Which is better? I have heard that automatic's are hard on the front end, and cause poor mileage, etc. I have manual now, and I don't mind them, but I am just wondering if auto's are better.

Les

 

In my opinion, auto's are a downgrade from manuals. With manuals, you know if you're locked or not. Plus auto's are a lot more expensive to replace should they ever go out. One of my manuals went out, and would've cost 200 for a OEM replacement, but instead I spent 70 for two Warn Premium Hubs from the dealer (go figure).

 

Ditto; stay with your manuals.
Eddie

 

My brother had auto on his 92 and they started to go bad, so he replaced them with manuals and his gas mileage increased.
Manuals are the only way to go.

 

I have automatic hubs on my 95 F-150 and i have had problems with them. They engage for no reason at times around turns and i get a loud clack clack noise from the hubs as they try to engage when i go down the road, i want to switch to manuals ASAP

 

lallen, Keep your manuals. I had a 90 fullsize Bronco with the auto hubs. One day they worked fine and then when I really needed them they failed. You could raise the vehicle and the hubs would appear locked when testing by hand, then lower the Bronco and apply torque to them and they would slip. Needless to say they were gone as soon as could get it my garage. And like the other posts say, you will never wonder if your hubs are locked again.

Superdave

94 Ford Aerostar XL 3.0L
82 Ford F250 4x4 XLT,400 CID,C-6 A/T,8700lb GVWR. Black & Silver

 

Getting out of a warm, dry cab to stand in the mud or snow to lock hubs, is the time honored tradition of the macho 4WD'r. It makes us look like hero's to the women folk!

 

I have had quite a few problems with my auto's in the past. I bought the truck new in '95 and after about 2 years the hubs went out. I had them replaced for about 3 bills apiece (no warranty since I was over mileage). About 13 months later my hubs went out again. I asked a friend of mine who is a friend of mine and he did some checking around. Apparently around the beginning of '98, Ford finally realized they had a problem with their auto hubs and redesigned them. My friend ordered a set of the redesigned hubs and I haven't had a problem since. Which is
doing pretty good considering I've used 4WD more in the last 2 years than I did in the first three.

'95 Ford F150 4X4
Ext Cab SB
4.9L I6
189,000mi

 

I have had quite a few problems with my auto's in the past. I bought the truck new in '95 and after about 2 years the hubs went out. I had them replaced for about 3 bills apiece (no warranty since I was over mileage). About 13 months later my hubs went out again. I asked a friend of mine who is Ford Mechanic and he did some checking around. Apparently around the beginning of '98, Ford finally realized they had a problem with their auto hubs and redesigned them. My friend ordered a set of the redesigned hubs and I haven't had a problem since. Which is
doing pretty good considering I've used 4WD more in the last 2 years than I did in the first three.

'95 Ford F150 4X4
Ext Cab SB
4.9L I6
189,000mi

 

I see a lot of preference to man hubs vs auto, but if you understand the way they work you might not dislike them all that much. I have used both, and for extreme off road, use the man hubs. for occassinal I like the auto hubs, we used them in some of our off road tow trucks and never had a problem with them in sand, there is one draw back from the auto as they require the axle to tourqe for them to engage. They can not engage going down the road unless the axle is turning. The draw back is that it will allow a little rear wheel sping before the full engage. Or when moving from forward to reverse they require the axle to turn and lock. This is why the owners manule says to pull forwad and backward slightly to disengage the locking hub. Hope this helps a little.

Dave

http://a2ztowing.homestead.com/a2ztowing.html

 

I've had them both, manuals on a Ranger and F150, autos on an Explorer (my Aerostar is full time 4WD). Neither let me down. While I prefer the convienience of the auto hubs (or is it supposed to be more fun standing b***s deep in the mud or snow because I thought the hubs were locked) the manuals get my vote because of their long term reliability and cheaper and simpler repairs/replacements.

1992 F150 Supercab SB 4x4 302 AOD 3.55 31x10.5 All Terrain on Ford 15x8 Ralleys

 

The only way your gas milage would increase with manual hubs is if the auto's failed and didn't unlock. Properly working auto's will get the same milage as manuals.

 

The problem with auto hubs is that when you are stuck and rocking the vehicle back and forth, the auto hubs engage and disengage. Since the autos disengage in reverse, it is hard to get any momentum built up. Also, when you start forward again, usually under power, the hubs are forced to engage, and usually this causes them to head south. The manual hub on the other hand, is always engaged until you unlock the hub.

Chris
cmercer@auxserv1.unco.edu
http://www.mountaineers4x4.org/mercer
'82 F-350, '53 Dodge PU, '85 4Runner
Proud enough to stack hay, crazy enough to eat it.

 

i have a 94 f150 with push button 4 wheel and automatic hubs, they have never disengaged on me when the truck was in 4 wheel drive, it does take a little movement, like 2 inches, for them to engage, or if you're stuck, you will want to tap the throttle a bit, then you can punch it or whatever you want. i too have had both and for occasional off roading or even frequent snow use, the autos are great...plus, how many of you have been ***** deep in snow or mud only to find out your manual hubs wouldnt turn without a pliars or something else...i sure have..

 

I have had both manual and auto hubs. The truck I currently own has auto hubs and they perform admirably. We live on the top of a mountain. Access to our house is on a limestone driveway that is not straight and is very steep. As a result all our vehicles are 4WD which are in use each and every time we navigate our driveway, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. I think then that I speak with some authority on the matter. The autos work just as well as manuals when treated appropriately. People with whom I have discussed manu.vs auto. swear that to lubricate auto is asking for trouble, especially in colder climates because the grease congeals and prevents the hubs from engaging. HORSEPUCKY!!. I clean and relub our hubs every Fall and have NEVER had a failure or a balky hub. I have never had one disengage when I shift to reverse.
We do not misuse the vehicles and they get regular off-road duty (moutains, fording streams, and heavy mud). Our family has 5 vehicle, all auto hubs and no problems. None of the family would appreciate getting out in the 4-5 foot drifts to engage a manual hub. No one here has the need for machoism. We get that from clearing the driveway and parking area with a bulldozer, because there is no truck snow plow that could handle the volume. My vote is to go with auto, don't misuse them and do regular maintenance
Ron