Do you keep your hubs locked?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
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1wood... As you can see, the people that say you will hurt something NEVER do it.
The people that actually DO drive with hubs locked don't have a problem. The people that drive at hiway speeds on DRY pavement don't have a problem either. (I have shifted into 4WD on dry pavement at over 70MPH just to prove it didn't hurt anything to a non-believer)
Yes you can leave them locked all the time or only when you want to. You won't have any more wear in 2WD or AWD then you do on your rear axle that is locked ALL THE TIME.
Hubs are gone when they don't transmit power to the wheel anymore. Simple explination... they are just a set of gears. They are either engaged or not. If the gear breaks it doesn't work anymore. NOT using them *MAY* cause them to stick and not engage when you turn the dial. If you engage them once a month or so and drive enough to warm the grease and lube everything it seems to help.
The people that actually DO drive with hubs locked don't have a problem. The people that drive at hiway speeds on DRY pavement don't have a problem either. (I have shifted into 4WD on dry pavement at over 70MPH just to prove it didn't hurt anything to a non-believer)
Yes you can leave them locked all the time or only when you want to. You won't have any more wear in 2WD or AWD then you do on your rear axle that is locked ALL THE TIME.
Hubs are gone when they don't transmit power to the wheel anymore. Simple explination... they are just a set of gears. They are either engaged or not. If the gear breaks it doesn't work anymore. NOT using them *MAY* cause them to stick and not engage when you turn the dial. If you engage them once a month or so and drive enough to warm the grease and lube everything it seems to help.
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Originally Posted by 1wood
OK so I can keep the hubs locked most of the time with out an issue. How can I tell if a hubs are going or gone?
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Originally Posted by Leader
1wood... As you can see, the people that say you will hurt something NEVER do it.
The people that actually DO drive with hubs locked don't have a problem. The people that drive at hiway speeds on DRY pavement don't have a problem either. (I have shifted into 4WD on dry pavement at over 70MPH just to prove it didn't hurt anything to a non-believer)
Yes you can leave them locked all the time or only when you want to. You won't have any more wear in 2WD or AWD then you do on your rear axle that is locked ALL THE TIME.
Hubs are gone when they don't transmit power to the wheel anymore. Simple explination... they are just a set of gears. They are either engaged or not. If the gear breaks it doesn't work anymore. NOT using them *MAY* cause them to stick and not engage when you turn the dial. If you engage them once a month or so and drive enough to warm the grease and lube everything it seems to help.
The people that actually DO drive with hubs locked don't have a problem. The people that drive at hiway speeds on DRY pavement don't have a problem either. (I have shifted into 4WD on dry pavement at over 70MPH just to prove it didn't hurt anything to a non-believer)
Yes you can leave them locked all the time or only when you want to. You won't have any more wear in 2WD or AWD then you do on your rear axle that is locked ALL THE TIME.
Hubs are gone when they don't transmit power to the wheel anymore. Simple explination... they are just a set of gears. They are either engaged or not. If the gear breaks it doesn't work anymore. NOT using them *MAY* cause them to stick and not engage when you turn the dial. If you engage them once a month or so and drive enough to warm the grease and lube everything it seems to help.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
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That time... I don't remember, not very long I would guess. However, I have racked up thousands of miles on dry or just rain wet pavement over the last almost 40 yrs of playing and working with 4x4's. So far I haven't had one single failure of transfer case or axles because of it. Never had a hub go bad yet either.
I have worn out u joints & wheel bearings but I have 378,000+ miles on my current 97 F250 4x4, 235,000+ on the 99 Expedition, & 179,000+ on the 97 Expedition. 94 F150 plow truck has had hubs locked & been in 4x4high for the last 3 years but it doesn't leave the property and only has 125,000+ miles on it.
