Manual locking hubs question
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 513
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From: WA
Manual locking hubs question
Good day all and happy new year. I have to make a trek over some mountain passes this morning pulling an empty horse trailer. There is some (1-4") of snow right now in the pass. I have not done a lot of trailer pulling and very little with my 2000 PSD and am a little nervous about the trip. The pass is about an hour and a half away. I got an oil change this week and filled up with diesel (2.19/gal) yesterday. My question is: would it be OK to lock my hubs in before I leave here today just in case when I get to the pass I need the 4WD? Don't want to pull over and get out on the pass and do it. Also, I will be putting about 300 lbs of sandbags over the rear wheels before I head out. Thanks in advance for the advice from those of you with more experience.
-Glenn
-Glenn
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 561
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From: houston
Lots of folks lock their hubs in the fall and leave them locked until spring. You may notice a little more noise because you are turning all the parts of the front drive system but thats OK. Just engage the T-case when you need it. Check your manual as to the max-speed you can engage at, I forget. Remember to dis-engage T-case when you are on dry road. Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 376
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From: South Dakota
Weather up here starts getting bad, one of the first things I do is lock my hubs in. Then all I have to do is shift to 4wd when I need it instead of stopping and doing it. Like holland501 said just a little more noise thats all.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 83
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From: Edmond, Okla.
Don't do it!!!
Glenn,
Don't lock your hubs in till you need them. I ruined my hubs just this past year by accidentally leaving the hubs locked in. From what I understand the hubs have very little means to dissipate the heat generated and the grease cooks out of the bearings. It didn't take too long for them to make so much noise I took it in to see what was wrong. It cost me $450.00 per side since they had to get the part from Ford since there is no aftermarket maker of this part. I looked at the old hubs and they were scalded and discolored from the heat. The place I took it was not the dealership but a shop known for their work with rearend and front end problems.
They did say that driving at 30 to 35 on icy, snow packed roads would not be a problem, it's just driving 60-70 on regular roads.
Good Luck on your trip!
Paul
Don't lock your hubs in till you need them. I ruined my hubs just this past year by accidentally leaving the hubs locked in. From what I understand the hubs have very little means to dissipate the heat generated and the grease cooks out of the bearings. It didn't take too long for them to make so much noise I took it in to see what was wrong. It cost me $450.00 per side since they had to get the part from Ford since there is no aftermarket maker of this part. I looked at the old hubs and they were scalded and discolored from the heat. The place I took it was not the dealership but a shop known for their work with rearend and front end problems.
They did say that driving at 30 to 35 on icy, snow packed roads would not be a problem, it's just driving 60-70 on regular roads.
Good Luck on your trip!
Paul
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,777
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From: Buckingham, IA
LonghornOwner,
Did the shop say why or what would have caused the heat to fry the grease? When the hubs are locked, there isn't anything turning in the wheel hub to cause heat. If the hubs are unlocked, then the wheel hub is turning and the axle is not. I have around 40,000 miles on my farm truck with probably less than 1000 miles with the hubs unlocked and the truck has 170,000 on it. (Bought it used). It still has the original hubs. I did have them disassembled, cleaned and re-lubed when I got the truck and they were fine then. I can't see how having them locked would fry the grease. Could the hubs have been only partially engaged and therefore slipping? Just a thought.
Did the shop say why or what would have caused the heat to fry the grease? When the hubs are locked, there isn't anything turning in the wheel hub to cause heat. If the hubs are unlocked, then the wheel hub is turning and the axle is not. I have around 40,000 miles on my farm truck with probably less than 1000 miles with the hubs unlocked and the truck has 170,000 on it. (Bought it used). It still has the original hubs. I did have them disassembled, cleaned and re-lubed when I got the truck and they were fine then. I can't see how having them locked would fry the grease. Could the hubs have been only partially engaged and therefore slipping? Just a thought.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 1
From: Peshastin, Wa.
Take the trip, and just before you get to the pass, stop, get a cup of coffee and lock the hubs before going over the pass. Keep it out of OD. ---- Just realized, you've probably already left.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Edmond, Okla.
Farmdad,
I didn't realize that I had left my hubs locked in until they told me that was the problem with the hubs. I have some sloppy places to get to sometimes and I use my 4 wheel drive a lot. Initially, I thought the loud roar was caused by my rearend going out but when I took it to the shop they took it apart, fixed the limited slip part that wasn't working and said they couldn't find the reason for the load roar. They test drove the truck and the noise was still there. They put it up on the rack, put it into gear and discovered the hubs were the source of the noise. I guess it was then they found that they were still locked in. Anyway, they replaced them and no more noise!
I'm not a mechanic but I've done some shad tree work in the past so at the time it made sense to me. Now I'm not so sure. Anyway, I'm still not going to leave my hubs locked in just to see what will happen.
Happy New Year!!!
Paul
I didn't realize that I had left my hubs locked in until they told me that was the problem with the hubs. I have some sloppy places to get to sometimes and I use my 4 wheel drive a lot. Initially, I thought the loud roar was caused by my rearend going out but when I took it to the shop they took it apart, fixed the limited slip part that wasn't working and said they couldn't find the reason for the load roar. They test drove the truck and the noise was still there. They put it up on the rack, put it into gear and discovered the hubs were the source of the noise. I guess it was then they found that they were still locked in. Anyway, they replaced them and no more noise!
I'm not a mechanic but I've done some shad tree work in the past so at the time it made sense to me. Now I'm not so sure. Anyway, I'm still not going to leave my hubs locked in just to see what will happen.
Happy New Year!!!
Paul
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Buckingham, IA
LonghornOwner,
I can't argue with success. If a person doesn't have the need for 4 wheel drive, it makes sense to have the hubs unlocked and reduce the wear on the drive train. Although it would be minor, there would be an increase in fuel mileage with them unlocked also.
I can't argue with success. If a person doesn't have the need for 4 wheel drive, it makes sense to have the hubs unlocked and reduce the wear on the drive train. Although it would be minor, there would be an increase in fuel mileage with them unlocked also.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 236
Likes: 1
From: Central Ky.
Originally Posted by LonghornOwner
they had to get the part from Ford since there is no aftermarket maker of this part.
Lanny
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
My hubs are locked in about 96% of the time. This includes many interstate trips at over 75 MPH. The wheel bearings needing service or the ball joints needing replaced are the most likely culprits.