Disable front hubs?

[Gregsenne]

I have automatic hubs on my front axle, and I want to disable them so the axle doesnt spin with the tire.
I cant take the hub assembly out because then I dont have anything to bolt the hub cover to to keep crap out of it. Can I just take that spring out?

Im building a new front axle right now, but want to drive the truck until I get the new axle done. Theres no fluid or pinion seal in the diff, and don't want to ruin it by it turning going down the road. The driveshaft is already off but I know the axle can spin a little with the tires spinning, which is what I'm trying to prevent.

Thanks!

[67swb72klb]

just buy a set of lock out hubs

[Gregsenne]

yeah i got a set of warn manual lockouts for the axle Im building, but they dont fit the axle shaft of this axle. It looks like my axle shaft is like 1/4" shorter, and I can't get the inner snap ring on. The outer snap ring goes on fine.
Im not buying a set of manual lockouts for this axle when Im building a new axle for the truck... just want to drive it (in 2wd) until the axle is done.
Thanks!

[406 Q-ship]

Why not just put some gear oil and a pinion seal in it so you can drive it till the new axle is done. That would be way cheaper than locking hubs and I don't think there is a way to disable the automatic hubs.

[Gregsenne]

thats probably what Ill do. I was just trying to save money on the seal and fluid.

[85burb]

What about removing the shafts?

[Gregsenne]

Ok I reinstalled my automatic hubs, and the diff. Yoke does not spin when each tire spins. After reading how the auto hubs work, they engage when torque is applied to the axle-side of the hub. So maybe I will be fine without fluid in the diff if the front driveshaft is not hooked up?

[Wrecked1982]

yeah the whole idea of auto hub is that they engage when power comes from the axle not from the wheel. its been invented so you dont have to get out to lock manual hubs. if you take the front drive shaft off they should not engage simply by rolling down the road. taking off the front drive shaft is assuming you got full time 4wd.surely someone has more knowledge than me on auto hub since i never liked them, never had them.

[Gregsenne]

Well I don't have full time 4wd, it has a NP205 and I can shift between 2 and 4wd. But the 80w90 gear oil in the transfer case is so thick that the front output of the transfer case still spins even when not engaged... Of course it doesn't have enough power to spin the wheels like this, but nonetheless, it will still spin the driveshaft, thus moving the parts in the differential. That 80w90 oil is some thick stuff!