help with 4x4 hubs
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Freshman User
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From: Iroquois Ont, Canada
help with 4x4 hubs
The lettering has warn off the front hubs of my 2001 f250sd. I never cared because I always kept them in auto. Last winter one stopped working in auto but I could still manually lock it. Now I can't tell if I have them locked or in auto. Do they both turn the same way(clockwise or couterclockwise) or does on turn one way and the other an other way. How do I know when they are locked and when they are in auto. Help. Snow plow season is here.
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From: Berkshires Western Ma
Got my hubs here with me , just took them off my 2001 350, Counter Clockwise is Auto , Clock Wise is Locked. Opps! 
forgot! Yes they both work the same way
forgot! Yes they both work the same way
Last edited by BerkshireCoverit; Nov 24, 2005 at 01:09 PM. Reason: add to reply
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From: Berkshires Western Ma
Ya just replaced mine with the Warns hubs 38826 took all of 15 mins for both sides not counting the vac lines. Maybe i'm nuts but the 4 wheel drive seems to work better with the warn prem. hubs then they ever did with the stock ford hubs, (seems like better grabing). Its been snowing here since yesterday so i just keep them locked for now and take it out of 4 wheel by the **** insiide the truck when i'm not plowing.
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Freshman User
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From: Iroquois Ont, Canada
Does warn make a direct replacement for the stock hub (auto/lock) or do they just have the one like you have?(free/lock) I should replace mine but I like the auto feature. It's cold out there!
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From: Berkshires Western Ma
Don't think Warn makes Auto/Lock hubs at least i haven't seen anything posted here on Warn Autolocks (most likey because Warn knows they are junk) ,but if you email Warn or call they will answer any ?s They got back to me the same day. Ya the autos are nice if your lazy like me , but i been thru a total of 5 sets of hubs between my 99 sd and my 01 sd, Think it was time for a change and saving big $s too. Ford Hubs very costly for what you get, everyone here mostly seems to luv the Warns and now i'm a beleiver to, they are great.( only 2 days old ha ha). I Paid 166.00 for the warn premiums on Amazon.com. with free shipping. Ford Hubs installed if i remember right was close to $400.00 might be wrong on that.
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Freshman User
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From: Iroquois Ont, Canada
The Ford hubs are costly. Mine still work, just not in auto. Maybe I'll try cleaning them again and if that doesn't work I may put a set of warn hubs on.
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From: Berkshires Western Ma
Eric just posted this for dd, Amen to the Warns , in a way you'll still have the shift-on-the-fly , like stated above if you think you'll be needing the 4x4 drive just have the warns locked in, you can still go in and out of 4x4 with the shift-on-the-fly. but not fully out. Its not like you lose all the shift-on-the-fly. Maybe the others could explain it better as i'm new myself here.
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Freshman User
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From: Iroquois Ont, Canada
Yah! I understand it. My drive to work involves some side roads and a good length of 4 lane hwy. Better fuel milage with the hubs unlocked and the truck seems to handle better. Then when you get off the hwy You just have to flip the switch. My bad was I was snow plowing in auto. I bought the truck new in 2001 and now it has 200,000 km on it. Last winter was the first time I moved the hubs to lock from auto when one morning a 4am I started to plow snow and the 4wd wouldn't work. Actually what I have now is no different than having a free/lock system. I'm just conserned if they are starting to go bad and eventually bust for good.
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From: Berkshires Western Ma
yup same here ,never moved them and thats why they froze on me, didn't know you had to work them untill i found this site.Maybe you can order a set from the dealer to have on hand or a set of Warns , either way you decide when the stock ones go at least it only takes a few mins to change them out. Maybe some day i'll go back to the autos now that i know they failed partly because i never moved them. Have never had a vac problem yet on either the 99 or the 2001 (knock on wood). Good luck , still snowing here so 1st thing in the morning i'll be plowing again ,, hate this 1/2 mile long driveway of mine. tc
Last edited by BerkshireCoverit; Nov 24, 2005 at 04:57 PM. Reason: spelling
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From: Long Island USA
It's like a screw - clockwise for lock, just like every other hub I've ever seen. But then, I don't know what foreign hubs are like, just Ford's 
Not only are Warns going to work, period, they are much stronger. If you take apart an auto hub and actually see what's driving the wheel, and compare that to the Warn, it's just, well, inadequate, to say the least ...
