Hi Everyone,

I'm new to FTE. I have a 1970 F-250 4x4 with the HD Dana 44 in front, everything stock. My question: It has the original Dana lock-out hubs. How do they rate? I had to tinker with the pass. side one to get it to lock but seems to work okay now. We live several miles off the pavement with a long muddy driveway. I don't want to end up in the winter or after a 2 - 3 inch downpour (which happens!!!) with a four wheel drive turck that only goes in two wheel drive.

I searched the current posts and couldn't find any info on this. What is the consensus about the hubs?

Thanks all, and enjoy the weekend.

 

Are they actually Dana hubs or are they the old Warn hubs? I have never seen a truck that had Dana hubs, if that says anything about them.
When you had it apart, how did it look? Is the body aluminum or steel? How many splines?

 

It is an aluminum housing with "Hub Lok" imprinted. It is a different style locking mechanism than the Warn hub shown in the schematic. Only the aluminum center "button" of the hub (~1.5" dia.) rotates and engages with just 1/4 turn.

Since my first post I have found a picture of the hub on a Chevy that is claimed to be a Spicer OE hub (also on a Dana 44 with enclosed hub). I know Spicer is a part of Dana now. Are they known as Spicer hubs or Hub Lok hubs?

I have a Ford factory schematic that shows a Warn hub and this other style hub which is indicated as being a Dana 3500 lb. on the schematic.

Just to be clear, it may be an old Warn style. I just haven't seen one of these before.

I can e-mail you a copy of the schematic and a picture if you wish.

Thanks for your help!

 

If it's only a quarter turn, they're probably pretty weak. I'd replace them with newer Warn hubs, or Selectro hubs.

 

Those are the original Ford hubs made by Dana. My brother's 72 Bronco had them with the plastic grip insert. He had one that froze and burned up. He got a replacement from the dealer. They might still have replacement parts, or you can get a parts kit from your local Dana/Spicer parts dealer. Warn replacement hubs are all metal. The Dana 3500 is the axle rating.

 

Thank you Ford_Six and RichS for your comments.


RichS: These hubs are all metal (aluminum and steel) construction with an aluminum grip insert. I was a little puzzled with them at first because I am more familiar with the Warn hubs. After I pulled the pass. side off, and did a little maintenance and lubrication it works great. The truck has less than 70,000 original miles - most of those on pavement. It was originally purchased by a Ford dealership and used, I think, with a tow truck insert in the bed.

The hubs are engaging and pulling fine. If I was going to throw on some large aftermarket tires or be doing serious recreational off-roading I would be more concerned about replacing them. This truck is used for work on the farm not for rock crawling or mud bogging.

Ford_Six, I'm not sure I understand your reasoning that they are weak because they only require a quarter turn to engage. (Also, why would Ford put light duty lock-outs on their HD axle?)
It is a fundamental design difference?

Thank you again both for your insight.