95 Explorer sport, How do the Auto hubs work?

[BillRod]

Hi All

Looking at buying a 95 Explorer Sport 4x4.

It has Auto hubs.
2 questions:

1) How do the Auto hubs work?
Are they Vacuum actuated?
Does it use some sort of mechanical locking?
Or are they always engaged?

2) how tough/expensive is it to swap to manual?
This will be a kids car, only thinking of swapping mostly for MPG if it makes much of a difference with that.

Thanks in advance.
Bill

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

They are a live axle set up (no hubs) just the transfer case disconnects the front drive shaft.

It barely makes a difference to the MPG with having the front end locked all the time.

 

[tmar04]

are all explorers like this? I mean,no hubs. thanks

 

[AllanD]

'95-up? yes.

AD

 

[Yellowsplash]

Actually, the 95 and 96 have a CAD (center axle disconnect). Basically disconnects the passenger side cv shaft from the diff allowing the drivers side to just spin the spider gears. 97+ is a true "live" setup. Either way, you wont notice any difference in mpgs.