I have worn out u joints & wheel bearings but I have 378,000+ miles on my current 97 F250 4x4, 235,000+ on the 99 Expedition, & 179,000+ on the 97 Expedition. 94 F150 plow truck has had hubs locked & been in 4x4high for the last 3 years but it doesn't leave the property and only has 125,000+ miles on it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Blue Hill Township
Originally Posted by HarleyFXDL
Leader, how long did you drive like that to show the non believer? Better check your owners manual, even Ford states "DO NOT DRIVE IN 4X4 MODE ON DRY PAVEMENT" It is your truck, do as you wish.
You don't want to turn on dry pavement in 4wd because of the reasons already mentioned, but it WILL NOT hurt anything to drive in 4wd on dry pavement in a straight line.
Senior User
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From: pg b.c
Originally Posted by thor1721
if you are going to leave them locked in i would watch how fast you drive. Would not take it to highway speeds with them locked in at least not for a extended time. the front hubs will get hot and could burn up. If driving around town i would not see a problem with it just watch highway speeds
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Originally Posted by 1wood
OK so I can keep the hubs locked most of the time with out an issue. How can I tell if a hubs are going or gone?
There are a bunch of guys in the 7.3 forum that have drag raced numerous times and they take off in 4wd. Thats a lot of torque on the hubs and they hold up. You shouldnt have any problems (except a dip in fuel mileage)
EDIT: I also leave mine locked in for months at a time and theres no problem driving at highway speeds. You might notice more of a vibration from the front driveshaft spinning, but thats about it. If I planned on going for a long highway drive, I'd unlock the hubs before hand and lock em back in when I got back.
Senior User
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Originally Posted by MisterCMK
Do you still think that it will break parts if you drive straight on dry pavement with 4hi engaged?
You don't want to turn on dry pavement in 4wd because of the reasons already mentioned, but it WILL NOT hurt anything to drive in 4wd on dry pavement in a straight line.
You don't want to turn on dry pavement in 4wd because of the reasons already mentioned, but it WILL NOT hurt anything to drive in 4wd on dry pavement in a straight line.
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decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Right Behind You
What he was trying to say was driving on pavement in 4x4 does not hurt anything, it's the turning that does...
Driving with your hubs locked, but not in 4x4 does not hurt anything, at any speed, on any terrain.
Tim
Driving with your hubs locked, but not in 4x4 does not hurt anything, at any speed, on any terrain.
Tim
Senior User
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I have stated earlier that driving with the hubs locked by themselves does not affect anything but gas mileage. As far as driving with transfer case in 4x4 mode, yes you can drive straight. So what are we actually discussing here? The original question was about driving with hubs locked, will it cause any damage. Other than burning more fuel, how little it may or may not be, is probably the only drawback. As far as running your 4x4 on dry ground, yes there are limited situations our vehicles can withstand without immediate failure. For me, I paid a lot of money for my truck. I don't see the need to put undue stress on it just to prove a point.
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From: pg b.c
Originally Posted by HarleyFXDL
The problem is how long do you plan on driving straight? Eventually you're going to have turn at some point. How many people have ever driven straight and NEVER turned when going somewhere? If you feel you need your hubs locked and trasfer case in 4x4 and nothing is going to happen, by all means you keep driving that way. BTW here is the number to AAA (800) 222-4357.
he'll need it
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From: pg b.c
Originally Posted by thorseshoeing
How many of you have actually drove on dry pavement in 4X4?
Tim
Tim
, BTW I keep my hubs locked all winter (Nov-Mar)...the thing about torque bind is no joke, so why even risk it, just move that lever from 4 to 2 on dry pavement..it'll move back when you need it quite easily unless sometnings broke
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I have & I even turn.
How many military vehicles even have locking hubs? They drive on pavement all the time.
How about all the full time 4x4 vehicles? Some of them NEVER get OFF pavement.
Do ANY of you actually know of a case of damage done because of driving on pavement?
How many military vehicles even have locking hubs? They drive on pavement all the time.
How about all the full time 4x4 vehicles? Some of them NEVER get OFF pavement.
Do ANY of you actually know of a case of damage done because of driving on pavement?