My 87 blazer has warn manual locking hubs. I imagine someone added these. What is the advantage? I've noticed the blazers in the junk yards are automatic hubs. Personally I don't like getting out and locking my hubs in order to put in in 4 wheel drive.
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Why locking hubs?
- Thread starter nsxxtreme
- Start date
Auto locking hubs usually leave you stranded when they either don't lock when you need them or come unlocked when you really need them. Enough said, swap autos for manuals ASAP.
pauly383
Daddy383
x2
Besides , getting out and locking them in is a rite of passage , its the throwback to another time before all the cushy ride trucks were created and trails were harder and the tires smaller
Besides , getting out and locking them in is a rite of passage , its the throwback to another time before all the cushy ride trucks were created and trails were harder and the tires smaller
If you don't like getting out to lock them just leave them locked and then just use your t-case to get back to 2WD, the only thing is this puts constant stress on the axle joints and hubs since they are locked when you don't need them.
rollin36s
1/2 ton status
dont be lazy.....
I wouldn't mind it so much if I didn't use 4 wheel drive all the time. When pulling the boat out of the water I switch it into 4 wheel drive so that I dont do a burnout all the way up the boat ramp. Its just annoying since Its only in 4 wheel drive for maybe 5 min.
I might switch them back to autos if I keep this truck.
I might switch them back to autos if I keep this truck.
Someone took them off for a reason, they're prone to failure. Both sets that I've had would try to engage while doin' 70mph on the highway. There's no way I would ever go back to auto hubs.
The reason they were invented is pretty much for folks like you who didn't use 4x4 for offroading and other harder things and only needed it from time to time for short jaunts.
The problem is GM sorta **** the bed on the design and it isn't durable or strong. They fail on stock trucks that have lead cushy lives. Add twenty years of no maintenance and yeah, you'll be lucky if you find a set that works correctly let alone doesn't cause damage or issues.
As far as the boat goes...most folks I know just put it in 4lo with the front unlocked and tug it out that way.
The problem is GM sorta **** the bed on the design and it isn't durable or strong. They fail on stock trucks that have lead cushy lives. Add twenty years of no maintenance and yeah, you'll be lucky if you find a set that works correctly let alone doesn't cause damage or issues.
As far as the boat goes...most folks I know just put it in 4lo with the front unlocked and tug it out that way.
Auto's suck. I blew up a set on my old 10 bolt. I dont like my driveline and axles spinning when they dont need to be.
odin
1/2 ton status
This is one of those...if you have to ask you wouldnt understand...type of questions.
Can Can
Pusher Man
Don't believe the haters, brother.........
For all the bad press auto lockers have received, the ones on my 84 K5 worked flawlessly for over 150k miles and 15 years. And I actually used my 4x4 on a regular basis 5 months of the year.
That being said, installing manual hubs is a cheap and easy swap, and does eliminate another potential weak point.
For all the bad press auto lockers have received, the ones on my 84 K5 worked flawlessly for over 150k miles and 15 years. And I actually used my 4x4 on a regular basis 5 months of the year.
That being said, installing manual hubs is a cheap and easy swap, and does eliminate another potential weak point.
jonathon
1/2 ton status
Mine worked on my Suburban.. I swapped in Warn Premiums though. I had enough headaches with Ranger's auto hubs to know the manuals were worth the peace of mind.
sandawgk5
3/4 ton status
You could always run driveslugs and have the best of both worlds. Strong and catered to the lazy
Dik
Dik
thats the avenue I'm taking... thinking about getting the poly's.....
Have no idea what your talking about care to explain?You could always run driveslugs and have the best of both worlds. Strong and catered to the lazy
Dik
I don't do any heavy wheeling. I use the truck to tow my boat and to take the dirt bikes out. So the only real off roading it will see is the trail going to and from where I ride.
Does anyone make a better set of auto locking hubs?
Warn premiums are the best for 10 bolts... auto sux....
these are slugs....
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PR-BV60/index3.html
these are slugs....
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PR-BV60/index3.html
Drive flanges are full time hubs.
Nobody makes a better set of auto hubs.
If you don't want to lock/unlock your hubs, just lock them in and forget about it.
Randy92782
1 ton status
I have the autos on my 83. Will probably leave it for the time being but will buy a set of premiuims soon enough. The truck doesn't get that used anyways anymore
I'm one of the ones that had my auto hubs fail. Don't do anything anyone would call hardcore, but for the whopping two weeks out of the year that I might need my front axle doing some work, they happened to fail when I needed them to pull me up an embankment on a creek ford.
No idea what their life had been prior, but they were immediately pulled and swapped for manuals. It's not much effort to lock them in.
Second the idea to use 4 low with the hubs unlocked if you haven't tried already. Also makes backing up with a trailer easier.
No idea what their life had been prior, but they were immediately pulled and swapped for manuals. It's not much effort to lock them in.
Second the idea to use 4 low with the hubs unlocked if you haven't tried already. Also makes backing up with a trailer easier.
The auto hubs failed on my '90 (wouldn't stay locked in) when it had maybe 70k on it. A friend of mine also had the auto hubs fail on his older Ford in a middle of a bad snowstorm this year.
It takes 30 seconds to lock in the hubs, it takes longer to get the boat ready to launch or secure it on the trailer after taking it out of the water
It takes 30 seconds to lock in the hubs, it takes longer to get the boat ready to launch or secure it on the trailer after taking it out of the water
