I have a 2001 F 150 on 4X4 on order and I was wondering about the automatic hubs. I have never had any experience with them. Are they reliable, do you just slip it into 4hi or lo and it locks them up no problem or are they just permanantly locked up? I'm a little nervous about it, I guess I'm just old fashioned. Are manual hubs an option?

 

Hi Snodgrass,
Since nobody else replied, I'll do the best I can. I went through the same thing as you a month ago. I had an '88 with the manual hubs and wasn't sure about the "new technology". It seems the hubs are permanently locked. The axles and I think, the driveshaft are always turning just like locking the hubs but not putting the transfer case in 4x4. I don't believe they make manual replacements. For all the feed back I got posting a similar question, do a search in the transmission section or just look for my post "4x4 ESOF or MANUAL shift".
Notice my decision in my sig.

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2001 F150 SC SPORT 4X4 FLARESIDE
* Black
* 4.6
* awesome factory 10 spoke 17" wheels
* "MAN"ual shift 4x4
* 3.55 Limited slip
* Captains chairs W/console
* Factory tube steps
* Slider

 

97 and up f150's DO NOT use auto hubs. The axle shafts are splined into the hubs just like on FWD cars. They DO use a vaccuum (GEM module) controlled shift collar to connect the right axle shaft to the front Diff and thus enable 4x4. This applies with manual or Auto transfer case. It is pretty reliable with either transfer case.

 

If the right axle is disengaged, the front driveshaft does not turn. I've checked. There are some really good recent posts on this by guys who know this drive if you scroll down a ways.

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97 Lariet-sc-4.6-4x off road-auto-3.55 LS-
superchip-K&N-3"
pvc air box mod-Granetelli MAF

 

Thanks, everyone, for your input.