Locking Hubs

[rocktamer]

I have a 99 F250. It has automatic 4 wheel drive. I just popped off my hub caps to clean my rims and found that I have front locking hubs. What are these for if my 4x4 is auto? Also, how do I know which position is which?

[blue99stroker]

The hubs are ESOF or electronic switch on the fly. They should say lock on them and have arrows indicating position as well. over time the vacuum lines going to the hubs rot and you no longer have switch on the fly. at that point you have to get out and lock them manually.
this happened to me in the snow at 1 in the morning wasnt fun considering one of the hubs was frozen.
i since switched to warn manual hubs and capped the vacc lines
works like a charm now

[JSchuricht]

The automatic hubs had a auto and locked position for when the auto function failed.

[blue99stroker]

gotta love ford sometimes

[alradco]

I'm glad they're there. I had a vacuum leak so they wouldn't lock. Glad I could do it manually.

[rocktamer]

Atleast their looking out for us once, hope I don't need them but nice to know their there

[ZMANN]

and they are made by WARN

[douggalt]

I have a 99 and until last Christmas, I always wondered why, when I had a switch to turn on and off the four wheel drive, did I also have locking hubs. Well last Christmas I took the family up to a Christmas tree farm in the Sierras. I parked on a slight slope next to a car. When I went to leave, the ground was wet and slick. When I started to back up the rear of the pickup started sliding toward the car. I stopped, switched the 4x4 switch and again tried to back up. My truck again started sliding toward the car. Well as you may know it takes the front tires a little rolling before it will actually lock in. So I got out and for the first time manually locked the hubs. Put it in reverse and backed out without sliding. Now I know why they are there for me at least.

[mcyrana]

i had manual hubs that tore themselves into pieces and ripped my wheel bearing to shreds on my driver side. (factory ford hubs too) and the passenger side was locked up. i put the warn hubs on and they work beautifully.

i dont wanna post pics and hijack the thread