Manual Hubs

[JBronco]

Hey guys this may sound a bit like a dumb question but i want to make sure im doing this right so i dont ***** something up. I have an 88 Bronco with manual hubs for the 4x4. My question is what is the prosecdure dor putting it in 4x4, the way i have been doing it is first, lock in the hubs then putting it in 4H or 4L but i have been told different things about having to put truck in neutral before locking the hubs and also i have been told to put truck in neutral befor pulling on the stick to put it in 4x4. If some one could please break this down barney style for me so i undestand the proper way to use my 4x4 in 4H and 4L it would help me greatly thanks for reading.

 

[Streetgang44]

I aint 100% sure, but logic and experience tell me that you would first lock the hubs.....then (as I always did with my Broncos with manual 4WD lever) stop the (it should be stopped already if you outside locking the hubs :huh: ) then shift the transfer case into 4HI. When you are back on blacktop.....stop the truck, shift the T-case back into 2HI, then get out and unlock the hubs.

I do the same thing with my dash mounted electric shift T-case, and Warn Premium manual hubs.

 

[avp12304]

to put it in 4low u gotta have it in neutral but not for 4 high

 

[Broncoholics]

It shouldn't matter what you do first as long as you engage both. The hubs will engage as soon as you move forward. The shifter might be hard to shift because there is pressure on the gears in the t-case. Sometimes putting it in nutral helps releave the pressure or you can add gas and just as you let off you feel the pressure release you can then shift it to Low.

 

[KCMav713]

I had a question as well. This may be an old wives tale, but after shifting out of 4x4, do you have to put the vehicle in reverse for like 10 ft, then it fully disengages?

 

[Justshootme84]

That's for the automatic hubs only. You also need about 10 ft. to engage them into 4wd, as there is some lag time. Manual hubs are locked or unlocked the moment you turn the dial. And if you are going in and out of 4Hi, you can leave the manuals engaged until you are done 4wheelin'.

 

[Guest_B-Cack_*]

OK, here is another old addage I suppose: Will it hurt anything, gas mileage included if you drive on blacktop with your manual hubs locked? Always wondered that, I learned a LONG time ago that as soon as my Bronco hits dirt road, the hubs go into the locked position, and sometimes I leave them that way if it looks like the trip home might take me through some snow coverd roads..... never seemed to do any harm though?

 

[Seabronc]

1. It will not hurt to have the hubs engaged and in 2WD while driving. Yes, you will lose a little in gas milage because of the drag of the components. I wouldn't recommend a lot of high speed long distance driving with them engaged as that puts a lot of wear and tear on the drive train components.

2. Once you put your manual hubs in the lock position they will engage if not immediately within less than one rev of the tire.

3. when you put them in free, they will disengage almost immediately. On occasion I have had to put it in reverse for less than 6 inches to help them disengage. That only takes the pressure off the splines and lets them pop out easier.

4. You should have a sticker on your driverside visor which lists the proceedure for your truck.

5. Only 4L requires the transmission to be in neutral.

6. With the hubs engaged, you can pop in and out of 4H at will.

Good luck

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