push button 4x4 or lever shift?
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: mcdonough ga
push button 4x4 or lever shift?
i am looking for a new old 4x4 and was wondering if there was a general concensus about reliability shifting into 4 wheel drive.
are they probably equal in reliability? or is the electronic better since it might have less moving parts and less cast zinc levers to crack?
i think i would feel better with a lever..... no fuses or wires or motors to go bad...?
i am looking at a 1996 with the push button that seems to work.
this will be my first 4x4 in 25 years of driving.
any tips or suggestions?
thanks
are they probably equal in reliability? or is the electronic better since it might have less moving parts and less cast zinc levers to crack?
i think i would feel better with a lever..... no fuses or wires or motors to go bad...?
i am looking at a 1996 with the push button that seems to work.
this will be my first 4x4 in 25 years of driving.
any tips or suggestions?
thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 1
From: St Louis
I have a 91 bronco with push button, and havent had a complaint except that it didnt work one time. I like the system but it seems the general opinion leans towards the manual transfer case over the electric.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: Lutz, FL
Personally, I prefer the manual xfer case. I've heard of different electrical problems with the push button, including problems with the auto hubs that go with it. The manuals have their problems too with linkage binding up or getting twigs, etc in the linkage, but I'm happy with my manual.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
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From: Des Plaines, Illinois
There is nothing wrong with the automatic system as long as you use it from time to time (just like with a manual) to keep everything in order.
The motors do burn out, but usually the wiring corrodes first. Taken care of, the system shouldn't let you down. There are plenty of manual xfer cases that end up broken because they don't get used and the linkages break or rust up. Personally I think that pushing a button and not hearing the motor is less catastrophic and reaching down and snapping the lever off in your hand.
I'll lead my bias towards the manual box, as long as it's taken care of.
No matter what, install manual locking hubs.
The motors do burn out, but usually the wiring corrodes first. Taken care of, the system shouldn't let you down. There are plenty of manual xfer cases that end up broken because they don't get used and the linkages break or rust up. Personally I think that pushing a button and not hearing the motor is less catastrophic and reaching down and snapping the lever off in your hand.
I'll lead my bias towards the manual box, as long as it's taken care of.
No matter what, install manual locking hubs.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 10
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From: mcdonough ga
thanks for the quick replys,
i plan to pull a smallish camper with this in some of the national forest camp grounds north ga and beyond.
no real 4x4 challenges, but i don't want to get sideways on a service road with no body able to get around me.
i also don't want to get sideways and push a button and have nothing happen.
here is a silly question... can the manual shifting linkage be added to change out a truck that has the push button stuff on it already or is that just asking for trouble?
i plan to pull a smallish camper with this in some of the national forest camp grounds north ga and beyond.
no real 4x4 challenges, but i don't want to get sideways on a service road with no body able to get around me.
i also don't want to get sideways and push a button and have nothing happen.
here is a silly question... can the manual shifting linkage be added to change out a truck that has the push button stuff on it already or is that just asking for trouble?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 1
From: St Louis
You can make an electric transfer case manual with some inventive work but you can just as easily swap a manual transfer case into the truck without much trouble.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
I've seen just as many people have problems with manual cases as they do with push button ones. The biggest thing are the hubs...manual locking over vacuum is always the way to go.
For an electric xfer case, get up underneath and make sure the connections and wires look good. If they're good and things are working, there's no reason to assume they won't, and you can always keep a spare motor around.
Swapping over to a manual case isn't super hard, but it's not like a 10 minute job.
For an electric xfer case, get up underneath and make sure the connections and wires look good. If they're good and things are working, there's no reason to assume they won't, and you can always keep a spare motor around.
Swapping over to a manual case isn't super hard, but it's not like a 10 minute job.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 796
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
I worked at a Iowa ford dealership from 92-94 inbetween my aircraft maintenance jobs and never had the motor burn up from the push button shift but it would get stuck between 4x4 and 2x4 for some reason. I would remove the motor and help it by hand and then put the motor back in and it would work ok from then on. Seen it many times. Also there were like 3 different types of the auto hubs. Lots of problems with these. My preference is the manual shifter and manual hubs. Lots less problems.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Pretty much the only thing that can go wrong with the manual shift is a siezed linkage, and you can guarantee trouble free operation forever if you disassemble, clean and grease it as soon as you get it, and maybe install a grease fitting or 2 to easy maintneance.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: NC
I have a '96 with push button 4WD and manual hubs.... So far, so good. I also wished it had a manual t-case when I got it, but after using 4WD quite a few times, Im not worried about it any more. It works great. You should be fine.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 8
From: Edmonton AB, Canada
i have a 95 f150 with the push button 4x4 and going from 2-4wd works great, but 4-4lo is another story, it gets stuck in 4lo everytime, i have to tap the motor with a hammer while the gf pushes the button on the dash, and suggestions? i was thinking about going with a manual shift but if i can make this one work ill just leave it as is
