4WD exercise
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 465
Likes: 38
I thought i read on here some folks were experiencing a binding or something like that on their new trucks....then were told to check and see if the hubs were locked...i think one person had one side locked or something like that.....so you are saying that it is ok to lock the front hubs, but not engage the transfer case (SOTF) and it is okay to do???
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
I thought i read on here some folks were experiencing a binding or something like that on their new trucks....then were told to check and see if the hubs were locked...i think one person had one side locked or something like that.....so you are saying that it is ok to lock the front hubs, but not engage the transfer case (SOTF) and it is okay to do???
Just locking the hubs and driving will get the fluid in the differential moving around. I wouldn't think you would need to drive far for effective lubrication, maybe a couple miles.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
OK to do. In fact, that is how my 1/2 ton truck rides around all the time. I don't have locking hubs - automatic or otherwise. My front axle is always engaged, it's the transfer case that isn't engaged. Now, because mine is an independent front suspension with CV axles it's a little different. I don't have binding in it like I will in my F-350 when the hubs are locked.
Just locking the hubs and driving will get the fluid in the differential moving around. I wouldn't think you would need to drive far for effective lubrication, maybe a couple miles.
Just locking the hubs and driving will get the fluid in the differential moving around. I wouldn't think you would need to drive far for effective lubrication, maybe a couple miles.
The center axle disconnect is an electric or vacuum solenoid that uncouples one side of the axle between the differential and hub. Although both front half shafts still spin, only the side gears turn in the differential, and the carrier and front driveshaft do not turn. It is not *as* efficient as Ford locking hubs, but still more fuel efficient than turning the front end up to the transfer case at all times.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
What is your half-ton...the Nissan? Most half-ton trucks use a center axle disconnect...e.g. RAM and GM. Ford uses vacuum-controlled hub locks on the F-150, which are pretty interesting. With no vacuum supplied, the hubs are locked. So this means when the truck is not running or a vacuum component fails, you are locked. When the truck is running and 4x4 is not engaged, vacuum unlocks the hubs and nothing in the front end turns.
As far as I know, nobody has come out with aftermarket manual hubs for the Titan. That would be a way to improve the MPG some. It might also improve my 1/4 mile time also.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
The Titan has no hubs or auto disconnect. The front axle is always connected, so my front drive shaft is always turning when the rear drive shaft is turning, unless I'm doing a burnout, but that's a different situation.
As far as I know, nobody has come out with aftermarket manual hubs for the Titan. That would be a way to improve the MPG some. It might also improve my 1/4 mile time also.
As far as I know, nobody has come out with aftermarket manual hubs for the Titan. That would be a way to improve the MPG some. It might also improve my 1/4 mile time also.
I do know RAM and GM use center axle disconnects. RAM did away with it briefly, but they are using it again...even on their HD trucks.
I used to have a couple of Super Duty trucks with full manual 4x4 systems. In the winter, I'd just leave the hubs locked in so I could engage and disengage 4x4 any time I wanted without getting out of the truck. I found the fuel economy penalty to leaving the hubs locked in to be pretty negligible...less than 1mpg.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
You can safely engage 4x4 with the hubs locked while driving in a straight line on dry pavement at any time. Good exercise for the system. Now, if you negotiate a slight curve or make a slight turn, you may not feel binding on dry pavement in 4x4...but you are still stressing the transfer case, driveshafts, differentials, and front axle joints. Most of these components are very heavy duty, so you could probably do this a fair amount before something actually lets go.
You will feel severe binding in 4x4 when making a sharp turn on dry pavement. You will still feel moderate binding when making a tight turn in 4x4 while on dirt or snow. This is because at least one wheel on the front or back needs to "slip", or suddenly spin faster in other words, to compensate for the difference in distance the front axle vs rear axle is traveling.
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