Locking hubs
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 101
Likes: 26
From: Indiana
Locking hubs
Just watched a video of the 2023 by long Mcarthur. in the video he says the hubs are manual locking. This is y first 250 coming from 40 yrs in a 150. So I am understanding correctly there Is ni **** inside to switch from 2wd to 4wd? its like 40 years ago where I had to exit the truck after getting stuck to engage the 4wd?
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 101
Likes: 26
From: Indiana
ok thanks, so that would be on the hub itself. so no different driving options, snow, tow, rain or sport like on the 150.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,679
From: Stephensville WI
Just watched a video of the 2023 by long Mcarthur. in the video he says the hubs are manual locking. This is y first 250 coming from 40 yrs in a 150. So I am understanding correctly there Is ni **** inside to switch from 2wd to 4wd? its like 40 years ago where I had to exit the truck after getting stuck to engage the 4wd?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 101
Likes: 26
From: Indiana
so its not like the old days where I got out and twisted the hub? In my recent 150s there was a ****. on mu 22 I have 2 and 4 wd as well as other options depending on road conditions. Asking these questions bc my dealer isn't that knowledgeable
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,679
From: Stephensville WI
4L requires stopping and a few other steps, but neither require that you exit the vehicle.
The manual feature on the hubs is there in case the automatic hub locking system fails.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,679
From: Stephensville WI
It should be just like an F-150 with ESOF, except the Super Duty trucks do not have an automatic 4 wheel drive setting like an F-150.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
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There are different drive modes like eco, slippery, tow/haul and more. Unlike the F-150, the SD does not have an auto 4wd selection (4A). It has 2H, 4H and 4L.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 31
From: Idaho
So Auto hubs FAIL. There is a vacuum line that controls the front hubs and that line fails. So you have the option of locking your hubs by going outside.
Pros using the auto hub
Don't have to get out.
Work in most cases
Cons for using auto hubs
Sometime the auto hubs don't work. The vacuum line is know to fail.
Quicker Lockup in offloading. Seen auto system take a view seconds to figure things out
Works
Pros using the auto hub
Don't have to get out.
Work in most cases
Cons for using auto hubs
Sometime the auto hubs don't work. The vacuum line is know to fail.
Quicker Lockup in offloading. Seen auto system take a view seconds to figure things out
Works
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 101
Likes: 26
From: Indiana
So Auto hubs FAIL. There is a vacuum line that controls the front hubs and that line fails. So you have the option of locking your hubs by going outside.
Pros using the auto hub
Don't have to get out.
Work in most cases
Cons for using auto hubs
Sometime the auto hubs don't work. The vacuum line is know to fail.
Quicker Lockup in offloading. Seen auto system take a view seconds to figure things out
Works
Pros using the auto hub
Don't have to get out.
Work in most cases
Cons for using auto hubs
Sometime the auto hubs don't work. The vacuum line is know to fail.
Quicker Lockup in offloading. Seen auto system take a view seconds to figure things out
Works
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
The Superduty auto hubs fail often which is why they give you the option to lock them manually, If you are going somewhere that you need to rely on 4x4 I would lock the hubs manually anyway, with the hubs in auto all it takes is a vacuum line getting cut or pulled loose by something and then you don't have 4x4. The transfer case is a regular part time transfer case that just has 2wd, 4x4 high and 4x4 low, it doesn't have different modes for snow, sand, mud, wet, etc, and honestly all of that stuff is junk anyway. I have never seen a vehicle with those modes do better than just a regular 4x4 in those situations, I have seen them do far worse though.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 50
Likes: 6
From: Grenora ND
Just watched a video of the 2023 by long Mcarthur. in the video he says the hubs are manual locking. This is y first 250 coming from 40 yrs in a 150. So I am understanding correctly there Is ni **** inside to switch from 2wd to 4wd? its like 40 years ago where I had to exit the truck after getting stuck to engage the 4wd?
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 75
Likes: 27
This. When I got my (new to me) 2019 it took a few tries to figure out the auto hubs weren't working, and they were very difficult to turn manually. The dealer replaced both hubs, all vacuum lines, and some check valve (all under warranty) but the auto hubs still have never worked in the half dozen times I've tried them
. I've just resolved myself to always locking them manually when I need 4wd, that way I know they will work.
This. When I got my (new to me) 2019 it took a few tries to figure out the auto hubs weren't working, and they were very difficult to turn manually. The dealer replaced both hubs, all vacuum lines, and some check valve (all under warranty) but the auto hubs still have never worked in the half dozen times I've tried them
. I've just resolved myself to always locking them manually when I need 4wd, that way I know they will work.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 713
I'm no rocket scientist here but if the auto hubs are such junk why not fix it Ford..... I've owned a few jeeps, all with auto locking 4x4, not once did I have issues and I beat on them harder than most would.