i have factory hubs right now with auto and lock. the auto part has not worked for a while,but the lock part does. have no plans of fixing that for the fact i like the 2wd low range when pulling boats out of ramps. so here is my question. with hubs in auto should the u joint in the front axle turn if i trun wheel by hand. or should it free wheel? should i look into a set of warn hub and git rid of this weak link?

 

In ''auto'', the axles should be free until vacuum is applied. ''Lock'' would manually override the diaphragm inside the hub.

 

so in auto when i spin the tire the axle should not spin. right?

 

Correct, with the dash selector in 2wd, and the hub on 'auto', the wheel and tire should turn independently. If they don't, you could have a malfunctioning hub lockout, or possibly a locked up stub shaft bearing in the wheel bearing assembly. I worked on a truck that had corrosion in the wheel bearing, bad enough that it actually caused the inner bearing the stub shaft rides in to seize up, effectively permanently engaging the 4wd on that wheel. It was a real PIA to remove too. Hope it's just the lockout on yours!