1998 Manual Locking Hubs

[MudFlapMike]

If I install manual locking hubs, will I still be able to use the selector switch to select high or low 4wd which is electronic shifting for the transfer case?

 

[MudFlapMike]

And yes I am a noob....

 

[bmerr98]

Yes, the selector switch will work as normal, but your hubs will only engage/disengage manually. You could leave the hubs locked and switch in and out of 2, 4 hi and low. I put them on my 1998 and love them. No more flipping the switch and wondering, hoping the hubs will engage this time or not, cuz you really need them to, (which is when they usually leave you hanging), then looking like an idiot when someone has to pull you out of what you should have, would have been able to get out of yourself if only the f#&@+ing hubs had worked like you knew they wouldn't since you needed them to...

Sound familiar?

Welcome to TRS!

 

[Andy D]

Any disadvantages are outweighed by their reliability. My having to crawl under the Rat to shift the transfer case is a minor PITA, but knowing that it is engaged trumps re-doing the missing electrics which are iffy at best.

 

[ab_slack]

I did this on my 89 mostly cause of the hassles involved with the auto locking.

At the time I had a problem with one not unlocking and this was a cheaper solution.

In my original 88 BII which was all manual, I locked hubs at the first snow and more or less (except if I was driving more than 40 miles and roads were clear) I would keep them locked for the season. Other than the wear penalty, it cost me 1.5mpg, dropping it from 22mpg to 20.5mpg. As far as the wear penalty, I tended to think running them regularly let the assemblies warm up, help drive moisture out and generally keep it in better shape than just running the dozen or so days a year when I used 4WD in the snow.

In the 89 I did pretty much the same once I swapped to manual hubs. I liked that much better. Only thing down side compared to the all manual 88 was that it takes a few seconds for 4wd to engage with the electric switch whereas the manual level as soon as I pulled the lever I was in 4wd. Those couple seconds make a big difference when driving on an otherwise dry highway and wish to shift into 4wd for extra control to cross a layer of snow that the wind has blown across the road. By the time you see it, hit the switch and the delay you find yourself in the snow before it is actually in 4wd or have gotten back on dry pavement. A very minor thing overall.

You just have to remember to manually lock them before leaving or you end up having to stop and lock them. No worse than if it was an all manual system tho.

 

[MudFlapMike]

Thanks for all input.