Is it possible to swap the manual hubs on a 2004 F250 with the ones that have the "auto" feature on them? Over the weekend I was in and out of snowy terrain and kept getting in and out to turn the hubs. I have the manul shifter in the cab (as opposed to the ****).
Or, is it ok to leave the hubs locked and shift to 2 wheel drive?

 

if you know your constantly gonna go from 4wd to 2wd often just leave them locked, thats no problem. i wouldnt leave them locked if you were goin on a long road trip but otherwise its ok. most drivers leave them locked from november to april depending on what area of the country you live in. just about everyone i know up here in the northeast which gets a lot of snow leave them locked all winter long.

-bigdawg

 

No you cant use the auto hubs

 

is there going to be any wear on any parts to leave them locked

 

yes there will be some excessive wear on the front drive line but thats only if your doing a good amount of dry pavement driving on long road trips. you figuer if the entire front drive componants are locked, theres gotta be some wear and friction. theres no power going to them if your in 4x2 but its all still turning together. if i know im going to be in and out of wet fields or playin in the mud all day, they stay locked. if snow is on its way, their locked the night before. i am one who does not leave them locked all winter long. its personal preferance i guess, i just dont want to deal with the chance of wearing anything out faster then it should. i have the ESOF but i dont trust it for a second. hubs are locked if im in 4x4, no if's, and's or maybe's!

-bigdawg

PS. why in the world would you want ESOF??? i only got it b/c thats what was left on the lot for '03 and the truck had everything else i wanted so i just bit the bullet.