Locking the hubs
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New User
Joined: Sep 2003
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Locking the hubs
Hey all,
I've got a '91 ranger with locking hubs. I've always had auto hubs in the past, so I got a couple of questions. Can I leave the hubs locked and drive in 2 wheel drive? Will this cause problems later? (some roads are covered in snow, others aren't) Is there a special procedure for shifting in/out of 4wd? I was driving today in a couple inches of snow and it was hard turning in 4wd, any ideas?
Thanks
I've got a '91 ranger with locking hubs. I've always had auto hubs in the past, so I got a couple of questions. Can I leave the hubs locked and drive in 2 wheel drive? Will this cause problems later? (some roads are covered in snow, others aren't) Is there a special procedure for shifting in/out of 4wd? I was driving today in a couple inches of snow and it was hard turning in 4wd, any ideas?
Thanks
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Michigan
Locking the Hubs
On snowy roads, I like to leave my hubs locked in so I can easily shift into four wheel drive if footing gets iffy. Maybe needed it four or five times this year so far. Normally the truck handles just fine on icy/snowy roads (without added weight), but there is a suttle improvement going around turns on ice in four wheel.
Other than that, I make sure my hubs are in the "free" position. Leaving the hubs locked increases where and tear on the driving components of the front end, as well as the front driveshaft components and the transfer case - even in two wheel drive. It also reduces your mileage somewhat. I also prefer to keep my speed to 55 or 60 max with the hubs locked (hope that's not too fast) even on the interstate. Normally that is not a problem as I wouldn't want to go any faster when roads are slick anyway.
Rich
Other than that, I make sure my hubs are in the "free" position. Leaving the hubs locked increases where and tear on the driving components of the front end, as well as the front driveshaft components and the transfer case - even in two wheel drive. It also reduces your mileage somewhat. I also prefer to keep my speed to 55 or 60 max with the hubs locked (hope that's not too fast) even on the interstate. Normally that is not a problem as I wouldn't want to go any faster when roads are slick anyway.
Rich
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,221
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From: Homer, Alaska
Where I live, the rule of thumb is "hubs in on Halloween; hubs out on Easter". I haven't had any problems driving my 83 or 95 Rangers that way for years. The front end is turning with the hubs locked, but about the only thing I have seen is a small drop in mileage.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 9
From: So. Cal.
Originally Posted by vekrause
Hey all,
I've got a '91 ranger with locking hubs. I've always had auto hubs in the past, so I got a couple of questions. Can I leave the hubs locked and drive in 2 wheel drive? Will this cause problems later? (some roads are covered in snow, others aren't) Is there a special procedure for shifting in/out of 4wd? I was driving today in a couple inches of snow and it was hard turning in 4wd, any ideas? Thanks
I've got a '91 ranger with locking hubs. I've always had auto hubs in the past, so I got a couple of questions. Can I leave the hubs locked and drive in 2 wheel drive? Will this cause problems later? (some roads are covered in snow, others aren't) Is there a special procedure for shifting in/out of 4wd? I was driving today in a couple inches of snow and it was hard turning in 4wd, any ideas? Thanks
If it's hard turning while in 4WD, then you either have too much traction to justify 4WD, or you may have a limited-slip differential in the front.
Pat
