Manual Hubs
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Manual Hubs
I never had manually engaged 4x4 hubs. It is a pain to get out and turn them on/off when I get stuck in the snow and such. My community doesn't get plowed until 4-5 days after a snow storm. So it's 4wheel to get to the main streets and then back to 2wheel. But to turn down a side street it's back to 4wheel. I'm sure leaving the hubs locked and engaging/disengaging the 4wheel drive is a bad thing to do? Or is it ok for limited time. What happens if the hubs are locked and the 4wheel is disengaged and I forget to unlock and go zipping down the highway? I never had to worry about this with my Jeeps.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 911
Likes: 0
From: Mexifornia
Did you install aftermarket hubs? I haven't seen a SD with factory manual hubs...did I miss something?...Are they in Auto or are you fully locking them?...Anyways I would leave my Bronco, toyota and 91 f250 with the hubs locked in such situations as you describe...shifting in or out if 4WD as the need arose.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
You can leave your hubs locked after shifting into 2wd with no problems... possibly very slightly reduced gas mileage. I leave mine locked for weeks at a time during the winter, as I'm constantly in and out of 4wd conditions.
If I'm taking a longer highway trip, and i know the roads are clear, I'll bother to unlock the hubs. Otherwise, they stay locked.
I believe only super duty's with ESOF have auto hubs. As I understand it, f you have a manual shift transfer case, you have manual (only) hubs as well.
If I'm taking a longer highway trip, and i know the roads are clear, I'll bother to unlock the hubs. Otherwise, they stay locked.
I believe only super duty's with ESOF have auto hubs. As I understand it, f you have a manual shift transfer case, you have manual (only) hubs as well.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 911
Likes: 0
From: Mexifornia
OK...Yes Leaving them locked is fine, and as I said before I did it on all my manual hubs when needed...I even had one that the owners manual said to leave them locked at least once a month and drive at least 10 miles to lube them well IF you hadn't used the 4WD for that time period.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Tri-Cities, TN
My '01 came with the hubs that could be manually looked or left on "Auto" where they would lock when the Tcase was engaged. My buddy's '00 is the same way. Never seen a SD with regular locking hubs, or any mention in my owner's manual. Does anyone know for a fact if Ford had some regular locking hubs (Lock and Free positions, no Auto)?
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164,377
Likes: 82
From: MA
Originally Posted by bczolone
Did you install aftermarket hubs? I haven't seen a SD with factory manual hubs...did I miss something?...Are they in Auto or are you fully locking them?...Anyways I would leave my Bronco, toyota and 91 f250 with the hubs locked in such situations as you describe...shifting in or out if 4WD as the need arose.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
From: Wickenburg, AZ
I ordered my 2004 F350 with manual locking hubs. As far as I know, you can still get it.
Most people these days get them with Auto (you'll see it on here as "ESOF"), of course. That's been available for quite some time. On those, you just turn a **** and the front hubs are locked in with engine vacuum while an electric actuator throws the transfer case into 4x4. You can manually lock the front hubs in if the vacuum seals go bad.
Yeah, you can leave the hubs locked in if you're going to be in and out of it a lot. The only reason you want them unlocked the rest of the time is to get better gas mileage and to reduce the wear on the front driveline.
Most people these days get them with Auto (you'll see it on here as "ESOF"), of course. That's been available for quite some time. On those, you just turn a **** and the front hubs are locked in with engine vacuum while an electric actuator throws the transfer case into 4x4. You can manually lock the front hubs in if the vacuum seals go bad.
Yeah, you can leave the hubs locked in if you're going to be in and out of it a lot. The only reason you want them unlocked the rest of the time is to get better gas mileage and to reduce the wear on the front driveline.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 3
From: Eastern CT.
I would only buy my truck with manual hubs and transfere case, do not even consider ESOF,,My hubs have been locked in for the last 2 months, no big deal at all !
Your Jeeps had the front axel dissconect, so your front end or so called hubs were always locked in !
Your Jeeps had the front axel dissconect, so your front end or so called hubs were always locked in !
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 306
Likes: 12
From: Greenbush, Minnesota
My '01 F350 has regular manual locking hubs. Much less to go wrong in my opinion. It won't hurt a thing to keep them locked in for an extended amount of time. I locked mine in last November and just today I finally unlocked them.
JEV
JEV
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 0
From: Upstate, NY
So let me see if I understand this...ESOF is the only way you can get hubs that have the "auto" position? I like the manual transfer case on my 150 and I have no hubs to lock at all, just pull it into 4HI and go. Can I get this on a SD?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
The only "auto" hubs are on the ESOF.
If you have the stick on the floor for the transfer case, you have manual hubs.
At least, on the Superduty.
As to running around with the hubs locked? I do it every winter. For months.
So do lots of people. Nothing wrong with it.
If you have the stick on the floor for the transfer case, you have manual hubs.
At least, on the Superduty.
As to running around with the hubs locked? I do it every winter. For months.
So do lots of people. Nothing wrong with it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 0
From: Upstate, NY
So..I wonder what system they use on the 150? No manual locking hubs at all. Just pull the lever in the cab and you're in. I know years ago, we'd lock the hubs in December and just run it like that all winter long. Pull the lever when you wanted 4WD.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
I thought they used a vacuum setup, but the lockup was at the outside of the differential, instead of at the hubs, so the axles were spinning all the time, but not the diff.
I went through this with an F150 fellow a few years back - we didn't see eye to eye. Because we were talking about two different things.
Again, I believe the 150 has some sort of vacuum setup, at the ends of the diff - it's an independant front-end...
I went through this with an F150 fellow a few years back - we didn't see eye to eye. Because we were talking about two different things.
Again, I believe the 150 has some sort of vacuum setup, at the ends of the diff - it's an independant front-end...