Manual hub unlock on the highway?
02-21-2011, 07:29 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Manual hub unlock on the highway?
Got lotsa snow last night, so I turned the hubs to 'lock' this morning to get out of the parking lot. worked great, had 4wd, got onto the streets which were plowed so i moved the t-case into 2wd, and just drove to work (40 miles highway)
got to work and parked, and went to unlock the hubs since i probably wouldnt need them on the way home, but they were already fully unlocked. left and right side.
why is this? is this normal? seems strange that they would automatically unlock on a manual hub
1990 3vze 5spd 4wd xcab
got to work and parked, and went to unlock the hubs since i probably wouldnt need them on the way home, but they were already fully unlocked. left and right side.
why is this? is this normal? seems strange that they would automatically unlock on a manual hub
1990 3vze 5spd 4wd xcab
02-21-2011, 07:56 AM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
02-21-2011, 08:24 AM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
what is the rule of thumb for driving on the highway with your hubs locked?
Ive had the same situation where i need 4x4 to get out of a parking lot or side street but once on the main roads i usually pull over to unlock the hubs before hitting the highway. Is that necessary?
Ive had the same situation where i need 4x4 to get out of a parking lot or side street but once on the main roads i usually pull over to unlock the hubs before hitting the highway. Is that necessary?
02-21-2011, 08:40 AM
#6
Contributing Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: COTKU,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
what is the rule of thumb for driving on the highway with your hubs locked?
Ive had the same situation where i need 4x4 to get out of a parking lot or side street but once on the main roads i usually pull over to unlock the hubs before hitting the highway. Is that necessary?
Ive had the same situation where i need 4x4 to get out of a parking lot or side street but once on the main roads i usually pull over to unlock the hubs before hitting the highway. Is that necessary?
by driving around with them locked you are basically giving yourself the ADD type system installed on later trucks...
So no you can leave them locked up... with my 87 I used to lock up in dec. and un lock in mar. more or less...
02-21-2011, 08:43 AM
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
can i damage components if the hub is flipping back and forth between locked and unlocked, due to the lack of ball/spring?
or does it automatically default to unlock after a while?
if the worst case scenario is the hub disengages, and i can just jump out to re turn the hub to lock, i wont worry about it for now.
or does it automatically default to unlock after a while?
if the worst case scenario is the hub disengages, and i can just jump out to re turn the hub to lock, i wont worry about it for now.
Trending Topics
02-21-2011, 10:15 AM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
02-21-2011, 03:51 PM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Leave em locked if there's a chance you might need 4wd. It will result in a little wear and tear but not as bad as sliding off and wrecking. With them locked you can shift in and out of 4wd on the fly. Like others mentioned if there is snow I lock them and don't unlock until the snow is gone.
02-21-2011, 10:00 PM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When l bought my truck, the front left hub spring was missing so l'm always driving around with them locked since l don't want to fry my diff by unlocking one. Does anyone have any aftermarket suppliers that they recommend to buy the springs from?
02-22-2011, 12:23 AM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Central Sierra Nevadas (Oakhurst)
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
I honestly don't lock them unless I really think I'm going to need 4wd. Even before I put an Aussie locker in the rear of my 'runner, there was very little that it wouldn't handle in 2wd. Now, with the locker, I only bother to lock my hubs if I am actually getting snowed on and it looks like I might need to shift into 4wd, or if I am hitting a trail. Ymmv. -MC
02-22-2011, 10:52 AM
#15
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Granbury, TX
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK you guys are talking above me and I have never driven anything that was not 4wd since I was 15 (39 yrs old now). How do your spring "fly out"? The hubs appear to be a sealed unit. I can understand springs wearing out like anything else but "fly out" if the hubs aren't locked in? Not calling BS here just trying to understand soemthing I thought I understood.
02-22-2011, 10:58 AM
#17
Registered User
02-22-2011, 11:51 AM
#18
Registered User
02-22-2011, 11:54 AM
#19
Registered User
i also live in colorado and travel over i70 often and keep it in 2wd all winter. 4wd is for wheeling and when you get stuck, it doesnt give you any more control driving. it just helps you start faster.
02-25-2011, 06:41 AM
#20
Contributing Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: COTKU,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you have the Aisins then go to the dealer.
