auto lock hubs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

pimperout · 11-27-2007, 05:39 AM

hey well i havn't posted on here for quite some time but i have an 87 4x4 and i was wondering if there were any good auto lock hubs, im gettin tired of the old manual hubs. do u guys know of any good aftermarket auto locks? thanks for any replies

jake60 · 11-27-2007, 12:36 PM

You might look for a set of Warn Lock-O-Matic hubs. Warn quit making them some time back but you see them occasionally on eBay.

burnitdown612 · 11-27-2007, 03:50 PM

personally i would keep the manuals .. i have autos on my 87 and they have been nothing but trouble latelly .. they are only the oem silverado package ones but still the manuals are much more reliable.

jake60 · 11-27-2007, 04:50 PM

If you are interested in the Warn Lock-O-Matics, International Harvester used them as optional OEM equipment on their pickups. Those hubs do not have Warn stamped on them but has IH stamped on them but they were made by Warn. IH hubs are interchangable with GM.

Here's a photo of a set of Warn Lock-O-Matics for a Jeep that are presently listed on eBay....not my listing!

**special-K** · 11-28-2007, 08:13 AM

Lock-o-matics are weak in "auto" mode.Warn advises to "lock" for loads and compression braking.They fail to say why.I found out they can grenade when not in "lock" in any situation other than a quick need when rear tires will not get you by.4wheelin` in mud with rolling resistance put`s the same stress on a drivetrain as hauling a load.They are still great for their limited benefit if you can find some.I have one fairly unused one and parts of another from the second set after the first set grenaded.My score:Lock-O-Matics 3...Me 1.I just bought manuals and leave locked in if I know I`ll need off and on use,like patchy snow or an occasional mud hole in otherwise dry terrain.With manual or Lock-O-Matic hubs locked in you have "shift-on-fly" with better durability.
I have a set of factory auto hubs in working order off my`91 Suburban w/10-bolt axle I would sell.

**Zoomad75** · 11-28-2007, 11:37 AM

I'm with special K on this one. I wouldn't have the auto locking hubs on mine. If it's snowy or I'm headed off road, the hubs get locked in. I'll leave it in 2wd as long as possible and when 4wd is needed I'll shift into 4hi on the fly.

It sure beats gettinng stuck when I needed 4wd and the crappy auto lockers decided to quit or break at the wrong time.

If you must have auto locking hubs, I'd suggest stashing a pair of decent manual locking hubs in the truck and the tools to go change them. This way if an auto locking hub does quit, you can stuff a manual on it and get out of whatever stuck you got into. It's not a matter of "if" the auto locking hubs fail, it's WHEN will they fail. With my luck the "when" is at the worst possible time.

pimperout · 11-30-2007, 12:25 AM

ok ya i have asked around here and i have heard the same stuff thanks for the replies i dont think i will be getting those anytime soon

11-27-2007, 05:39 AM	#1
pimperout Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bow Island, AB, Canada Posts: 166	auto lock hubs hey well i havn't posted on here for quite some time but i have an 87 4x4 and i was wondering if there were any good auto lock hubs, im gettin tired of the old manual hubs. do u guys know of any good aftermarket auto locks? thanks for any replies __________________ ________________________ 68 chev K20 being converted to a cummins powered 70 GMC 4x4 09 jacked up mega cab (daily driver) 53 chev (someday project) 70 GMC (parts) 71 GMC (parts)

11-27-2007, 12:36 PM	#2
jake60 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buffalo Park Posts: 75	Re: auto lock hubs You might look for a set of Warn Lock-O-Matic hubs. Warn quit making them some time back but you see them occasionally on eBay. __________________ "Common sense is very uncommon" Rudyard Kipling

11-27-2007, 03:50 PM	#3
burnitdown612 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: windsor Posts: 21	Re: auto lock hubs personally i would keep the manuals .. i have autos on my 87 and they have been nothing but trouble latelly .. they are only the oem silverado package ones but still the manuals are much more reliable. __________________ 1987 k10 silverado 305/700r4

11-27-2007, 04:50 PM	#4
jake60 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buffalo Park Posts: 75	Re: auto lock hubs If you are interested in the Warn Lock-O-Matics, International Harvester used them as optional OEM equipment on their pickups. Those hubs do not have Warn stamped on them but has IH stamped on them but they were made by Warn. IH hubs are interchangable with GM. Here's a photo of a set of Warn Lock-O-Matics for a Jeep that are presently listed on eBay....not my listing! Attached Images __________________ "Common sense is very uncommon" Rudyard Kipling

11-28-2007, 08:13 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: auto lock hubs Lock-o-matics are weak in "auto" mode.Warn advises to "lock" for loads and compression braking.They fail to say why.I found out they can grenade when not in "lock" in any situation other than a quick need when rear tires will not get you by.4wheelin` in mud with rolling resistance put`s the same stress on a drivetrain as hauling a load.They are still great for their limited benefit if you can find some.I have one fairly unused one and parts of another from the second set after the first set grenaded.My score:Lock-O-Matics 3...Me 1.I just bought manuals and leave locked in if I know I`ll need off and on use,like patchy snow or an occasional mud hole in otherwise dry terrain.With manual or Lock-O-Matic hubs locked in you have "shift-on-fly" with better durability. I have a set of factory auto hubs in working order off my`91 Suburban w/10-bolt axle I would sell. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 11-28-2007 at 09:55 PM. Reason: sp:Warm hubs,lol

11-28-2007, 11:37 AM	#6
Zoomad75 K5Camper Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 1,513	Re: auto lock hubs I'm with special K on this one. I wouldn't have the auto locking hubs on mine. If it's snowy or I'm headed off road, the hubs get locked in. I'll leave it in 2wd as long as possible and when 4wd is needed I'll shift into 4hi on the fly. It sure beats gettinng stuck when I needed 4wd and the crappy auto lockers decided to quit or break at the wrong time. If you must have auto locking hubs, I'd suggest stashing a pair of decent manual locking hubs in the truck and the tools to go change them. This way if an auto locking hub does quit, you can stuff a manual on it and get out of whatever stuck you got into. It's not a matter of "if" the auto locking hubs fail, it's WHEN will they fail. With my luck the "when" is at the worst possible time. __________________ 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

11-30-2007, 12:25 AM	#7
pimperout Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bow Island, AB, Canada Posts: 166	Re: auto lock hubs ok ya i have asked around here and i have heard the same stuff thanks for the replies i dont think i will be getting those anytime soon __________________ ________________________ 68 chev K20 being converted to a cummins powered 70 GMC 4x4 09 jacked up mega cab (daily driver) 53 chev (someday project) 70 GMC (parts) 71 GMC (parts)



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