anyone with locking hubs?

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WildcatHemi

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i had these on my old 4runner years ago and it was nice not having the front end spinning all the time. of course having to get out and lock the hubs was a pain.

has anyone put these on your 1500? any difference in drivability or mpg?
 

kurek

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4wd 1500's and nearly every other (rear-wheel-drive platform) 4wd made in the modern era has something called the Center Axle Disconnect. This is a splined sleeve which connects or disconnects the front differential from whichever tire is on the opposite side of the vehicle. The differential is permanently linked on one side to the nearest tire via CV axle, then there is a stub shaft from the other side of the differential to the Center Axle Disconnect, then a flanged center axle which connects to the opposite side CV axle.

When the disconnect is engaged the front axle behaves like a conventional front axle with the hubs locked. This means that when the wheels are rolling on the ground the front driveshaft and the bottom half of the transfer case have to also be turning because everything is engaged.

When the disconnect is disconnected you can let the wheels roll on the ground and if the transfer case is in 2wd then the front ring and pinion, front driveshaft and the bottom half of the transfer case will be stationary. This produces besically the same result as disconnecting hubs on old 4wd vehicles.

It's probably worth mentioning that Ford Raptor uses servo actuated hubs that lock and unlock - this is because of the torsen front differential it's impossible to use a center axle disconnect with that to produce the same result.
 
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Gr8bawana

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Yeah I used to have manual locking hubs on my 1974 Chevy. Sadly those days are never coming back. Our trucks have been turned into ******-mobiles because people want all the modern conveniences and cushy-ness of luxury vehicles.
The thought of actually having to get out of the truck and locking the hubs would send some people into convulsions. :favorites68:
 

kurek

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:birgits_tiredcoffee and how often have you seen people break their CAD ?
 

WireEd

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Kurek is right. You would need to swap out your whole axle to one that has no internal disconnect to be able to use lockouts. I'm a jeep cj guy from way back so i know those lockout hubs well. I have also never seen a wheel hub last very long as they are very susceptible to water, slurry and water/snow/ice intrusion. I would have to remove and rebuild them on a regular basis. I was always jealous of the live axle guys that did not have them. There is a reason why the OEM's have moved past them!!

You could go with a live axle that spins all the time, but you would need some type of disconnect transfer case (ie clutch pack or differential style)
 

czervika

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Please see;

 

DRB1971

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So in essence, when I am in 2 wheel drive my front axel behaves like an old school unlocked hub and there is no turning of drive shaft and transfer case. When I am in 4 wheel drive, power is supplied to one wheel because I don't have a locker on it?

If I were to put locking hubs on the front, it would make no difference?
 

Thepewpew

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So in essence, when I am in 2 wheel drive my front axel behaves like an old school unlocked hub and there is no turning of drive shaft and transfer case.
Correct
When I am in 4 wheel drive, power is supplied to one wheel because I don't have a locker on it?
Power is supplied to four wheels. On each axle, in the case of an open diff, if a wheel loses traction then power is applied to one wheel because no locker.
If I were to put locking hubs on the front, it would make no difference?
Unsure of the answer, can't help here.
 

kurek

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So in essence, when I am in 2 wheel drive my front axel behaves like an old school unlocked hub and there is no turning of drive shaft and transfer case.

Yes. Instead of putting two "locking hubs" at the hub there's one equivalent locking assembly in the center axle assembly.

When I am in 4 wheel drive, power is supplied to one wheel because I don't have a locker on it?

No. Both front wheels receive power when you are in 4wd just like any conventional 4x4. The Center Axle Disconnect is unrelated to a differential locker.

If I were to put locking hubs on the front, it would make no difference?

It would make no difference and provide no advantage.

The only exception to that is if you also installed a limited slip differential in the front axle at the same time because those don't play well with single point disconnects.
 
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