Manual Locking Hubs Usage Questions
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
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I believe the modern trucks do not unlock the hubs. The switch on the dash just controls the transfer case and the front dif spins all the time. The primary difference would be that most front axles now-a-days are CV joints, especially in IFS front ends, which don't bind up like cardan (u-joint) steering axles can. I think the manual hub systems are supposed to be tougher and they are simpler, which should be more reliable and less maintenance. If the rear dif can spin at 80 MPH on the highway, why wouldn't the front handle it, too?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,716
Likes: 583
From: Chillicothe
I believe the modern trucks do not unlock the hubs. The switch on the dash just controls the transfer case and the front dif spins all the time. The primary difference would be that most front axles now-a-days are CV joints, especially in IFS front ends, which don't bind up like cardan (u-joint) steering axles can. I think the manual hub systems are supposed to be tougher and they are simpler, which should be more reliable and less maintenance. If the rear dif can spin at 80 MPH on the highway, why wouldn't the front handle it, too?
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 318
Likes: 25
My rule of thumb is to lock the hubs before I start out if I think I might need 4WD and unlock them when I know I won't. On rare occasions that ends up meaning I have my hubs locked for days at a time. Which is fine. But for the most part I don't tend to need 4WD for longer than a day or two at most, so I unlock the hubs to reduce wear slightly, improve mileage slightly and eliminate the slight vibration in sharp turns.
If I needed 4wd day-in and day-out I'd leave the hubs locked for long periods. But I don't need it that much.
If I needed 4wd day-in and day-out I'd leave the hubs locked for long periods. But I don't need it that much.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
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But I could be thinking of square body chevys. I have gone 80 in my gmt800 (Np261 case) in snow and its definitely something it doesnt like
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 414
Likes: 42
From: State of Confusion
Reduced wear and tear is a nice perk of locking hubs, but many vehicles hold up just fine without. The main purpose IMO is fuel economy. The truck rolls a little easier when it's not turning the joints, diff, and front driveshaft, so it uses a little less fuel. Unless TTB is somehow different from any other 4x4 I've worked with, or yours is badly worn/damaged, or your front diff is welded, I would not expect any trouble from driving at highway speed with the hubs locked.
I don't think I've seen a speed rating for just the hubs, but I have seen one for when 4x4 is engaged--likely because you shouldn't be going highway speed if it's too slippery to make it in 2WD.
I don't think I've seen a speed rating for just the hubs, but I have seen one for when 4x4 is engaged--likely because you shouldn't be going highway speed if it's too slippery to make it in 2WD.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,716
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From: Chillicothe
When was the last time that you had the hubs off and serviced the front wheel bearings?
As in removed the bearings and repacked or even replaced them, checked the through spindle stub shaft bearing to make sure it is in good shape and not eating the stub shaft?
Checked the out axle u joints for grease?
At this point the truck is 28 years old, if you can not definitively answer " last summer, 3 summers ago, or 10,000 miles ago", you do not need to be doing 80 mph....at all. Let alone with the hubs locked in.
I have driven 70 in my 95 f150 with the hubs locked. Only because I completely forgot that I locked them in one spring when we got a late snowfall in early April. Roughly the beginning of June and 2500 miles later I was doing a front wheel bearing and stub shaft bearing. Was it 100 percent because the lockout was engaged? I do not know. But it COULD have been a factor. If you are dead set on driving that fast with the lockouts locked....have the front end inspected.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 5,221
Likes: 805
Okay, let's make this easy.
When was the last time that you had the hubs off and serviced the front wheel bearings?
As in removed the bearings and repacked or even replaced them, checked the through spindle stub shaft bearing to make sure it is in good shape and not eating the stub shaft?
Checked the out axle u joints for grease?
At this point the truck is 28 years old, if you can not definitively answer " last summer, 3 summers ago, or 10,000 miles ago", you do not need to be doing 80 mph....at all. Let alone with the hubs locked in.
I have driven 70 in my 95 f150 with the hubs locked. Only because I completely forgot that I locked them in one spring when we got a late snowfall in early April. Roughly the beginning of June and 2500 miles later I was doing a front wheel bearing and stub shaft bearing. Was it 100 percent because the lockout was engaged? I do not know. But it COULD have been a factor. If you are dead set on driving that fast with the lockouts locked....have the front end inspected.
When was the last time that you had the hubs off and serviced the front wheel bearings?
As in removed the bearings and repacked or even replaced them, checked the through spindle stub shaft bearing to make sure it is in good shape and not eating the stub shaft?
Checked the out axle u joints for grease?
At this point the truck is 28 years old, if you can not definitively answer " last summer, 3 summers ago, or 10,000 miles ago", you do not need to be doing 80 mph....at all. Let alone with the hubs locked in.
I have driven 70 in my 95 f150 with the hubs locked. Only because I completely forgot that I locked them in one spring when we got a late snowfall in early April. Roughly the beginning of June and 2500 miles later I was doing a front wheel bearing and stub shaft bearing. Was it 100 percent because the lockout was engaged? I do not know. But it COULD have been a factor. If you are dead set on driving that fast with the lockouts locked....have the front end inspected.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Roseville, MN
But going back to my rule of thumb, if I expect to need 4WD I'll lock the hubs until I don't. It would be an extremely unusual situation for me to be able to drive 70 - 80 mph any time that I expected to need 4WD. I wouldn't really hesitate to do it if the situation warranted it. I just can't really imagine I'd get in that situation, at least for long.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 72
From: Roseville, MN
I believe the modern trucks do not unlock the hubs. The switch on the dash just controls the transfer case and the front dif spins all the time. The primary difference would be that most front axles now-a-days are CV joints, especially in IFS front ends, which don't bind up like cardan (u-joint) steering axles can. I think the manual hub systems are supposed to be tougher and they are simpler, which should be more reliable and less maintenance. If the rear dif can spin at 80 MPH on the highway, why wouldn't the front handle it, too?
And while some lighter trucks have likely gone to CV joints, heavier trucks still commonly use Cardan joints. But Cardan joints don't bind up (unless they're turned too far, and you can't do that in front axle joints, they're designed to handle to full lock). What they do is not move at a constant velocity (which is why they aren't CV joints). So you can get some vibration from the ring gear speeding up and slowing down twice per revolution when you're turning sharp. But you don't turn sharp at high speed, so it's nothing more than a slight annoyance.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 318
Likes: 25
Hey I wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded. I drove again in the snow following the "manual" part of the manual and it was a night and day difference. It was actually really good in the snow. Thanks!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Chillicothe
Ford used them in the 150s until 2020 and gm used them in suvs and half tons that I know of for sure till last year and possibly the 3/4 and 1 tons but not 100 percent sure on that.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
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I've had some vehicles that have huge tires, lots of power, and factory speedo gear. I can wish, in hindsight, that the police viewed my "highway speed" to be vague. Granted, I have never gotten a ticket for speeding (not driving like an *** hole, weaving in and out of traffic helped my case), but I've been pulled over a dozen and a half times
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