4x4 Automatic hub 97 model question...
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 218
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From: Southern Illinois
4x4 Automatic hub 97 model question...
What activates the automatic hubs on a 97 F-350 4x4? I do not see any lines.
What is needed to convert to manual hubs and where can I get the parts?
What is necessary to get them to unlock?
Looked in FAQ and searched but have not found an answer.
Thanks
What is needed to convert to manual hubs and where can I get the parts?
What is necessary to get them to unlock?
Looked in FAQ and searched but have not found an answer.
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 0
They are activated automatically when the halfshafts are spun inside them, i.e. when you put it in 4x4 and the front axle is driven instead of just coasting along. It takes a half turn or so and they lock in. They are unlocked by the halfshafts *not* being driven inside them and the wheels spinning backwards several times, i.e. when you take it out of 4x4 and put the truck in reverse for 10-20 feet. It's some sort of centrifugal force clutch thingy mechanism inside, and they're pretty prone to breakage with age (ours did.)
Warn Premium hubs bolt right in pretty easily, though you need the hub nut adapter kit that Warn lists for some model years. You can just bash the old nuts around and out with a screwdriver because you don't care about nicking them, but you really ought to get the special hub nut wrench to put the new ones in.
Duncan
Warn Premium hubs bolt right in pretty easily, though you need the hub nut adapter kit that Warn lists for some model years. You can just bash the old nuts around and out with a screwdriver because you don't care about nicking them, but you really ought to get the special hub nut wrench to put the new ones in.
Duncan
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
Your hubs are actuated by the front driveshaft turning the stub shaft in each hub. An internal cam in each hub body locks in the hub when the hub is working properly. The auto hubs seem to work OK until 70K miles. After that they need attention.
To unlock the hubs you take the transfer case back to 2WD and then back the truck up for about 10 feet (assuming that you locked in the hubs when going in the forward direction). If you locked the hubs by going into reverse after shifting the transfer case to 4WD, then going forward will unlock them.
Replacing the hubs takes about 2 hours for the first hub and about 45 minutes for the second hub. You need a set of manual hubs (Warn's work great) and a hub conversion kit. You will need a special sprindle nut wrench to remove your current wheel bearing locknut and another special wrench to install the conversion kit's locknuts.
Installation instructions come with Warn hubs and conversion kit. Wrenches are available at NAPA. The conversion is well worth the effort.
Lou Braun
To unlock the hubs you take the transfer case back to 2WD and then back the truck up for about 10 feet (assuming that you locked in the hubs when going in the forward direction). If you locked the hubs by going into reverse after shifting the transfer case to 4WD, then going forward will unlock them.
Replacing the hubs takes about 2 hours for the first hub and about 45 minutes for the second hub. You need a set of manual hubs (Warn's work great) and a hub conversion kit. You will need a special sprindle nut wrench to remove your current wheel bearing locknut and another special wrench to install the conversion kit's locknuts.
Installation instructions come with Warn hubs and conversion kit. Wrenches are available at NAPA. The conversion is well worth the effort.
Lou Braun
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 110
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From: Alaska
http://www.fourdoorbronco.com/main/c...=ST;f=11;t=888
Check out this page. It's a write up I did. It has tool and parts list(Warm hubs used) as well as some pics of install.
Check out this page. It's a write up I did. It has tool and parts list(Warm hubs used) as well as some pics of install.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Southern Illinois
Kaleo:
Thanks for the info. Will the nuts from a F-250 IFS 4x4 fit? I have some of those as I have a spare 4x4 F-250 that I use as a parts donor for the F-250 I just replaced with the F-350.
The hub looks to be larger on the F-350 so I assume the manual Warn parts will not switch.
Thanks for the info. Will the nuts from a F-250 IFS 4x4 fit? I have some of those as I have a spare 4x4 F-250 that I use as a parts donor for the F-250 I just replaced with the F-350.
The hub looks to be larger on the F-350 so I assume the manual Warn parts will not switch.