I have a few rules I live by.
1) If it's below freezing, I lock the hubs. And leave them that way for months.
2) Stormy weather, just rain, lock the hubs. And use 4x4 to make sure it still works. And have fun pulling away from stop lights without spinning the rear wheels
3) Snow threatening? Lock the hubs.
I just locked my Warns, and we had a few snow flakes tonight on Long Island, on Thanksgiving... My hubs will probably stay locked for the next 5 months...
art k.
Not only are Warns going to work, period, they are much stronger. If you take apart an auto hub and actually see what's driving the wheel, and compare that to the Warn, it's just, well, inadequate, to say the least ...
I have a few rules I live by.
1) If it's below freezing, I lock the hubs. And leave them that way for months.
2) Stormy weather, just rain, lock the hubs. And use 4x4 to make sure it still works. And have fun pulling away from stop lights without spinning the rear wheels
3) Snow threatening? Lock the hubs.
I just locked my Warns, and we had a few snow flakes tonight on Long Island, on Thanksgiving... My hubs will probably stay locked for the next 5 months...
art k.
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From: Berkshires Western Ma
Ya my new Warns will be locked most of the winter too, but this time at least i'll work them once a month to keep them honest. Just wish i knew about them 4 sets ago. Also to me anyway the four wheel drive seems to be stronger now with the warns (maybe i'm just crazy). We had about 10 inches snow here (Western Mass) since Weds and still snowing, Upstate NY getting hammered in feet not inches. So I won't be free wheeling untill next spring. All i need now is a set of ice grabbers so when my driveway turns into a ice skating rink i wont go over the edge my 4 auto clubs (have to spread the pullouts around to be fair to them all ) getting a little upset with me every winter pulling me out of ditches 5-10 times a winter in my own driveway.
) getting a little upset with me every winter pulling me out of ditches 5-10 times a winter in my own driveway.
Last edited by BerkshireCoverit; Nov 25, 2005 at 01:55 AM. Reason: spelling
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Hi all. I'm new to this issue, having just upgraded from a 1992 f350 with manual locking hubs to a 1999 with the autos. Got stuck in a driveway yesterday and switched to 4wd via the dashboard---nothing. I had to get out of the truck and manually lock the hubs. This was a pain as I only needed 4wd to travel about 100' to the paved road, then get out and un-lock as the rest of the 50 mile ride was all clear. Has anyone tried to work with the stock hubs? Maybe they need more frequent cleaning, removal of old grease, maybe a LIGHT coating of synthetic grease, or none at all? I like the idea of the auto feature. To me, the purpose of the dual feature is to run in auto when you may encounter incidental need for 4wd, such as I did yesterday. For plowing, running a mud or snow covered road, I would lock the hubs and keep them locked.
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Originally Posted by ERIC J snowbird
The Ford hubs are costly. Mine still work, just not in auto. Maybe I'll try cleaning them again and if that doesn't work I may put a set of warn hubs on.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Berkshires Western Ma
The Autos are great as long as they are working right. After 4 sets of new Ford autos i just gave up (they are junk in my book). Two sets on my 99 SD, two more on my 2001 Sd at $400.00 to $500.00 just not worth it to me. Seems most here like the Warn Pemiums part # 38826 and i have to agree , its the only way to go if you want trouble free 4 wheeling with a lifetime warranty. My 5th set of hubs just installed are Warns and they are great. It will be more of a pain when you have no 4x4 drive when you need it most , and that will happen sooner or later with the ford autos for sure. If money don't matter then just keep going with the stockers. gl