Lockout hubs
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Lockout hubs
Hi
I'm new to the forum and I just bought an F250 4X4. When I put it into 4 wheel drive and the hubs are locked in there is a noise from the front end that sounds like a bird chirping. I suspect a bearing. My question is can I lock the hubs and drive the truck in two wheel drive? If I really need the 4 wheel drive at least I won't have to get out and lock the hubs. I'd only use it if I have to until I have a chance to take it apart and fix it. Will this hurt anything?
Thanks
Terry
I'm new to the forum and I just bought an F250 4X4. When I put it into 4 wheel drive and the hubs are locked in there is a noise from the front end that sounds like a bird chirping. I suspect a bearing. My question is can I lock the hubs and drive the truck in two wheel drive? If I really need the 4 wheel drive at least I won't have to get out and lock the hubs. I'd only use it if I have to until I have a chance to take it apart and fix it. Will this hurt anything?
Thanks
Terry
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 658
Likes: 2
Locked hubs + 4HI = four wheel drive
Unlocked hubs + 4HI = no four wheel drive, drive shaft spins from transfercase, turns axle but not the wheels.
Locked hubs + 2HI = no four wheel drive, wheels turn the axle which turns the drive shaft, but its disconnected at the transfer case.
Unlocked Hubs + 2HI = no four wheel drive. Neither the front axle nor the drive shaft turns.
Any of these combos are fine, btw...
Unlocked hubs + 4HI = no four wheel drive, drive shaft spins from transfercase, turns axle but not the wheels.
Locked hubs + 2HI = no four wheel drive, wheels turn the axle which turns the drive shaft, but its disconnected at the transfer case.
Unlocked Hubs + 2HI = no four wheel drive. Neither the front axle nor the drive shaft turns.
Any of these combos are fine, btw...
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Auburn, NH
Welcome to the site---you will be amazed at the knowledge here( not from me BTW).
I run my hubs locked in almost all winter-though my truck is not my daily driver-- (-I only unlock em when I am heading on the highway for a long run.)..makes it really easy to pull a Chevy out of the snow without getting out of the truck !!!
Gary
I run my hubs locked in almost all winter-though my truck is not my daily driver-- (-I only unlock em when I am heading on the highway for a long run.)..makes it really easy to pull a Chevy out of the snow without getting out of the truck !!!
Gary
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39,979
Likes: 1,512
From: Maine, Virginia
Tim
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
The U-joints in the front axle were lubed for life from the factory, and surprisingly even on trucks this old it's common to find those still in there but completely dried out. That's where the squeaking and chirping and clunking and vibration and wobly steering comes from on these truck when the hubs are locked, from U-joints in various stages of self destruction. Changing them involves disassembling the front end, but it's doable with common hand tools and a big bench vise.. though a special wheel bearing nut removal tool is needed. The joints are pretty cheap.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I've been running it with the hubs locked and in 2 wheel drive, but the noise is still there along with a little front end wobble when I put it into 4 wheel drive. So I'm going to replace the u-joints on both sides and all 4 bearings and races. I still have to locate that spanner wrench though. I'll keep ya posted. Oh and by the way how do I know which front end I have as far as a Dana 44 or a 50/60?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,426
Likes: 5,509
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
look at your locking hub, where it mounts to the spindle hub. if there is a little bit of the spindle hub visible behind the locking hub, it is a Dana 44 ifs.
if the locking hub is the same size as the spindle hub, it is a Dana 50 ifs.
here are two pictures so you can see what i am talking about. while the D44 has warn replacement hubs, the stock ford hubs are the same.
here is the D44 hub
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ort/D44hub.jpg
and here is the D50 hub
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../d50-60hub.jpg
if the locking hub is the same size as the spindle hub, it is a Dana 50 ifs.
here are two pictures so you can see what i am talking about. while the D44 has warn replacement hubs, the stock ford hubs are the same.
here is the D44 hub
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ort/D44hub.jpg
and here is the D50 hub
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../d50-60hub.jpg
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 2
Sounds like a bad spindle bearing. I had both spindle bearings go out within a couple weeks of one another last winter. They started by only making noise while the front axle was under power, then they started making noise all the time.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Well for now I replaced both outer u-joints. When the snow season lets up I'm going to replace both spindle bearings. I don't know if they need replaced or not, with the two new u-joints it's like a new truck. If they are bad it will probably wack the joints out again, but they're cheap so I'll replace them too if nescessary. Thanks for all your help.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
