How far can I go with hubs locked

[Vetteman61]

I am about to install manual hubs on my 87 K5. I have no experience with this type of hub.
How long is it safe to drive with the vehicle in 2 wheel drive and the hubs engaged. If I knew I were about to hit a trail 2 or 3 miles down the road, could I go ahead and lock the hubs in and drive there so I wouldn't have to get out again?
How far is it safe to drive with the hubs locked in. Obviously not to leave them in, but sometimes we may off road in a location and then drive across town to another persons property.
Often times we also play a game of off-road hide and go seek with CB radios around town, and it would be much easier to leave the hubs locked in so when each off road situation comes up, I don't have to get out 10 times.

Thanks,
Brandon

 

[WJACKSON11X]

Are you locked up front or do you have an open diff? A little excessive wear on ujoints and other driveline parts, but nothing to worry about if you don't do it all the time. Basically the front gears, driveshaft, and axleshafts will be spinning with the hubs. If you have a locker up front, then you will notice steering not so pleasant.

 

[Fabrimacator21]

It's defenitly not gonna hurt anything... I've seen guys drive around for weeks with them locked. Might make turning a little harder though.

 

[Ned Kelly]

You can leave the hubs locked and drive in 2wd with no problem. Many people in snowy areas drive w/hubs locked, and only put in 4wd when needed, then back into 2wd. I've done it alot for 20yrs with no prolem in my K30. The only time I want to make sure the hubs are unlocked is if I go on the highway. However, In the winter I've driven on the highway with hubs locked. I've even shifted into 2wd to 4wd HIGH when on the move. I get off the gas, let the truck coast, and shift in and out of 2wd to 4wd back to 2wd, etc.. Usually I'm not doing more than 20mph when do this. Never had a problem. So to answer your question, yes it's ok.

 

[82355]

My old man is lazy. He NEVER unlocks his on his old Ford. You aren't going to hurt anything.

Martin

 

[Jason4x4]

you can wear parts though, like spindle bearings.

 

[82355]

you can wear parts though, like spindle bearings.

He was curious about driving a couple of miles. Not eternally like my lazy old man. I always use to unlock them, and he would get mad at me.

Martin

 

[Vetteman61]

cool

cool, thanks guys, that's what I was hoping to hear. I was afraid I'd have to get out and turn hubs every time I wanted to drive into a new field then back onto the road. That's a big relief.
Now all I've got to do is figure out how to put them in. I've done a search for manual hubs on the site and I'm pretty sure I can figure it out. It seems it'd be pretty simple

 

[four_by_ken]

Now all I've got to do is figure out how to put them in. I've done a search for manual hubs on the site and I'm pretty sure I can figure it out. It seems it'd be pretty simple

Very easy. Once you start taking it apart... it will all go back together pretty easy.

 

[6.2Blazer]

You will cause a very small amount of additional wear on certain parts, but nothing you will ever notice if you do it occassionally as you explained. If you locked the hubs in and never unlocked them I can see where parts might be worn out and need replaced at 70,000 miles vs. 80,000 miles, but that it not really that significant.

Keep in mind that a LOT of 4wd trucks rolled off the assembly line with no locking hubs, all the way from back to the WWII Jeeps, a lot of '70s-early 80's trucks (fulltime 4wd), and a lot of the newer models (Chevy/GM hasn't used selectable locking hubs since they went to the IFS drivetrain in the '88-'91 timeframe).