Sacredgroove
New member
do they make an air locking or cable locking system so i can lock the front hubs without getting out? thanks!
cj7 -tired of getting out to lock hubs...is there a mod?
- Thread starter Sacredgroove
- Start date
Maybe you could use one of the kits available to convert your jeep to the internally splined 1/2 ton truck style and combine that with some factory locking hubs from something like an F-150. I really have no idea, but I wouldn't trust an automatic hub.....especially an automatic hub that used the same design as the already weak factory hubs.
Tug-n-pull
New member
Take the wife and or a kid along. hehe tug :lol:
Utah_jeepster
Super Moderator
Auto locking hubs are still out there but I cant think of a reason why you would want to put them on.
When you engage 4HI the front axle turns and engages the auto locking hubs. You hope. to un-lock them you shift to 2HI and drive backwards 33 feet to unlock them...you pray that they do.
I cant count the times I have seen a front blown auto locking hub on a 4X4 in the sand dunes.
I know manual hubs are a pain in the arse...but stick with them. You know they are locked and when they are un-locked.
New rule for your Jeep: Co-Pilot gets out and lock's and un-locks the hubs.
When you engage 4HI the front axle turns and engages the auto locking hubs. You hope. to un-lock them you shift to 2HI and drive backwards 33 feet to unlock them...you pray that they do.
I cant count the times I have seen a front blown auto locking hub on a 4X4 in the sand dunes.
I know manual hubs are a pain in the arse...but stick with them. You know they are locked and when they are un-locked.
New rule for your Jeep: Co-Pilot gets out and lock's and un-locks the hubs.
phatyaspen
New member
So Utah are you telling me... that i will blow my automatic hubs if i dont back up after disengaging from 4hi/lo? I have never done this i always just put it in 2 hi and go...am i doing something wrong?
Cherokee won't start.
A buddy has a 77 CJ7 that has Warn "lock-o-matic" hubs on it. They lock in automatically when you go into 4wd, and you are supposed to get out and turn the dial manually if you are going into 4 low. Don't know how they work or if they are a good design or anything else. I was skeptical, but his 4wd worked with the tcase in 4hi and the dial on the hub not turned, and then he would always turn the dial and go to 4lo when pulling thier boat up the ramp. Gotta get 6 bolt hub if you wanna use them, and i've only seen one set on ebay in the last 6 months and they were in pretty bad shape.
A buddy has a 77 CJ7 that has Warn "lock-o-matic" hubs on it. They lock in automatically when you go into 4wd, and you are supposed to get out and turn the dial manually if you are going into 4 low. Don't know how they work or if they are a good design or anything else. I was skeptical, but his 4wd worked with the tcase in 4hi and the dial on the hub not turned, and then he would always turn the dial and go to 4lo when pulling thier boat up the ramp. Gotta get 6 bolt hub if you wanna use them, and i've only seen one set on ebay in the last 6 months and they were in pretty bad shape.
joejeepny
New member
You should not have to back up to unlock auto hubs. When you shift out of 4wd the torque applied from the axle is removed and the hub drops out. The problem is the hubs tend to drop in and out when you change direction such as rocking back and forth to get unstuck. This unlocking and locking under torque causes some smashing on the locking mechanism which can stress the metal and cause the hub to fail. Keep your manual hubs thier the best. I like the idea of the new rule. Passenger has hub detail.
Sacredgroove
New member
looks like im sticking with manuals 
and Utah,i love your idea!!! maybe ill make the rule the passenger locks/unlocks hubs and hooks up the chains when im stuck heheh
and Utah,i love your idea!!! maybe ill make the rule the passenger locks/unlocks hubs and hooks up the chains when im stuck heheh
Utah_jeepster
Super Moderator
Cant engage in grear
The only time I had to deal with auto hubs with my 92 S-10 & 98 dodge ram 1500.
Both set of instruction's said to disengage the auto hubs you have to go into 2hi and then revers for 33 feet. This allowed the internal threads to back out internal splines from the hubs. Thus un-locking them.
