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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 51
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4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
Sorry for the dumb question but I'm new to the whole 4x4 thing.
My 74 has the Spicer locking hubs, and I realized tonight that I have no idea how they work. When I put the transfer case into 4WD mode, do I have to lock the hubs to actually be using 4WD? Or do locking the hubs serve some other purpose? Thanks! ![]() |
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#2 |
Professional Grade
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Posts: 7,915
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
Yeah, locking the hubs locks your front wheels to your front axles, 4x4 doesn't work without
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1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap) |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 1,982
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
so does anything bad happen if you just leave the hubs locked with the t-case in 2hi on a daily basis? (not that ive done it.. just wondering..
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-1947 3100 -1968 C10 -1970 K20 |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 51
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
I was going to post the same thing, I'd like to know too
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#5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: glen burnie md
Posts: 447
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
I used to run my 86 durning the winer with the front hubs locked and then when I needed them I would just put the shifter into 4h and be on my way. I did not have any problems with it like that except I used more gas.
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#6 |
Professional Grade
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Posts: 7,915
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
Nope, I do it all the time with my trucks!
Only thing the hubs do is make a mechanical link between your wheel, and the axles that run back from your diff. leaving your hubs unlocked allows your wheels to turn without turning the diff, or the front driveshaft. Locking them in just makes your front driveshaft turn in speed with the rear, which can add some vibes if your front driveshaft isn't balanced. Also means the truck will be a bit tougher to steer, but it won't hurt anything as long as the vibes from the front driveshaft arn't too bad. I typically lock my hubs in if I know the roads are bad in some places, so I can come in and out of 4x4 at the pull of a lever without getting out of my truck, but leave them unlocked any other time as turning the front diff + driveshaft does have a noticeably negative impact on your mileage.
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1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap) |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Rubber City
Posts: 5,498
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
not to mention every GM, Ford, and Dodge truck that rolled off the assembly line in the 70's with a NP203 transfer case (full time 4 wd) all have drive flanges instead of locking hubs, which is basically like having hubs locked in all the time. it does not hurt anything.
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1969 GMC K2500 ![]() 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650 |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 1,982
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
allright well that answers it! thanks guys!
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-1947 3100 -1968 C10 -1970 K20 |
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#9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Victor, Montana
Posts: 386
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
The only time it hurts anything is when you pull up to the gas pump. It also causes a bit of extra wear on the moving parts. I have many miles on my 85 Chevy, so even though I do run to work at 60 mph with the hubs engaged, I try not to make a practice of it.
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04 4x4 GMC Ext. Cab lifted 71 2wd GMC / Ramjet 350 ready for sheet metal 49 Studebaker pickup |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 51
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
That's great to know. Since the weather has been unusally nasty up here in Washington lately, I was hoping I didn't have to get out of the car every time I wanted to use 4WD, so this is good to know that I won't hurt anything by leaving them on for a brief spell.
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#11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Spanish Springs, NV
Posts: 1,171
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![]() Quote:
HHHmmmm.... Am I on to something?? - Dave
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2003 Silverado K1500 Z71 - Arrival Blue 1973 K5 Cheyenne Blazer 350/TH350/NP203 Kids Trucks:92 K1500 Blazer 5.7/700R4 4" lift. RETIRED: 1980 Scottsdale 4x4 Founding Member: "TILT WHEEL BELLY." Club |
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#12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Spanish Springs, NV
Posts: 1,171
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![]() Quote:
HHHmmmm.... Am I on to something?? - Dave
__________________
2003 Silverado K1500 Z71 - Arrival Blue 1973 K5 Cheyenne Blazer 350/TH350/NP203 Kids Trucks:92 K1500 Blazer 5.7/700R4 4" lift. RETIRED: 1980 Scottsdale 4x4 Founding Member: "TILT WHEEL BELLY." Club |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 51
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
Heck, even something where you had to wire a button under the dash, where you could flip a switch would be AWESOME.
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#14 |
K5Camper
![]() Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pueblo, CO
Posts: 1,513
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
If you want something like that you got to get a 88-98 truck. IFS with the goofy thermal actuator for the front axle engaugement. They eliminated the hubs and put that crappy actuator in there that engauges the front axle when you shift into 4wd. Notorious for not engauging or dis-engauging at the wrong time.
The closest you are going to get to what you are thinking of, is the stock automatic hub. It's not perfect either. Me, in the last 4 weeks in CO, we have got 3 nice snow storms. I locked in the hubs and had just unlocked them the other day. Might have been a day premature because it's snowing again! Still, like others have said, having the hubs locked in while in 2wd will only kill mileage and add a little wear and tear to the front end. I think my previous owner must have left mine locked in all the time as my hub/wheel bearings were wiped down to the copper. It was an extreme case, but they looked like it was from a truck with a 203 full time case. I've found one of the previous owners was not to kind to my truck...
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Rob Z. 1975 K5 350/465/205/D44/12b 4" lift on 35's- RIP 1991 K5 8.1L/NV4500/241/D44/14b FWC Camper |
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Rubber City
Posts: 5,498
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
Quote:
IIRC warn used to make hubs called lock-o-matics and i believe they work how you describe. you don't see them too often, and are no longer made.
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1969 GMC K2500 ![]() 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650 |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Spanish Springs, NV
Posts: 1,171
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Re: 4WD with Hubs locked or not. What's the difference?
Now that you mention it, were'nt there Warn-O-Matics as well??
__________________
2003 Silverado K1500 Z71 - Arrival Blue 1973 K5 Cheyenne Blazer 350/TH350/NP203 Kids Trucks:92 K1500 Blazer 5.7/700R4 4" lift. RETIRED: 1980 Scottsdale 4x4 Founding Member: "TILT WHEEL BELLY." Club |
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