locking hubs: manual or automatic?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
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From: Hudson Valley, NY
I once tried to teach my wife how to change a tire, just in case .. finally decided it'd be easier to just go do it for her (not like it happens a lot) ..
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
She'll have to worry about auto hubs when one of them fails leaving her stuck or stranded somewhere.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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Have to be honest, I think the whole trashing automatic hub thing is overated for most daily drivers. I've had manual hubs that had to be changed because they wouldn't turn for anything anymore. It's a matter of an aging vehicle. My bet is new auto hubs would give you trouble free use for years. Again, talking daily drivers, manuals are probably better for off road use.
I live in Green Bay for who asked earlier.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
I guess you're one of those people who doesn't learn from others' mistakes.
A friend of mine has a 1995 F-150 with automatic hubs. He drove up to Tahoe to go boarding and his auto hubs failed on him. He had to pay for a tow to Donner summit and then he had to buy chains and install them before CHP would let him continue. I think it ended up costing him around $500 plus the hassle of having to install and remove the chains.
But.... it's your money, your truck, and your girlfriend.
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Your logic is flawed. Smoke detectors are personal protection. Old trucks, things break...so you never drive an old truck? Come on.
I'm not saying auto hubs can't break, I'm saying old trucks have issues, and old auto hubs need replacing. Also said if I found a "quality aftermarket kit" I would go for it.
Based on your logic, I'd go through the forums, find that everyone on here has had literally everything break on their truck at some point, had to be towed, and I'd take public transit for the rest of my life.
I'm not saying auto hubs can't break, I'm saying old trucks have issues, and old auto hubs need replacing. Also said if I found a "quality aftermarket kit" I would go for it.
Based on your logic, I'd go through the forums, find that everyone on here has had literally everything break on their truck at some point, had to be towed, and I'd take public transit for the rest of my life.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 424
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From: Eastern, Iowa
no way this can become an internet argument! JUST CAN'T HAPPEN!!!
Now, I'd love to hear some constructive dialogue about how often one should leave the locks locked. How long is too long? discuss....
Now, I'd love to hear some constructive dialogue about how often one should leave the locks locked. How long is too long? discuss....
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Hutch, his logic is not really saying that, instead yours does. You say old trucks have issues... Like andy said, if you can't learn from other peoples mistakes, then it's your choice. Many of the people on this board have had issues with auto hubs, you must be one of the lucky ones.
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Maybe I'm not stating it clearly enough, my thinking is that older trucks are not new, and parts go bad. I don't consider an auto hub failure different then anything else, shocks, ball joints, u joints, etc. I've had older trucks and the only hub issues I've had is a manual hub, I didn't run out and buy auto's because of it.
What I would say is a 'bad' part would be auto hub failures, repeatedly, on say a 2007 F150. I just view everything in a 15+ year old vehicle to be consumable. Now, if guys are replacing auto hubs and they go kaput in 6 months, show me those stories because I haven't seen it.
What I would say is a 'bad' part would be auto hub failures, repeatedly, on say a 2007 F150. I just view everything in a 15+ year old vehicle to be consumable. Now, if guys are replacing auto hubs and they go kaput in 6 months, show me those stories because I haven't seen it.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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I agree with the point that hutch1973 is trying to make about auto hubs and the common advice given to just replace them with manual hubs. Can auto hubs have issues? Yes, just like manual ones can, or any part on an old vehicle. If there is a problem with an auto hub, it just means that they just need to be cleaned or replaced. For normal 4wd use, there is nothing inherently wrong with an auto hub, and they offer a nice convenience. Some will consider converting to manual hubs to be worth the cost, but that does not make it the best or only advice to give about a problematic auto hub.
Dave
Dave
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Not looking to turn this into an argument at all.
So the last thing I'll say on this is that I've been reading this forum pretty steadily since March 2002. I've read tens of thousands of posts in here over the last 8 years. I've seen plenty of posts from people who have had their auto hubs fail, and I can't ever recall seeing one where manual hubs failed. The funny thing about hubs is that they only fail when you need them. They don't fail on you when you're driving home on a sunny day. It's only when you NEED the 4wd system that they suddenly stop working altogether and leave you stuck. And because of the open front differential, only one of them needs to fail to break the whole system.
The bottom line is that auto hubs are simply not as reliable as manual hubs. Put your own personal experience aside for a moment and do a search in this forum. See how many failed auto hub threads you find.
I would NEVER run auto hubs on a 96 or older truck if I cared at all about the 4wd system working when I need it to.
So the last thing I'll say on this is that I've been reading this forum pretty steadily since March 2002. I've read tens of thousands of posts in here over the last 8 years. I've seen plenty of posts from people who have had their auto hubs fail, and I can't ever recall seeing one where manual hubs failed. The funny thing about hubs is that they only fail when you need them. They don't fail on you when you're driving home on a sunny day. It's only when you NEED the 4wd system that they suddenly stop working altogether and leave you stuck. And because of the open front differential, only one of them needs to fail to break the whole system.
The bottom line is that auto hubs are simply not as reliable as manual hubs. Put your own personal experience aside for a moment and do a search in this forum. See how many failed auto hub threads you find.
I would NEVER run auto hubs on a 96 or older truck if I cared at all about the 4wd system working when I need it to.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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Ok, but consider the numbers. How many Ford trucks left the factory with auto front hubs. Hundreds of thousands? More? Now how many have been converted to aftermarket manual hubs? I would bet that it is an extremely small percentage. So yes, you would see tens of thousands of auto hub failures before you would see one manual hub failure, even if they had the same failure rate. That being said, the posts about auto hubs I have read often have at least one person complaining about their manual hubs.
As far as auto hubs failing when you need them - of course! When else would you notice that they have failed? Would you know that they are gummed up and not going to engage if you are only driving around in 2wd? Of course not. Would you notice that they did not engage if the mild dirt road you are driving down does not require 4wd anyway? No. Things that you use only when you need them will always fail when you need them. That has nothing to do with the frequency of the failure.
Dave
As far as auto hubs failing when you need them - of course! When else would you notice that they have failed? Would you know that they are gummed up and not going to engage if you are only driving around in 2wd? Of course not. Would you notice that they did not engage if the mild dirt road you are driving down does not require 4wd anyway? No. Things that you use only when you need them will always fail when you need them. That has nothing to do with the frequency of the failure.
Dave
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: southwest michigan
One problem with auto hubs is that the truck has to move some distance (usually a whole wheel turn, normally in a specific direction) in order for the hubs to engage or disengage. This might not be possible if the truck gets completely stuck before engaging 4WD..