Stranded - How do I remove the front drive shaft?
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
It doesn't hurt it to leave the hubs engaged and let is spin all the time, many 4x4s don't even have lock out hubs.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
doesnt help either, his cv joint wouldn’t be worn out now if it hadn’t been spinning all the time. That and the mud seals at the axle tube were not designed for full time use, Most people dont even know there hubs are locked until they notice the failed seals dangeling off the axle shaft.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
Those dust seals are junk most people, myself included just leave them off. I have a really nice set of Ten Factory axle tube seals for my Jeep Dana 30, they are well made and have grease fittings. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any like that for our front axles.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 820
Likes: 3
From: Central OK
I seriously don't know the answer to this, but shouldn't it be able so spin constantly? It's a drive shaft, so my uninformed head says it should be fine, locked or unlocked. I've only had 2wd until this point
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10,750
Likes: 1,065
From: Douglassville, PA
The consensus seems to be that it can spin constantly with no problem and I sort of agree with that. Mine are manual hubs and I don't fret if they are locked in and if I think they might have to be used either in mud or snow when I leave the house I lock them in so I don't have to get out and lock them in the snow or mud. However, they do induce some extra resistance and I can feel it in the truck's behavior. Not the loss of power but in the shift points...so the truck knows that they are locked. Additionally, everything wears out sooner or later and running with them locked constantly brings you closer to that sooner part.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
Yes, like I said before many 4x4s have full time hubs with no disconnect so the front driveshaft turns all the time. We are lucky enough to have the ability to unlock the hubs so nothing turns, which is very useful if you ever break something in the front axle.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
In theory yes, it's never made a difference for me.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,399
Likes: 188
From: Norco,CA
Personally, I'd just want it to work the way it is suppose to. And you should get a little MPG as a benefit. Some guys leave them in all winter. But I wouldn't want mine spinning if I didn't need them to. Why wear out parts that don't need to be worked. On the other hand, if you never use them, you should engage the hubs once in a while to keep them lubed. Why don't you want to fix the hubs? Not a hard project.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 523
Likes: 9
From: Carrollton, Ga
Pulled a camper to Florida (400 miles) with hubs locked because of a brain fart. I lost 1.5 MPG. Worried sick that my transfer case was going to explode any day until I learned the some people lock them at the first snow and don’t unlock until spring.
However, I agree with the idea of getting your truck operating like it is suppose to.
Glowplugger, replacing the hubs is a very easy job and we loved to see your write-ups on Skippy and now Ruby.
However, I agree with the idea of getting your truck operating like it is suppose to.
Glowplugger, replacing the hubs is a very easy job and we loved to see your write-ups on Skippy and now Ruby.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 820
Likes: 3
From: Central OK
I want everything working like it's supposed to work. I think maybe because I didn't jump right on fixing the hubs in the mud some of you tougher folks thought I didn't want to bother with them. Never fear, bonanza! They'll be working again once this is over. My main concern was getting her home before someone towed her or used her as a parts machine.
I'll look into it when I get her in the garage. I've pulled hubs off before on a 2wd to do my bearings and stuff, so i don't think they're that much different that I'd be skeerd, but you never know. It's cold right now so I'm driving the wife's pink cadillac (lexus suv) for now. It came with free tampons and tissues for those tough times. I had to turn my man-card in for the week though, and my wife insisted that I leave my hang-downs in her purse until i get it back as collateral. 
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
Pulled a camper to Florida (400 miles) with hubs locked because of a brain fart. I lost 1.5 MPG. Worried sick that my transfer case was going to explode any day until I learned the some people lock them at the first snow and don’t unlock until spring.
However, I agree with the idea of getting your truck operating like it is suppose to.
Glowplugger, replacing the hubs is a very easy job and we loved to see your write-ups on Skippy and now Ruby.
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RickTFL
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Apr 29, 2014 12:14 AM