Vacuum-less Hub Actuators??
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 80
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From: Central MI
Vacuum-less Hub Actuators??
So I've done my fair share of home mechanic work.. fluids, filters, rotations, upper/lower intake manifolds, lift kits and spring replacements. I mention all that to help cement the fact that I don't think I'm an idiot when it comes to the mechanics and engineering behind vehicles. However this part from Dorman (Vacuum-Less Hub Actuator) has me confused. I grew up in the 80's so I'm used to solid axle 4x4's and manual hubs. Back then it was considered by many bad to drive around with your front hubs locked. But newer vehicles, like my 09 F-150 Screw I'm not so sure. I've found a few forums where snow plow guys say they spend all winter, 2wd and 4wd, with the hubs locked in. In 2005+ vehicles. One guy even had a 2011 Silverado with hubs frozen in the locked position who claimed no harm.
Fords are different from Chevy's so I wanted to ask you smart folks. Is it bad?
Let me further explain a bit.. I'm in Michigan and it's cold as hell right now. Without a heated garage I don't want to spend time outside and under the hood. I have an issue with my hubs not fully locking when using vacuum, without vacuum they lock and work flawlessly. So I think I've narrowed my issue down the solenoid or maybe a leak. So trying to stay safe and make it to work as a band-aid I've removed and plugged the vac hosts to my actuators. But thinking that I might need to replace then, now or in the future I found those from Dorman and I've got to be honest.. if it's safe enough I like teh idea of removing teh vacuum from the equation.
Thanks!
Fords are different from Chevy's so I wanted to ask you smart folks. Is it bad?
Let me further explain a bit.. I'm in Michigan and it's cold as hell right now. Without a heated garage I don't want to spend time outside and under the hood. I have an issue with my hubs not fully locking when using vacuum, without vacuum they lock and work flawlessly. So I think I've narrowed my issue down the solenoid or maybe a leak. So trying to stay safe and make it to work as a band-aid I've removed and plugged the vac hosts to my actuators. But thinking that I might need to replace then, now or in the future I found those from Dorman and I've got to be honest.. if it's safe enough I like teh idea of removing teh vacuum from the equation.
Thanks!
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,509
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From: Sioux Falls Area
I would Run it like that without any concerns whatsoever. My expedition I run in auto-four 90% of the winter which from a functionality standpoint is no different than running with the vacuum disconnected from the front hubs (other than the transfer case engaging the front drive shaft as needed)
To the best of my memory the Chevy pickups haven’t run any kind of front hub in decades, so their front driveline is always engaged whether in 2wd or 4wd.
I guess from my standpoint, and where I’m coming from, is I run my expedition with the front hubs locked 90% of the winter and it’s survived over 200,000 miles without issue. Also coming from an all wheel drive explorrer where the front driveline is spinning all the time no matter what, I got 175,000 trouble free miles on that one. I just don’t see how running with the front driveline spinning all the time is hurting anything other than possibly your fuel mileage. But at the expense of possibly damaging something with the front hubs not working correctly, I would take that trade.
my thoughts.
To the best of my memory the Chevy pickups haven’t run any kind of front hub in decades, so their front driveline is always engaged whether in 2wd or 4wd.
I guess from my standpoint, and where I’m coming from, is I run my expedition with the front hubs locked 90% of the winter and it’s survived over 200,000 miles without issue. Also coming from an all wheel drive explorrer where the front driveline is spinning all the time no matter what, I got 175,000 trouble free miles on that one. I just don’t see how running with the front driveline spinning all the time is hurting anything other than possibly your fuel mileage. But at the expense of possibly damaging something with the front hubs not working correctly, I would take that trade.
my thoughts.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,505
Likes: 5,563
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
my plow trucks get hubs locked when plows go on and stay that way.
6 of them have had hubs locked for over 10 years now.
i ran my 02 for 11,000 miles before realizing the hubs were locked when i went to lock them, and saw i ran it all year locked.
only thing running with locked hubs will do is burn more fuel.
6 of them have had hubs locked for over 10 years now.
i ran my 02 for 11,000 miles before realizing the hubs were locked when i went to lock them, and saw i ran it all year locked.
only thing running with locked hubs will do is burn more fuel.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 80
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From: Central MI
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the input. I'm not sure how much fuel efficiency I've lost as I also put larger tires on (lt275/70/18) so Im not sure how much of the new found loss is due to the locked hubs.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
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From: Southern OH
It won't hurt anything and likely won't affect you fuel mileage either. It takes very little effort to spin the front axle and driveshaft. 01 and newer Rangers have the front axle spinning all the time, as well as Jeeps and many other 4x4s.
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