Manual locking hubs

[milo55]

What are the advantages of manual locking hubs? I have them but hate having to get out and lock them so I can engage four wheel drive to get past a small snow patch in my driveway. Can I change these to auto?

[MDub707]

You could... probably going to find Ford OEM auto hubs to be quite pricey... which is why your truck probably has the the manual lockers on it now. The manual hubs are also made stronger and will hold better. I've been through a few sets of auto hubs on my other trucks, this truck doesn't have enough time on it yet, but I suspect I will one day replace these auto hubs with manual ones.

[jdc753]

As said above you can probably find em through a dealer I think they were offered, I just can't understand why. I can see auto hubs on an F150 or small suv and stuff light duty applications, but not on the heavier trucks. I was saddened when I found my truck and it had the silly electric shift transfer case (just another thing to fail) but it had manual hubs at least so I don't have to worry there.

Check the dealer they may have them, make sure you keep your old manual hubs though just incase the auto ones break, otherwise you'll be shelling out for warn hubs.

[Rkimmel]

I have the auto hubs on my '04 and this summer I will replace them with the manual ones My failed to engage a couple of times and when I tried to turn them from auto the lock I had to get a pair of channel locks to do it

[stevedunham]

Originally Posted by milo55

What are the advantages of manual locking hubs? I have them but hate having to get out and lock them so I can engage four wheel drive to get past a small snow patch in my driveway. Can I change these to auto?

Manual Hubs are typically stronger ( but not always ) than the stock factory auto locking hubs... My factory Ford hubs were fine as long as I ran stock tires but rapidly became light duty once I lifted the truck and started running oversize tires... I've grenaded 3 factory hubs since and replaced them with WARN 31 Spline Manual hubs and then again to WARN 35 Spline Manuals when I upgraded to the Dynatrac 35 spline axle shaft stubs kit... If you look at your factory hub intenals, there are parts in there made of plastic ...! If you look at the Premium WARN hubs, they are all steel... If you don't do much hard offroading and your pretty close to stock tire sizes, auto locks might be fine for your truck... However, I believe I paid $175 each for the Factory auto locking hubs... I also have a set I'll sell 'ya cheap if you really want 'em.. Send me a PM and we'll discuss if you are interested...