AUTO HUBS VS. MANUAL???

[broncojoe90]

Hey everyone, i have a 90'xlt with manual hubs. Is it a big deal to switch it back to auto hubs? Which is better? thanx for any info

 

[Burns]

Everyone I've known has gone FROM auto TO manual hubs. For me, it"s durability and selectibility. If I don't want them locked and winding up my t-case or trans, then I can press the button all I want and the front axle won't do anything. Plus, the Warn manual's have a great warrenty; lifetime. You can't beat that.

 

[Roadkill]

The switch manual to auto would be just as simple as the other way around, provided you can find all the parts. (there are more parts to the auto setup and the autos made by Warn use a different spindle nut and locknut than the manuals) I can't seem to find any auto-hubs on the internet right now, but when I replaced my broken autos with Warn premiums about 3 years ago, the autos were over $200 each while my Warn Premiums + spindle nut kit were about $100 for everything.

Personaly, I agree with what Burns said for the same reasons.

 

[EvlFaust]

Your best bet for finding decent priced auto hubs will be at a junk yard, new auto parts are hard to find and when you do find them they are expensive. Unless you are in a situation where you are constantly going from 2x to 4x and getting out to lock the hubs would be a pain, then I would suggest staying with manual hubs. Manual hubs are stronger in general plus they are much more dependable in the fact that they rarely fail.

 

[wileec]

Unless you are in a situation where you are constantly going from 2x to 4x and getting out to lock the hubs would be a pain, then I would suggest staying with manual hubs.

If you are changing alot just leave the manual hubs locked. I am likly to have mine locked anytime there is snow n the ground but only use the 4 wheel drive occasionaly. There is NO need to unlock the hubs everytime, very minor milage differance and no real wear differance.

 

[Roadkill]

Wileec's right, whenever I air down, I lock the hubs but I don't use 4WD the entire time I'm off the pavement. Likewise when I travel to a snowy place, with mixed ice/snow/dry road conditions such as when I visit my parents in KY in the wintertime, I just leave them locked and use 4WD as needed. The manuals are way better (just my opinion) because they are cheaper, fewer moving parts, and stronger.

Edit:

Fixed typo. Meant to say manuals are better!

 

[wileec]

Wileec's right, whenever I air down, I lock the hubs but I don't use 4WD the entire time I'm off the pavement. Likewise when I travel to a snowy place, with mixed ice/snow/dry road conditions such as when I visit my parents in KY in the wintertime, I just leave them locked and use 4WD as needed. The autos are way better (just my opinion) because they are cheaper, fewer moving parts, and stronger.

I think you ment manuals the autos are nuts expencive.

 

[Roadkill]

I think you ment manuals the autos are nuts expencive.

Thanks for catching that. I did mean to say manuals are better. Expensive is right, each one costs as much as two manuals with conversion kit.

 

[Burns]

$100 is so much better than $400, because that's $300 more to add on somewhere else ^_^ /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> I'd rather have to get out of my truck when I hit dirt than to have one of the auto's get stuck in the "locked postition" when you go to disengage. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Plus, the Ford factory manual's are pretty beastly. Quite a few of the trucks I've seen lifted and hardcored still have 'em. They go to Warn's AFTER they smash 'em up. )