Locking Hubs - quick question...

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Sep 26, 2008 | 12:10 PM

2000Mark

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Locking Hubs - quick question...

This is a easy question for some, and I thought I knew this but I want to clarify..

What exactly does locking the hubs do?

Sep 26, 2008 | 12:14 PM

ingman

Tuned

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From: brigham city Utah

Lock the front axle to the front wheel hub, so that it will get power to the front wheels.

Sep 26, 2008 | 12:36 PM

2000Mark

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So does that mean it locks the front diff?

Sep 26, 2008 | 01:13 PM

GregsSD

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From: NorCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000Mark

So does that mean it locks the front diff?

No, a locking differential is totally separate thing than locking hubs. Locking the hubs just hooks up the front wheels to the 4wd system so you can use it.

A locking differential is a unit that you can install in the center section of your axle which will give you traction to both wheels of the axle. And they can be installed in the rear or the front axle.

Sep 27, 2008 | 09:12 AM

ingman

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From: brigham city Utah

Good answer Gregsd, you explained that very well. Greg, have you had any problems with your hubs (in auto) not staying lock, say after you back up or turn off your truck?
I had that problem just a couple of days ago.

Sep 27, 2008 | 12:00 PM

GregsSD

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From: NorCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by ingman

The auto hubs are not very reliable because they use vacuum to lock and unlock. I had to have the seals on one of mine replaced because it was leaking so the auto hubs would not work, I would have to manually swith them to "Lock" in order to use 4wd. And that was when the truck was less than a year old!

Now that the truck is out of warranty, if that happens again I will change them out for some good manual hubs and not have to worry about them again!!!

Sep 28, 2008 | 01:20 PM

ingman

Tuned

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Posts: 397

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From: brigham city Utah

I think thats were i'm heading. (waren)

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Sep 28, 2008 | 06:28 PM

sonneborn3

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 185

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From: Jacksonville, IL

I had a hub go bad last winter and the dealer wanted $400 to repair the one side, so I got a set of Warn Premium hubs for $200 and fixed both sides...for good!

Sep 29, 2008 | 12:59 AM

#10

GregsSD

Posting Guru

Joined: Dec 2006

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From: NorCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by loubell

Why would you guys spend money on manual hubs? Just lock the factory hubs when you need 4WD and turn them back to "auto" when you are done.

Because when they go bad they sometimes will not unlock so you have to keep them both locked all the time. This happened to me!

Oct 1, 2008 | 05:32 PM

#11

mnmwhit

Laughing Gas

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 990

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From: North Pole Alaska

auto hubs dont work worth a %#^ in the winter up here. @ -50 if you dont have them lock when you park you won't get them to lock till the truck warms up from being driven. And if you get stuck.....you are stuck.

I like my manual hubs

Oct 1, 2008 | 11:26 PM

#12

texastech_diesel

Token Redneck

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 9,339

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From: Breckenridge, TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by loubell

Why would you guys spend money on manual hubs? Just lock the factory hubs when you need 4WD and turn them back to "auto" when you are done.

^x2 on what they all said. And, with manual hubs, you open up the wonderful world of 2Lo. It's a nifty trick to be able to pull out with a heavy trailer. I don't know if it's really kosher to do it that way, but I haven't ever broken anything that way, and I've done it on two different trucks.