel slippage. Low is low.
I was chasing a rumbling noise in my rear end. Didn't know if I had bad wheel bearings or a problem in the differential. (turned out to be bad pinion bearing) In the process I was going to put the rear end up on jack stands, the truck in gear and and then crawl around while it was running and see where the sound came from. Fortunately I had an epiphany just before getting the thing up on jack stands!
Cause if I'd a done what I planned, I'd put that thing in gear, AWD front end would have said..."Them rear wheels are a slipping" and the whole mess would have come crashing down right after I moved the gear selector.
Somedays lady luck smiles on me!
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