Leaving front hubs always locked
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: poughkeepsie ny
Leaving front hubs always locked
Hi folks. Was wondering with the manual 4wd system, is it necessary to unlock the hubs when you're not using the 4wd? Will any damage or loss of fuel economy occur if one just leaves the manual hubs always locked and simply enage the 4WD from inside the truck when one needs it? I imagine there must be some downside to doing it this way, or Ford woulda just left the hubs locked from the factory.
Thanx for any help.
Thanx for any help.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Leaving front hubs always locked
With the hubs locked you will lose mileage, increase wear and have more noise and vibration. I believe Ford and the Ford Truck Bible both recommend against leaving the hubs locked un-necessarily.
Unless you live where you might need 4X4 at any moment, I would leave the hubs unlocked until you thought you might need it. For example, I only lock hubs on days when I expect snow. If you do encounter snow or other reasons for 4X4, you can engage the system below about 35mph. I like to stick it in neutral for a second and slip it into 4WD below 35.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Unless you live where you might need 4X4 at any moment, I would leave the hubs unlocked until you thought you might need it. For example, I only lock hubs on days when I expect snow. If you do encounter snow or other reasons for 4X4, you can engage the system below about 35mph. I like to stick it in neutral for a second and slip it into 4WD below 35.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 16
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Leaving front hubs always locked
I used to leave my hubs locked in untill I was sitting just about sideways looking at the sky climbing this rock hil when they went out on me. It was an interesting experience, I recommend that you leave then unlocked untill you need them.
Fat Kid
Fat Kid
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
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From: Topsfield, MA
Leaving front hubs always locked
It won't hurt anything, but it will just make the whole front axle spin which will increase wear. Like the others, I just lock the hubs when I know I might need 4wd on the trip. I have manual hubs and a manual shifter, with the hubs locked you can shift on the fly at any time as long as all 4 tires are spinning at the same speed (IE your not flooring it and spinning the rear tires out).
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