Leaving Hubs Locked?
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Leaving Hubs Locked?
Hey Guy's,
Headin' up north in a couple days, I have the esof that I swapped the factory hubs out for a set of warn premiums. I plan on locking in hubs once I hit the snowbelt and then using the dial to switch in and out of 4x4 as required. Anyone run into problems leaving hubs locked while in 2wheel drive? Any maximum mileage or speeds before having to unlock them?
Thanks for the help!
Mopey.
Headin' up north in a couple days, I have the esof that I swapped the factory hubs out for a set of warn premiums. I plan on locking in hubs once I hit the snowbelt and then using the dial to switch in and out of 4x4 as required. Anyone run into problems leaving hubs locked while in 2wheel drive? Any maximum mileage or speeds before having to unlock them?
Thanks for the help!
Mopey.
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You should be fine with your strategy, though if you plan to do 90 on dry highways you might as well unblock them and save the axle wear and drag! Your mileage will suffer a bit, and you'll get some exciting feedback from the axle on tight turns (like in a parking lot) and the whole thing will make more noise and vibration at speed, but that's par for the course when you leave them locked in. The alternative is to get out and lock and unlock them each time you switch in or out of 4WD, and that's too much of a pain.
Duncan
Duncan
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From: Elverson, PA
Shoot - after the first snow - I leave mine locked in the rest of the winter. You do have the front driveline turning all the time - but that way I'm not wondering if they are locked when that goober in front of me slides into the ditch and I am shifting into 4x4, downshifting, and trying to stay out of the ditch myself - all at once! 
Last edited by CAT_man_963; Dec 6, 2004 at 05:22 PM.
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Originally Posted by JimBrazil
I have hunted in Montana with drivers who never unlock their hubs for as long as they own the vehicle.
Duncan
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From: Colorado
I remember back when the full time 4wd was the big thing on trucks. After that replacing u-joints, x-fer case chains and cv joints were regular maintenace. I'm glad that era is gone.
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From: Western New York
Originally Posted by RJB1
I remember back when the full time 4wd was the big thing on trucks. After that replacing u-joints, x-fer case chains and cv joints were regular maintenace. I'm glad that era is gone.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 365
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From: California
Sorry to sound dumb. I'm new to a FX4. Can someone explain in laymens terms on the auto locking hubs? I have a Dually 4X4 with ESOF and leave the hubs in auto. What does this mean? and do when driving vs. placing in manaul? Thanks guys for your help.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: NE Texas
Originally Posted by Big Dually
Sorry to sound dumb. I'm new to a FX4. Can someone explain in laymens terms on the auto locking hubs? I have a Dually 4X4 with ESOF and leave the hubs in auto. What does this mean? and do when driving vs. placing in manaul? Thanks guys for your help.
What does leaving the hubs in AUTO mean? It means that they automatically lock when you turn the dial on the dash to either 4WD position. Then they automatically unlock when you go back to 2WD.
When in the locked position, the hubs always are LOCKED. They continually allow the wheel to drive the axles. This does not mean that the transfer case is engaged simply because the hubs are locked, however. In order to engage 4WD you still need to turn the dial to either 4WD position on the dash.
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From: Carhenge
Originally Posted by Frobozz
And in fact that's how 4x4 vehicles were originally made. "Freewheeling hubs" were an invention of aftermarket suppliers to meet a demand, though now that demand is so strong that they're almost always standard equipment.
Duncan
Duncan
Yeah, I remember those days, and that is why my front axles don't get left locked in when they don't need to be.
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From: Carhenge
Originally Posted by Ronin007
I hate to burst your bubble, but they never went away. Most Land Rovers since the early 80's are full time 4wd. Same thing with the Toyota Land Cruisers since the 90's. I do know what you mean however. You were referring to the full time 4wd domestic trucks of the 70's and 80's that just didn't seem to work right. The Land Rover and Toyota systems work really well.
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From: Western New York
Originally Posted by clux
Were those Toyotas and Land Cruisers true full time 4-wd or "on demand" systems?
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From: Valdez, Alaska
Come first snow or ice I place them in lock and leave them there usually until May. Been do it this way for the past 15+ years and havent really had any issue other than the above mention of turning tight turns.