I.E. the same way was needed to engage them. you needed at least 33 feet of foward movment to engage them into the splines. I was told there lie's the fault with them when some one engages them in dire needs and applies too much foot to gas and the locking splines move outward to engage missing the spline slots and "blowing" the hub outwards.
As to your perticular hub Phat I would recomend that you read the owners manual on the hubs.
I thank DCP that they went with a live axle on the TJ's since getting out to lock the hubs did suck. Incidently it took less than 2 months for me to change over my Dodge to warn manual hubs and my old S-10 a few weeks...I never trusted auto-hubshaving seen too many blown out as it were.
phatyaspen said:
The only time I had to deal with auto hubs with my 92 S-10 & 98 dodge ram 1500.
Both set of instruction's said to disengage the auto hubs you have to go into 2hi and then revers for 33 feet. This allowed the internal threads to back out internal splines from the hubs. Thus un-locking them.
I.E. the same way was needed to engage them. you needed at least 33 feet of foward movment to engage them into the splines. I was told there lie's the fault with them when some one engages them in dire needs and applies too much foot to gas and the locking splines move outward to engage missing the spline slots and "blowing" the hub outwards.
As to your perticular hub Phat I would recomend that you read the owners manual on the hubs.
I thank DCP that they went with a live axle on the TJ's since getting out to lock the hubs did suck. Incidently it took less than 2 months for me to change over my Dodge to warn manual hubs and my old S-10 a few weeks...I never trusted auto-hubshaving seen too many blown out as it were.
Okay, have to ask the really obvious question here...
Are you really hurting anything by leaving them locked?
I normally leave them locked for most of winter and un-lock them for spring, or if the weather and roads are un-seasonably dry i might un-lock them.
That way, when i need the extra traction, I have it without having to get out. (like i did this weekend just to get out of the parking lot that got snowplowed in :lol
Are you really hurting anything by leaving them locked?
I normally leave them locked for most of winter and un-lock them for spring, or if the weather and roads are un-seasonably dry i might un-lock them.
That way, when i need the extra traction, I have it without having to get out. (like i did this weekend just to get out of the parking lot that got snowplowed in :lol
Who forgot the easiest fix? Do you really need hubs? Find someone that converted their Quadratrac cj to part time and take their drive flanges. These are also a good thing to take with you wheeling. If someone does blow a hub the are easy to bolt on and take up very little space. 8)
Bounty__Hunter
Super Moderator
Utah, didn't that S10 and Ram have a vacuum front axle disconnect similar to the YJ? That was my understanding, I know they used it on the S10 Blazer. That's what makes it 'shift on the fly' like the YJ.
BakedAlaskan
New member
Can I chime in?? I hate autos they don't survive real use. Utah is right about Sand dunes. I know there woes from Snow. "Gee I am slipping.... Push my push button 4x4, hmmmm still spinning?? "Slowly creep forward and WAAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!!" Hub on the snow!!! Nothing like them and they cost 2-400 buck per side for OEM replacments. KEWL!!!!
S10's and dodges did have vacuum systems that engaged the Axle at the Final drive in the pumpkin. Not External hubs. And it didn't matter whether you backed up or pampered it your S10 4x4 was gonna fail due to the worthless snap ring that held the engagment gear in place.
And driving around with your hubs locked all winter is perfectly fine as long as all things are greased up and in good condition. Doesn't hurt a thing just cost a bit more in power and fuel since you're now turning the axles shafts. No big whoop thats my normal winter habit.
S10's and dodges did have vacuum systems that engaged the Axle at the Final drive in the pumpkin. Not External hubs. And it didn't matter whether you backed up or pampered it your S10 4x4 was gonna fail due to the worthless snap ring that held the engagment gear in place.
And driving around with your hubs locked all winter is perfectly fine as long as all things are greased up and in good condition. Doesn't hurt a thing just cost a bit more in power and fuel since you're now turning the axles shafts. No big whoop thats my normal winter habit.
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