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While this is good advice, it's not a sure fix if one is acting up.
Extremely new to the concept of locking hubs
- Thread starter Ewhitaker0020
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While this is good advice, it's not a sure fix if one is acting up.
Blue Ox
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The auto hubs are pretty reliable as long as you maintain them and don't go rock crawling. The parts that handle the drive torque are all steel, the plastics are in the cams that engage them when the axle shaft starts to turn. One of the drawbacks is that they tend to disengage when you're coasting in reverse. Also if you shift from forward to reverse they will disengage and reengage which is when they're probably at risk for damage. It's also problematic if you need to rock yourself out of a stuck.
The only problem I've ever had with mine was using high temperature grease once that was too thick to allow the hubs to disengage in the cold. It led to a lot of thumping and buzzing after shifting out of four wheel drive. The problem with that was that there was no way to manually disengage them. Now I use synthetic grease, but it's not necessary to get that extreme.
I seem to remember somebody made a kit with magnets for the front driveshaft that would flash a light in the cab when the driveshaft turned so you would know if a hub was still locked. No idea if they still exist.
The only problem I've ever had with mine was using high temperature grease once that was too thick to allow the hubs to disengage in the cold. It led to a lot of thumping and buzzing after shifting out of four wheel drive. The problem with that was that there was no way to manually disengage them. Now I use synthetic grease, but it's not necessary to get that extreme.
I seem to remember somebody made a kit with magnets for the front driveshaft that would flash a light in the cab when the driveshaft turned so you would know if a hub was still locked. No idea if they still exist.
peats
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to bucket, agreed not a sure fix. he didnt say he was having problems, was simply waiting for them to fail and then replace them. not the direction i would take
RecklessWOT
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To me, the best part of 4wd is that I can send power to both axles if need be.
According to you, you'd be perfectly happy with the 4wd system in a chevy cavalier as long as you don't ever open the door when it's snowy.
It's not that hard, if you know you're about to drive down into the woods or a muddy field, put it in 4wd before hand. Same with the snow, if there's snow in the forecast lock them fuckers up, then you're good to go.
Auto hubs are "convenient" when they work good... but you have a truck that's over 30 years old, the more moving parts the more chance something can go wrong. The same reason I don't have auto hubs on my truck is the same reason I don't have an electronic face recognizing smartphone open the lock on my front door for me, when I want to go inside I don't want to fool around with something that may or may not work, I put a key in the door and unlock it. When I want 4wd I physically lock that axle with my hand so I know it will work. No ******** to go wrong.
Ewhitaker0020
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I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion. I'm just trying to learn, no reason to be condescending. I'm extremely happy with my 4wd because it has never let me down. Ever. Also every 4wd vehicle I've ever had has had automatic hubs and in 5 vehicles I've never had a problem. So you can understand why I wouldn't personally have a problem with automatic locking hubs.
I see some of the benefits of manual locking hubs now. So in the future I will probably upgrade, I just can't afford to now because we're putting all extra money towards getting out of debt.
Have a merry Christmas
shiftpro
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Good luck getting out of debt. That's the best thing you can do, for sure. Getting out of debt is even better than upgrading to decent locking hubs!
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pm'd you @Ewhitaker0020
RecklessWOT
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I'm not saying I don't understand why you like your auto hubs, that much is obvious. I wasn't being condescending in the least bit, I was more just poking fun at the fact that you said "The best part of a 4wd in my opinion is not having to get out of the truck" because that literally has nothing to do with 4x4, you can stay inside any car. I assume you meant in your opinion that's best part of having auto hubs, but that's not what you said so I saw an opportunity to make a little joke. I was just kidding around, lighten up dude.
And I'm sincerely glad that you've had good luck with automatic 4x4 systems, my experience has been quite the opposite. Must be nice lol. I have been hardcore let down multiple times by at least two different Chevys over the years (a couple times when I really needed it too). At the time one of them was only a 7 year old vehicle, I can only imagine how it would preform after 35 years.
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Ewhitaker0020
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I guess I took it a little too seriously. Yeah, I meant the best thing about auto hubs and not 4wd in general. The best thing about 4wd for me is the confidence it gives me to drive wherever I want. Which will eventually get me stuck.
