How do you no if they free or locked. I remember a thread where one was locked from factory and one was free causing a noise.

 

Steering gets tight. You can feel it different than normal. When in the mud roll down the window, turn steering slightly to the right. Stick your head out the window and listen as you stomp the throttle. You will be able to tell the difference then.

 

Look at it. There is 'Auto' and 'Lock' printed on the hub. Whichever the arrow is pointing at is the position it is in.

 

HA! Good call

 

Is that what happened to your face

 

Mine were locked from the dealer for the first 6000 miles. Everybody should check them when you get your truck as I believe they hit the lot locked.
Noticed it when I was washing the truck a year later. So I unlocked them.
Never noticed any difference in driving or fuel economy.

 

Not if you are in 2wd.

 

I think that was his point.

 

If using the dash switch the ***** on the hubs do not turn. Only when used manually you turn the hubs but you still need to turn the switch to activate the transfer case

 

Turn counterclockwise to auto and clockwise to lock on mine but they are marked.

 

Not to be insensitive here, but did you consider reading the manual, as in "RTFM"...? If you are asking this question, you aren't particularly savvy when it comes to 4WD, and you owe it to yourself to read the manual at the very least, and then go out and play with the truck's features. Lock the hubs automatically, manually, shift into 4 high, 4 low, locking the rear diff (if you have that option), etc... And drive it offroad under these various settings so you can get a feel for how the power band and traction changes depending on if you are in Hi or Lo, 4wd, 2wd, diff locked, etc... DON'T be that guy who waits until he's stuck in a grocery store parking lot snow bank to figure this stuff out... Just my .02 cents...