Automatic hub question.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
My dad's 02 F350 is having problems up front. The passenger side hub is staying locked to the axle. I haven't been under it yet so I don't know exactly what it all looks like but he said that in the unlocked position it's still locked to the axle. I ask because all my trucks have had manual hubs so I'm not used to the autos, and yes it has esof. Any ideas what to look for first when I get under it? Thanks for any help.
Your dad can clean the hubs to see if they still work or if they are just frozen and done for. Go here:
Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Autolock Hub Lubrication Maintenance Web Page
This will show you and your dad how to clean the OEM hubs. Guzzle has a great site with lots of good info based off of his '02 so it should mirror what you have. He's also got a procedure to grease your needle bearings (Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Needle Bearing Maintenance Web Page) also.
I replaced my bad hubs with OEMs. Sure the Warns are better, but I'm old and like to lock my axles from inside my nice warm cab instead of outside crouched down in the pouring rain and 2" of mud. Just my .02
I hope this helps and good luck with your dad's hubs!
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: southeat Ga.
Thanks for the help so far guys, I got it on stands and the tire, spacer, and outer hub off today. The hub seemed to be working alright so I reinstalled it and tried it by hand, it locked and unlocked pretty much how it's suppossed to but it did take a little rocking to get it to fully release the axle. I had to roll it back and forth 7-8 times before it unlocked the axle. Is this normal in esof trucks? Doesn't seem like it should be but I only know manual hubs so far.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
The axle should lock and unlock at time of engagement/disengagement. If it does bind a little then you should roll forward (or backward) slowly a few feet to ease up on the stress on the system and it should work fine (the owner's manual tells you that if it doesn't engage/disengage when you turn the switch, drive slowly for a few seconds and it will work). That is normal. Since you just rocked it back and forth (and didn't move several feet to full rotate the shaft) I would think that your system was okay if it took a few extra rocks to work the bind out. I wouldn't worry about it IMHO.
New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
04 f250 auto hubs
My auto hubs failed me last night in less than an inch of snow,it was very embarasing having toyotas and suvs going around me while I was stuck.I have auto hubs on my 04 f250,are those hubs supposed to go freely in and out between auto and lock?mine have not moved and will not move since I got the truck a year ago.I want to install manual hubs.There was a post about a tech folder with instructions,can someone tell me how to find these instructions.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
Only Warn Premium are low effort full turn style. All others I know of are 1/4 turn. Mile Marker even inlcudes a little **** to help turn them.
05 and up auto hubs are a huge improvement over the previous style. They are more robust and seal much better.
05 and up auto hubs are a huge improvement over the previous style. They are more robust and seal much better.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 530
Likes: 2
From: W. Wisc
Hmmm, what's this? A plug for the '05+ auto hubs?!?! I'm new to this, only having an SD for the past 6 months, and all I've heard so far is "When will Warn come out with a version for the '05+?" Now my ESOF has been working fine so far and I like the conveninece. So are you saying that Ford made a major improvement here, or what? Are problems way down with the new version, even given the shorter time they've been out there? Enquiring minds want to know...
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, IL
Yes so far the 05-up hubs seem to be a much better design with far less failures in the field. I think that is the main reason Warn and Mile Marker haven't bothered making designs for the newer trucks.
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