Would somebody please fill me in on exactly how my auto locking hubs on my 03' work. I have the switch on the dash and the hubs read lock and auto. I thought I had this figured out but every time I read a new thread it just confuses me a little more. Is there a free setting on them or should you run in auto for the most part. and if it's in auto what does the lock do. If you guys don't mind give me both the techical and laymens terms of this.

Thanks

 

Would you point to the confusing remarks? Maybe if we could cull some "myths" then we could return to the "simple" ESOF....

It is not necessary to even touch the hubs, just leave them in AUTO, then just turn the dial to either 4WD Hi or Lo, whichever you need at the time. The switch will engage the transfer case AND the hubs.

On Edit: The hubs work via vacuum ONLY. If for some reason they DO NOT lock, then that's when the LOCK position on the hubs comes into play. With the switch dialed to either 4WD position, you can get out and lock the hubs manually, which will engage the axle shaft and turn the wheels.

 

If everything is working as it designed, just leave them in Auto. When you turn the switch on your dash, the transfer case and hubs will lock in, and you will have 4WD. When you turn the switch back to 2WD, the transfer case and hubs will unlock, and you will be in 2WD and your front axle parts will not be thrashing around, just the wheels spinning out at the hubs.

That's the simple part. All the complication comes when things *don't* work as designed!

The "LOCK" setting is basically a failsafe in case something goes wrong with the automatic action. It allows you to lock the hubs in, connecting them to the innards of the axle. If your switch is in 2WD you are still not in 4WD, but your front axle is thrashing around internally. (No harm, just lower MPG, more noise, etc.) So you'd only want to even mess with the hubs if something broke and they weren't locking in automatically when you flip the switch.

HOWEVER... by just leaving them in Auto and never spinning them until the day something breaks, you may find that they're stuck from lack of use!!! So it's a good idea every once in a while to just spin them from Auto to Lock and back again.

I think that covers the basics... how'd I do?

Duncan

 

Thanks guys, I thought that they worked exactly as were described but I wanted to make sure - I think I was reading about hubs that are different than my own that confused me.

Thanks Again