safe to drive my obs w/ the hubs locked?

85_305 · Dec 22, 2012

I've always been told its fine to do on another forum, but I was researching the other day and I found an interesting thread where the guy went all out and explained why driving ith the hubs locked on my OBS would destroy the axle and he went incredibly in depth on it.

I wish I could find that thread to show his post, but it would take forever on my phone to find.

So what's the concensus? Keep unlocked til I need 4wd? Or is it safe to prowl around w/ them locked all the time?

fordfreak4life · Dec 22, 2012

85_305 said:
I've always been told its fine to do on another forum, but I was researching the other day and I found an interesting thread where the guy went all out and explained why driving ith the hubs locked on my OBS would destroy the axle and he went incredibly in depth on it.

I wish I could find that thread to show his post, but it would take forever on my phone to find.

So what's the concensus? Keep unlocked til I need 4wd? Or is it safe to prowl around w/ them locked all the time?

Depends on the speed u will be prowling around at

Sent from my Milestone X2 using Tapatalk 2

Bobby@cp · Dec 22, 2012

What do the hubs in your obs have to do with the 7.3 tech section......

You do know there is a susspension and drivetrain section...

jngreen · Dec 22, 2012

85_305 said:
I've always been told its fine to do on another forum, but I was researching the other day and I found an interesting thread where the guy went all out and explained why driving ith the hubs locked on my OBS would destroy the axle and he went incredibly in depth on it.

I wish I could find that thread to show his post, but it would take forever on my phone to find.

So what's the concensus? Keep unlocked til I need 4wd? Or is it safe to prowl around w/ them locked all the time?

The other guy is an idiot. It is completely fine to drive around with the hubs locked in.

It is more rotating parts, which uses more fuel, and more wear and tear on u-joints and other parts. If everything is in good mechanical condition, it will be fine. If there happens to be a weak link, you will find it sooner by driving around with the hubs locked in.

You will also probably hear the u-joints and axle shafts make noise when turning at full lock, but its normal.

JD3020 · Dec 22, 2012

Yep, generally if there's any sort of snow on the roads i'll lock in the hubs and go. I've gone a week or two with the hubs locked, not gonna tear **** up and if he says it will he's a tard. We've even done 75-80 down the highway before with hubs locked on our way to Michigan pulling the sled trailer.

Now like jngreen said you'll hear some noise, i had my hubs locked this morning and there was a faint gear whine, and when you turn with both hubs locked it'll fight you some. But the only way you'll hurt it is by shifting into 4wd when you shouldn't.

cowboy_dan · Dec 22, 2012

I leave them unlocked unless I suspect I'm going to need 4x4. Less wear & tear that way (parts ain't cheap), and less fuel that way (fuel ain't cheap).

If you're prowling around town looking for someone to play around with, then go ahead and leave them locked. But be prepared to be replacing parts a bit sooner than you otherwise would. But that goes without saying if you think about what generally happens when you go out playing around in a truck.

Last winter (which was exceptionally mild) I think my hubs were locked for 4-6 days total. Once just because I was on damp grass & thin mud on a hill with parked cars around me.

Zmann · Dec 22, 2012

Agreed locked is fine

the guy that went into depth on why it was bad ,,,,, did He look like the guy on the left ?

85_305 · Dec 22, 2012

^ lmao!!!

I'll try to find that guys post, because he got very technical on why its bad to drive locked. I usually lock hubs in when snow starts, just so I can yank the lever when I nEed 4wheel. But his post got me worried that I shouldn't do it anymore.

dirtflinger92 · Dec 22, 2012

I lock them if I know I'm going to be using it. But driving with it locked does no harm at all

backwoodsboy · Dec 22, 2012

Only way I see it being an issue is if you have some sort of non-selectable locker up front.

Cat_rebel · Dec 23, 2012

Food for thought, you can't unlock a newer stock Dodge or chevy or jeep front end.

85_305 · Dec 23, 2012

^ that's very true Cat.. But don't they also have electronically locking hubs like the super dutys? In which case, they aren't locked until the vehicle detects slippage or the driver puts it into 4wheel right?

Cat_rebel · Dec 23, 2012

85_305 said:
^ that's very true Cat.. But don't they also have electronically locking hubs like the super dutys? In which case, they aren't locked until the vehicle detects slippage or the driver puts it into 4wheel right?

Watch the axle shafts on any Dodge or jeep next time it's coming at you going down the road. See if they are spinning or stationary. I know a few jeep guys that would pull their front driveshaft off in the summer & claimed to gain 1mpg. How true is that? I couldn't tell you because I've never really owned anything that wasn't 2wd or had manual locking hubs.

Here's a link to Dynatrac's website on their Dodge kit- Link

85_305 · Dec 23, 2012

^ interesting point. I appreciate the education on this bud.

Hotrodtractor · Dec 23, 2012

85_305 said:
^ that's very true Cat.. But don't they also have electronically locking hubs like the super dutys? In which case, they aren't locked until the vehicle detects slippage or the driver puts it into 4wheel right?

No they don't have any sort of selectable hub - the have an axle disconnect that unlocks the passenger side axle shaft inside of the front housing - the outers still spin - the front drive shaft doesn't because of the open front spool.

Zmann · Dec 23, 2012

85_305 said:
.. But don't they also have electronically locking hubs like the super dutys? in which case, they aren't locked until the vehicle detects slippage or the driver puts it into 4wheel right?

what superduty has Electronically locking front Hubs ?

85_305 · Dec 23, 2012

Zmann said:
what superduty has Electronically locking front Hubs ?

Starting with the 99 SD's til I'm not sure what generation/year they got the electronically controlled hubs with manual over-rides.

JD3020 · Dec 23, 2012

85_305 said:
Starting with the 99 SD's til I'm not sure what generation/year they got the electronically controlled hubs with manual over-rides.

Ummm no.....

SD's have vacuum hubs with manual lock-outs. Or at least thats how every SD i've been around is, and i've been around quite a few..

Bobby@cp · Dec 23, 2012

85_305 said:
Starting with the 99 SD's til I'm not sure what generation/year they got the electronically controlled hubs with manual over-rides.

Wrong......

Sent from the left lane with the hammer down...

85_305 · Dec 23, 2012

JD3020 said:
Ummm no.....

SD's have vacuum hubs with manual lock-outs. Or at least thats how every SD i've been around is, and i've been around quite a few..

So on your SD hubs it doesn't read "automatic" in one position, then manual in the next? Hmmmm.. We must be driving different trucks.