I've got a 5 speed, 5.0L V8, 91 F150 with manual hubs, I noticed that in the manual it mentions that automatic hubs were an option at purchase. I'd like to have the ability to shift on the fly or at least shift while stopped without having to get out and twist the hubs.

I noticed a few sales on Ebay like itemnumber 952044027.

Would something like this be a relatively easy swap? Also what's the general concensus for Auto or Manual hubs?

 

Well, I think most people prefer the manual hubs, specifically the Warn Premium with a lifetime warranty. If you are off road or going off road just engage the hubs but leave the transfer case in 2hi. In this mode you are not running in 4wd and actually are lubricating the front drive train. It's a good idea to engage the hubs at least once a month.. Manual hubs require no internal parts to work on command from a simple shift into 4hi. To disengage manual hubs you have but to move the dial indicator to the unlocked or free position. This can be done at the day once back on the "hard road". Don't drive on pavement in 4wd unless it has snowed or you're going through a mudslide area especially if your front differential has limited slip or a locker of any type. That being said, I have automatic hubs on my F250 and they are original. I take them down in the spring and fall and clean them up while I repack the bearings and check out the u-joints. I use Marvel Mystery oil to soak them after using a safetykleen parts washer. I use a light lithium grease to cover them once I re-install and I don't use an abundance of that. They and my E4OD have worked without a hitch for over 240,000 miles. All I do is select 4hi and continue. Once on the roadway, I back up about 10-12' and they dis-engage. Since you already have manual hubs and you can just select the lock option without engaging the t-case I would continue along this path.

 

Hey Tex, how about writing up a procedure on auto hub maintenance. I've had my truck 11 years now and have never touched the auto hubs.
I figure its about time...
Thanks,
Popa Tim

 

I'd be happy to Tim. Will try to be comprehensive and if I can figure out how to post pictures, I'll go ahead an do mine early this year and take the digitals as I go. Glad to hear someone else has had a degree of luck with auto-hubs. The biggest reason I do this is that red Georgia clay is so fine I am afraid it will infiltrate my hub system and affect it. Old addage around here is that dust is just clay with the water squeezed out.

 

i'm very close to buying an 89 with factory manual hubs. would it be worth it to buy the warn hubs? and if so, how difficult are they to change?


Thanks

Keith

 

Hubs are very easy to change, I can probably do both sides in under an hour. With your 89 I wouldn't replace them if they are working but I would clean them if you are worried about them.

 

warn premium's run under $100 for the pair, with life time coverage against breakage. turn them to lock, put it in 4hi and your off.

autos run over $200 "EACH". if the tire is not rolling the "1st" time you put it in 4hi they don't catch (tested this ONCE, dug for hours!!), you have to back-up to disengage, and I have broken at least 3 (2 in my dad's ford, long time ago, I'm 41 yrs old) 1 in mine, and 1 twisted axle (yes, like licorice twists in HALF) and did NO damage to the hub (warn hubs).

it is an easy swap, but why. turn them in early--shift on the fly--turn them out when you hit the pavement. I'm from Idaho, 4x4 is manditory if you go off-road and you will at some point. I "will not" trust an "auto hub", especially 40 miles off the pavement.

TEX, i'm glad your having good luck with yours. taking care of them the way you do is probably more than most do until "THEY HAVE TO USE THEM" read: STUCK.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Heres the deal. I live in Alaska, plenty of pavement and plenty of nasty muddy roads and worse snow covered slanted ice rinks called roads.

A good example of what I would like happened two days ago. I was driving to a friends house, 90% of it was on pavement up the side of a mountain, switchbacks and all. Once I turned on his street it went from a nice 10 degree grade to 25 degree grade and the surface went from plowed and sanded pavement to compacted slick with a dusting of power over it. I hit it in two wheel and spun out in about 25 feet up it and started sliding backwards at an angle. On my old, uh, Dodge, I'd smack the 4Hi and keep moving. This time I had to try and back down without hitting the stop sign, thank you snowberm.

It was easy once I back down into the street, got out and locked the hubs, then went back up the street. Would swapping the locking hubs with auto hubs give me shift on the fly? Also with the hubs locked but the transmission in 2hi, would it hurt the truck to be driving on snowy or sanded pavement?

 

you can drive with the hubs locked and in 2hi anytime/anywhere, just don't drive on dry pavement in 4hi/lo. the gears are set at 3.55 rear and 3.54 front, its set that way so the front pulls, but you have to have some slipage.

swapping to auto's will give you shift on the fly

 

so if i were to leave my hubs in the locked position 24 hours a day 7 days a week, what effects would it have?

would there be damage, excessive wear?

Thanks

keith

 

It will still wear out the front end a lot quicker, it's one of the results of moving parts. And at least on my 89 F150, it'd drive me batty to hear the front hubs engaged all the time, makes the front end creak and moan and rattle so much more. Another reason why I'm looking to upgrade to a 6.0 in the future.

 

not to mention a small hit in gas mileage

 

I'm another one with Auto hubs and a 4EOD- 195K miles, no troubles with either. I much prefer the auto hubs- just takes a few seconds advance planning when you shift into 4WD (as in, don't wait until you're stuck).

 

I have this thing about automatic anything. I like to lock my own hubs, shift my own gears, and shift my own transfer case. Something about that reassuring thud, clunk, or click that gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling. I'd have a manual choke if I could get one on my EFI truck. Something about having a computer do stuff for me makes me a little uneasy.

 

I understand. However when one gets on the sunny side of 50 years old one likes to have some things take care of themselves. The maintenance end of it is theraputic for me. I get satisfaction out of preventive maintenance. You need the old Dodge ammo carrier I learned to drive with, it was manual everything. You even had to double clutch it just to change gears. The thing of it is, it's a matter of choice, you have every right to yours and I, mine. I'm not going to arbitrarialy damn auto hubs or manual hubs. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I am willing to bet however, that just like one of our associates who has an F150, lifted and tricked out to the max, it's because of the look, not because it's used to work or play off road. That's a choice too and it's okay as well, Later days.