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Auto Locking Hubs explanation

129147 Views 24 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  97_7.3_4X4
Ok Ive gone through a lot of threads here and cannot find an answer to my question.

I have a 2001 F250 7.3 Diesel. I just replaced both auto locking hubs and wheel bearings. All tested fine and according to my mechanic, all is working normally. I want to know if 4WD low engagement is the same as getting out of your truck and locking the hubs manually. If I have my hubs in the "auto" position, why do I still have to get out and rotate the hubs into manual. Some people are telling me that because of limited slip differential that I dont have full 4WD until I get out and change the hubs to manual. So my question is why have auto locking hubs if I still have to manually change the hubs.

It seems like I have half 4WD until I lock the hubs myself. Then its great. I've gotten stuck in snow many times thinking I have engaged 4WD when I haven't.
Its frustrating when everyone with 4WD is just plowing past you.

Thx anyone

wopr21
1 - 1 of 25 Posts
from what i am starting to learn also about mine is this, you can manually lock the hubs but have the switch inside the truck in 2wd then when you do need the 4wd there already locked and the 4wd will just engage, i think the word auto is a neutral setting so they spin free all the time, ie less binding and not having the front axle locked in all the time for better mpgs.... then when they are engaged there fully locked in 4wd
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