front hubs locked or free?

[kx592]

Sorry for such a dumb question but what exactly does the free and lock on the front hubs do. When do you switch them and what should they be at on road use only?

[fordmugg]

They should be on free when your driving on the highway and when you go off road and need 4x4 get out and turn them in the lock position and put the truck the 4 wheel drive

[MacDougall]

Yup, any time you put it in 4-wheel drive you need to get out and turn them to lock, if your in 2-wheel drive they should be in free.

[prdcustoms]

You know, I am new to Powerstrokes & Fords all together, but after reading this post, I just realized I have locking hubs! My 4 wheel drive does work, so I can assume they are locked. My mileage sucks, so maybe this is part of it? My question is that I cant see any lock, or unlock. To unlock them, do I turn them counter, or clockwise?

[kx592]

ok thanks guys, so what exactly does locking them do?

[MacDougall]

Originally Posted by prdcustoms

You know, I am new to Powerstrokes & Fords all together, but after reading this post, I just realized I have locking hubs! My 4 wheel drive does work, so I can assume they are locked. My mileage sucks, so maybe this is part of it? My question is that I cant see any lock, or unlock. To unlock them, do I turn them counter, or clockwise?

Im not sure which way to turn then but when you turn them to the "free" position it should feel like it locks into place, and when your turn it to the "lock" position it shouldnt feel like it locks if that helps at all. (This is what ive noticed with mine anywase)

[prdcustoms]

Originally Posted by MacDougall

Im not sure which way to turn then but when you turn them to the "free" position it should feel like it locks into place, and when your turn it to the "lock" position it shouldnt feel like it locks if that helps at all. (This is what ive noticed with mine anywase)

thank you

[marcortez]

There are arrows on the hub assembly that point to "locked" and "free"
Turn the dial until the arrow lines up with whatever selection you wish.
Locked hubs turn the front axle shaft..which in turn, turns the differential...free does not.

[rednekexprez]

Ok here goes...When you lock your hubs by turning the selector on the hub it is threaded and spring loaded,inside the hub...With the pressure of the spring pushing on the parts the splines will drop in place when the whell is rotated to line up the splines..Or if you are already stuck,the axle will rotate till the splines line up..Be very carefull if you are already stuck,ease into it till both hubs align and lock in place...When you unlock the hubs there is a smaller spring that pushes the splines back apart,when there is no rotating pressure left on them...Hope this helps...

[cowgirliemoe]

So I got stuck about a month ago. Put it in 4wheel and designated someone to lock and then unlock my hubs. Well despite them LOOKING like they were unlocking them, they did not. I've been driving around for a month with an unusual noise and just put 2 and 2 together.
Did I do any damage?? Everything feels okay now. . . .