General 4WD-engaging questions
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New User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Clear AFB, AK
General 4WD-engaging questions
I have a new (to me) 03 F-350 PSD 7.3L. My question is about engaging the 4WD. On the dash, I have the switch to go from 2WD to 4WD-high to 4WD-low. No problem there. However, I also have the manual lock outside on the hubs themselves. Having never had these before (always been push button or switch), what is the purpose behind them combined with the inside switch? Simply to provide me an alternative solution if the electronic switch goes out? If I get out and turn the hubs, am I now in 4WD? I don't think so, because it does not handle like it.
I do not do any major off-roading. I have found myself in some sticky mud where I needed to turn on the 4WD, and of course it helps during the winter when the zambonis (oops, I mean snow plows) have removed all of the traction-providing snow off of the icy road surfaces. Other than that, I rarely engage the 4WD.
Any clarifications on this issue would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jimmy
I do not do any major off-roading. I have found myself in some sticky mud where I needed to turn on the 4WD, and of course it helps during the winter when the zambonis (oops, I mean snow plows) have removed all of the traction-providing snow off of the icy road surfaces. Other than that, I rarely engage the 4WD.
Any clarifications on this issue would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jimmy
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Rep. of Texas
If it has factory locking hubs they are automatic and a crappy. They will go out eventually, or the first time they meet Mr. H2O. The manual lockouts on yours are just for backup, and you will need the backup.
When they do fail, replace them with Milemarker's or Warn's. Neither of those will fail you... until you get some big tires and grenade an axle... but then you have to worry about the whole axle...
When they do fail, replace them with Milemarker's or Warn's. Neither of those will fail you... until you get some big tires and grenade an axle... but then you have to worry about the whole axle...
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
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I believe he has the same setup I have, and I have the same question. I have the turn-dial switch on the dash, but I have manual locking hubs. I dont think the manual hubs are a back-up to auto locking hubs, but I guess they could be. Regardless, what is the reccommended way to engage 4WD? I know that you can lock the hubs but not be in 4WD, but what happens if you engage the switch on the dash but the hubs aren't locked? My last truck was a chebby that had the lever on the floor, but auto hubs, so the exact opposite. Thanks for the help.
Bob
Bob
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Roseburg, OR
Well, look at your hubs. If they have "Lock" and "Auto" positions, then (technically) you can simply use the switch on the dash to shift the transfer case in to 4wd and the hubs will automatically lock. Technically. The hubs also have the option to be manually locked, and you can use your imagination for that one.
If your hubs only have Lock and Free, you have to actually get all the way out of the vehicle, lock 'em, then get back in and shift to 4wd, and hope that frostbite or thermal shock or whatever doesn't set in
EDIT: As to the question of what will happen if you don't lock them in... well, if they aren't auto locking (or if they aren't so "auto" anymore) they will still be freewheeling. Hub lockouts do exactly what their name implies: they lock the wheel hub to the axle shaft. When they're unlocked, the wheel hub turns independently of the front axle. The Auto mode is supposed to automatically lock the hub when the transfer case sends power to the front axle. I haven't been around newer rigs (shows how poor I am... "newer" being "made in last 2 decades") enough to attest to the quality of auto-locking hubs, but I have yet to hear anything very positive about them.
If your hubs only have Lock and Free, you have to actually get all the way out of the vehicle, lock 'em, then get back in and shift to 4wd, and hope that frostbite or thermal shock or whatever doesn't set in
EDIT: As to the question of what will happen if you don't lock them in... well, if they aren't auto locking (or if they aren't so "auto" anymore) they will still be freewheeling. Hub lockouts do exactly what their name implies: they lock the wheel hub to the axle shaft. When they're unlocked, the wheel hub turns independently of the front axle. The Auto mode is supposed to automatically lock the hub when the transfer case sends power to the front axle. I haven't been around newer rigs (shows how poor I am... "newer" being "made in last 2 decades") enough to attest to the quality of auto-locking hubs, but I have yet to hear anything very positive about them.
Last edited by go_racing84; Aug 18, 2005 at 10:05 AM.
Thread Starter
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From: Clear AFB, AK
Thanks for the replies. My hubs have an "auto" and a "lock" position, as you mentioned Josh. I guess that leaves me with one last question... is there any harm to locking the hubs and then driving like that (leaving the switch in 2WD)? The reason I ask is that "hypothetically" the other night, I drove home after having got out and locked the hubs (about 80 miles). In fact, that is what prompted me to post this question in the first place. My mind said, "Hmmmm... I locked the hubs, but that sure didn't feel like I was in 4WD". 
Jimmy
Jimmy
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Cambridge, MN
You have to think about what the hub does....lock your front tires to their half shafts. If you have an automatic hub, it will lock and unlock all by itself and you never have to worry about it (until it stops working).
IF you have your hubs in the "Lock" position AND you are in 2wd, your front tires' rotation will cause the front drivetrain to spin. While your front driveshaft may have been spinning, it was not engaged by the transfer case as your were in 2wd.
This isn't the way the system is supposed to work and everyone I've ever talked to has said to always unlock your hubs when driving in 2wd. I don't think you caused damage on your 80 mile trip, but I would advise against to prevent abnormal and unnecessary wear.
IF you have your hubs in the "Lock" position AND you are in 2wd, your front tires' rotation will cause the front drivetrain to spin. While your front driveshaft may have been spinning, it was not engaged by the transfer case as your were in 2wd.
This isn't the way the system is supposed to work and everyone I've ever talked to has said to always unlock your hubs when driving in 2wd. I don't think you caused damage on your 80 mile trip, but I would advise against to prevent abnormal and unnecessary wear.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 964
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From: Roseburg, OR
Last I knew, you were actually supposed to lock your hubs every once in a while and drive a little, to lube the front drivetrain. As for how important that is 
Not sure.
You didn't do any damage to your drive. Driving in 2wd with your hubs locked in will just, as greengeeker said, spin the front drive train up until the transfer case (axle shafts, differential, front driveshaft). It'll maybe knock your mileage down a little, and will put another 80 miles worth of wear on your front drive train, but it's not as if you did anything inherently damaging.
Not sure.You didn't do any damage to your drive. Driving in 2wd with your hubs locked in will just, as greengeeker said, spin the front drive train up until the transfer case (axle shafts, differential, front driveshaft). It'll maybe knock your mileage down a little, and will put another 80 miles worth of wear on your front drive train, but it's not as if you did anything inherently damaging.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
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From: Spokane WA
DOnt worry about damage from leaving your hubs locked. My rig is old, so something (driveshaft or other) is out of balance much above 45mph when it's locked, but if we get a good snowstorm here I'll leave my hubs locked for a few days until the roads become consistantly dry. On a stock rig you're not going to have a spool or anything in the front end, so it's just an open differential spinning freely, not even transfering power like your rearend.
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