Automatic Hubs...
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
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From: North Carolina
Automatic Hubs...
i've heard good things and bad things about the automatic hubs...anyone out there got any sort of experience with them that i might want to know about? they're on my "hmm, maybe i should replace this" list of parts and i'd like to get some opinions before i tear up something i don't need to tear up. and if i need to use them for paperweights, what's the best replacement (aside from a Dana 60 
)?
)?
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
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From: MA
You must do a search for auto hubs. I would have to say that is the most commonly talked about issue in this forum. To sum it up, the ford autos are complete crap. They are unreliable, and a fortune to replace. A simple pair of Warn (or equivelent) manual hubs will provide you years of unwavering service. I swapped my autos out a year ago, and I have never looked back.
Rich
Rich
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 813
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From: NJ
auto hubs are convenient . i have not had any problem with mine in 122,000 miles. a lot of people say they are not reliable and if you are goinng to use the truck for hard core 4x4 you will probably break them. they cannot handle the forward to reverse under power that is sometimes needed when wheelin. if you are only going to do some light wheelin you should have no problem. it is only a 70.00 conversion to change to manuels and that is cheap insurance to know that your hubs are locked in.
i have a brand new set of warn hubs sitting in the garage waiting for the one time that the hubs fail me. but until then im going to run with the auto hubs.
i have a brand new set of warn hubs sitting in the garage waiting for the one time that the hubs fail me. but until then im going to run with the auto hubs.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 99
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The most common problem with the auto hubs is that they are mistakenly packed with grease during a brake or bearing job. Ford says that they should be cleaned, dipped in transmission fluid, then inserted.
I "acquired" two sets of auto hubs from other forum members who claimed that the hubs were bad. Both sets arrived throughly-packed with grease. I cleaned and soaked each of them and then tested them in my truck. Both sets worked perfectly.
Some on this forum will argue otherwise, but as far as I can tell, the vehicle has to be moving for the hubs to completely engage. If you wait until you're stuck, then it's too late.
I "acquired" two sets of auto hubs from other forum members who claimed that the hubs were bad. Both sets arrived throughly-packed with grease. I cleaned and soaked each of them and then tested them in my truck. Both sets worked perfectly.
Some on this forum will argue otherwise, but as far as I can tell, the vehicle has to be moving for the hubs to completely engage. If you wait until you're stuck, then it's too late.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
From: NJ
the truck does NOT have to be moving for the hubs to lock in all that has to happen is that the front driveshaft must spin or the hubs will not lock in. the front wheels DO have to move in the reverse direction for at least 2 revolutions to unlock the hubs.
i have checked this info with my ford tech freind. he also tells me that the hubs lock and unlock and then relock when you shift from forward to reverse and that is what makes them a weak point in the 4x4 system. but for normal 4x4 and no heavy wheelin they are a perfectly competent component.
i have checked this info with my ford tech freind. he also tells me that the hubs lock and unlock and then relock when you shift from forward to reverse and that is what makes them a weak point in the 4x4 system. but for normal 4x4 and no heavy wheelin they are a perfectly competent component.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
Originally posted by RVCams
The most common problem with the auto hubs is that they are mistakenly packed with grease during a brake or bearing job. Ford says that they should be cleaned, dipped in transmission fluid, then inserted.
The most common problem with the auto hubs is that they are mistakenly packed with grease during a brake or bearing job. Ford says that they should be cleaned, dipped in transmission fluid, then inserted.
Jim
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
I didn't know mine were broken till I went to the beach and ALMOST got stuck in the sand. Good thing I have 35x14.5 ssr superswamper tires. Man was I ****ed. I replaced with superwinch manuals, and almost threw the autos in the Ocean, but that wouldn't be nice now would it 
Last edited by Ben242; Mar 24, 2004 at 11:20 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix, AZ
I sure loved my Automatic Hubs. When the truck had 60,000 miles on it would make a quick U Turn and the hub would try to engage itself. Hubs finally bit the dust on a hunting trip. I went over a hill and wound up in a patch of Sand bogged down.
"Don't worry everyone." I put the Bronco in 4 Wheel Drive and the real wheels spun.
I can't believe people are extolling the virtues of the worthless crappy Ford Automatic Locking hubs.
If anyone is reading the, please go buy a set of Warns and never look back.
Josh
"Don't worry everyone." I put the Bronco in 4 Wheel Drive and the real wheels spun.
I can't believe people are extolling the virtues of the worthless crappy Ford Automatic Locking hubs.
If anyone is reading the, please go buy a set of Warns and never look back.
Josh
New User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: illinois
i sell for a ford parts department. yeah, i would make more selling the auto lockers, but knowing how reliable they are, I tell my wholesale and retail customers to go buy some WARN at a parts store. even the ford manuals are expensive. for what you spend on just the body (locking mech), you can buy everything in a complete kit from warn!
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Oh, man. Now I'm paranoid.
I use my '94 Bronco (4" Superlift w/33" DC FCII's) primarily for getting to the top of the crater volcanoes up in Flagstaff, AZ for my hang-gliding addiction. The path up is made of loose cinder gravel.
The last time I was there, several brand-new (stock) Dodge and Chevy pickups, and even a Range Rover tried to get to the top and failed, tearing up the trail further. I romped right to the top (a very steep 1,200 ft. climb) and my girlfriend drove it back down after I launched, all with the factory auto-lockers. The thought of my girlfriend losing control on the way down really sucks.
I'm buying some Warn premiums right now - I have the order web page up... Anyone wanna buy my currently working stock autos?
I use my '94 Bronco (4" Superlift w/33" DC FCII's) primarily for getting to the top of the crater volcanoes up in Flagstaff, AZ for my hang-gliding addiction. The path up is made of loose cinder gravel.
The last time I was there, several brand-new (stock) Dodge and Chevy pickups, and even a Range Rover tried to get to the top and failed, tearing up the trail further. I romped right to the top (a very steep 1,200 ft. climb) and my girlfriend drove it back down after I launched, all with the factory auto-lockers. The thought of my girlfriend losing control on the way down really sucks.
I'm buying some Warn premiums right now - I have the order web page up... Anyone wanna buy my currently working stock autos?
Originally Posted by jambroson
I sure loved my Automatic Hubs. When the truck had 60,000 miles on it would make a quick U Turn and the hub would try to engage itself. Hubs finally bit the dust on a hunting trip. I went over a hill and wound up in a patch of Sand bogged down.
"Don't worry everyone." I put the Bronco in 4 Wheel Drive and the real wheels spun.
I can't believe people are extolling the virtues of the worthless crappy Ford Automatic Locking hubs.
If anyone is reading the, please go buy a set of Warns and never look back.
Josh
"Don't worry everyone." I put the Bronco in 4 Wheel Drive and the real wheels spun.
I can't believe people are extolling the virtues of the worthless crappy Ford Automatic Locking hubs.
If anyone is reading the, please go buy a set of Warns and never look back.
Josh