Temperature rises when manual hubs locked

[travis3113]

Hey,

I'm fairly new to the diesel world. I've noticed my transmission temperature rises about 45 degrees F when my manual hubs are locked in, whether I am in 4x4 or not. I don't even have to be driving hard, in fact I drive slower and it still climbs. I live in snow country so this isn't a good sign as I'd like to drive through the whole winter with the hubs locked in for convenience. I do believe that either my front wheel bearings or hub assemblies should be replaced because I can wiggle the tire and hear some rubbing at very slow speed and sharp cornering.. would this go hand in hand with the temperature rise or is this a separate problem?

thanks for the help folks

[LakiPolitis]

This isn't technically an answer, but you should replace your hubs because they are wiggling, and I would never drive with my hubs locked. I accidentally made a long road trip with the front right hub locked - it started sounding like chains dragging across the highway at speed. It's not good for your hubs to be locked an not engaged.

I would be concerned about that heat up, tho. Have you checked your trans fluid and your filter on the trans? Have you checked your diff fluid and gears up front? Even though everything is not engaged, everything is still spinning when your hubs are locked.

[JSchuricht]

Having your hubs locked is fine. Many people do it and many vehicles use flanges instead of lockouts so they are always engaged. You will have more stuff moving so there will be a loss of MPG.

With the transfer case in 2x, the front drive shaft is disconnected so whatever is causing your transmission to heat up is limited to the front axle. Try jacking up the front, and spinning the wheels both with and without the hubs locked. I am guessing something is dragging, possibly a bearing.

[Turbostang500]

X2. Sounds like something in the front end is causing excess drag. Most likely a bearing but it wont be a hub bearing. I am not saying your hub bearings are good, just that they always spin whether the hubs are in or not.

[JSchuricht]

Originally Posted by Turbostang500

X2. Sounds like something in the front end is causing excess drag. Most likely a bearing but it wont be a hub bearing. I am not saying your hub bearings are good, just that they always spin whether the hubs are in or not.

I was thinking the carrier bearing but I was waiting to see if both sides are stiff before making the assumption.

[Turbostang500]

Yeah I understand.
it could also be the axle yoke inside the hub dragging from a bad bearing.

OP needs to do some more diag! Lol

[travis3113]

Thanks for the responses.. I'm gonna take a look at it on Wednesday to see what I can figure out

[travis3113]

So after a complete front end inspection I found the following... the track bar is loose, right tie rod end is bent pretty good, the brake backing plates were rubbing the rotors, front drive shaft u joint is loose, the right axle seal is blown out and kinda hanging loose, and the left hub has evidence of water in it.... I rotated the tires and repaired the backing plates just for a start, but it looks like I'll be spending quite a bit of time and money on the front end now haha... that leveling kit and big tires is gonna have to wait!

thanks, hopefully this fixes the problem