LOCK or FREE?! HUB Help

[anthony02tolson]

So I have had my 08 superduty for about 4k miles now. Lariot 4x4 off road edition. 4X4 shifter on the floor. Have used the 4x4 on a few launches and that's it. Well I just noticed today my front hubs have been locked since I bought it. I turned them to free as soon as I noticed. Could I have hurt anything running them in locked for so long? Also will I need to get out and lock them whenever I wanna use 4 high? Thanks a ton.
Anthony.

 

[907DAVE]

Just a little extra wear and tear on the front drivetrain and slightly worse fuel economy, but absolutely nothing to worry about. Heck, Ford is the only one left that gives you the option to unlock the front end.

And yes, they need to be locked in for 4X4 to function.

 

[PsRumors]

Shouldn't have hurt anything crept maybe fuel mileage.

And yes, to use 4wd you will have to lock 'em

 

[powerstrokin15]

i thought in "free" they were like the auto function. they kicked in when you engaged 4wd automatically..? and lock would mean the hubs were engaged regardless 2wd or 4wd

 

[Atsah]

i thought in "free" they were like the auto function. they kicked in when you engaged 4wd automatically..? and lock would mean the hubs were engaged regardless 2wd or 4wd

That is the way my 6.0 was.. It said "auto" and "lock" but I had the switch on the dash not the handle on the floor so it could be different..IDK

 

[powerstrokin15]

That is the way my 6.0 was.. It said "auto" and "lock" but I had the switch on the dash not the handle on the floor so it could be different..IDK

mine was the same way.. ive never actually even looked at my 6.4, just assumed it was the same LOL and ive used 4wd a ton

but on edit i see he meant floor shifter :doh: sorry... i need to read the whole thing

 

[8luggin]

Is there any aftermarket hubs available?

 

[SICKS LITER]

you can leave them locked if you want. it will just hurt fuel mileage a little and add wear / tear on the front end.

 

[anthony02tolson]

Thanks guys! Appreciate it. Sorta Sux if I were to get stuck I would have to get out and lock my hubs but oh well. Nbd

 

[duddy]

is there a way to set up a switch to use the front locks like a electric shift tcase?:shrug:

 

[co04cobra]

Holy **** guys. Its just a plain old set of lock in/ lock out set of hubs. They are 10 times better hubs then the auto/lock ones. If you have a esof t-case somebody probably switched them out to straight lock outs b/c the other ones are junk.

I think that it is great that ford still offers this. It helps with fuel mileage and you have a 2wd lo range option.


If you are going somewhere that you MIGHT get stuck lock them in before you leave. Otherwise just run them unlocked.

 

[Dzchey21]

Holy **** guys. Its just a plain old set of lock in/ lock out set of hubs. They are 10 times better hubs then the auto/lock ones. If you have a esof t-case somebody probably switched them out to straight lock outs b/c the other ones are junk.

I think that it is great that ford still offers this. It helps with fuel mileage and you have a 2wd lo range option.


If you are going somewhere that you MIGHT get stuck lock them in before you leave. Otherwise just run them unlocked.

Actually they are the same hubs only difference is there is a vacuum diaphragm on the front side of the hub when set in auto or unlock the vacuum actuator pulls the hub into locked. Bad part is any sort of vacuum leak or debris in the hub can cause the hub to.not fully.enguage causing damage.

I have made one good hub out of two bad hubs one was an.auto hub and one was a manual hub.

 

[co04cobra]

From what I have seen on the auto ones when they fail they start running the front axle. Have you had this experience on this style hub? On the manual hub when its locked out it cant run the front axle. Seem right?

 

[Dzchey21]

From what I have seen on the auto ones when they fail they start running the front axle. Have you had this experience on this style hub? On the manual hub when its locked out it cant run the front axle. Seem right?

They are literally the same hub minus the diaphragm. Mine always explode the gear but never hurts much. Actually must if the time the hub won't unlock but seams to grab just fine when you need it. After time tho they will start making noise.

 

[A.thoma]

you dont have to get out if they are in auto it locks in after 1/4 of a rotation if you lock in the hubs they are automatically locked in if your stuck stuck

 

[Worstenemy453]

you dont have to get out if they are in auto it locks in after 1/4 of a rotation if you lock in the hubs they are automatically locked in if your stuck stuck

Ok what ?


Anyway, i have always left manual hubs locked in on Fords during the winter, and most of the time during the summer, never had any issues what so ever.

My 86 F250 had them locked 75% of the time, my blue 89 F150 had them locked 75% of the time and my black 89 F150 had them locked 99% of the time. Ford knows how to make hubs.

 

[8inchstroker]

I prefer the hubs to been locking/unlocking.......kinda ol skewl compared to the other trucks/cars.(GM/DODGE)

DRUNK FINGERED FROM DROIDX

 

[sledfreak]

Is there a way you can grease these front hubs to keep them turning.

 

[Erikclaw]

Is there a way you can grease these front hubs to keep them turning.

That is pretty much how I fixed mine when they didn't auto lock. Took them apart, greased everything and put some grease on the o-rings.

After reading the rest of these comments, I still think I will go the manual locking route and the Dyna track free spin conversion. I hate having a vacuum line controlling if it locks or not.

 

[Ford diesel girl]

http://www.warn.com/truck/hubs/premium_hubs.shtml

These are what a lot of my friends have used. My truck does like the others said; engage 4x4 and in a 1/4 turn of the tires it will automatically engage. I typically leave them free, but to prevent them from being impossible to turn, I will lock them every once in awhile for a few hundred miles.