Hub Question

[MorganMcCann]

I'm new to the whole, four wheel drive scene.
I've got a 99 Ranger Off Road Edition, and I was looking at the hubs.
They appear to be manual hubs, but the 4wd works just fine if I only hit the dashboard switch.
Are these hubs manual, and if I don't manually engage them and just use the switch, will I hurt anything?
Is there an automatic/manual hybrid?

 

[adsm08]

Ford did use a manual/auto hybrid on the F250s in later years. Those are not that. Those appear to just be manual hubs.

You won't break anything by just flipping it in 4x4 and letting it roll with the hubs unlocked, but you won't truly be in 4x4.

 

[MorganMcCann]

Ford did use a manual/auto hybrid on the F250s in later years. Those are not that. Those appear to just be manual hubs.

You won't break anything by just flipping it in 4x4 and letting it roll with the hubs unlocked, but you won't truly be in 4x4.

But if the Hub are unlocked, I won't have 4wd, right?

Because if I put it in 4wd (from the dash) it is in 4wd.

 

[Bryce]

But if the Hub are unlocked, I won't have 4wd, right?

Because if I put it in 4wd (from the dash) it is in 4wd.

Power is being sent to the front axle, but the axles not going to turn the wheels without those style hubs being locked. Sure, the dash says its in 4wd, but its only shifting the transfer case from 2wd to 4wd. The ranger auto hubs didn't have knobs to lock them, it was locked by the action of the axle spinning. The ones with knobs freewheel until you lock 'em in by twisting the knob even if the axle is spinning.

 

[MorganMcCann]

But if I put it into 4wd hi or low, and drive on dry pavement I can feel the jerk of the tires pulling.
Both of the hubs are unlocked.

 

[triumphrider-1]

You would feel a jerk in four wheel low, whether the fronts were engaged or not.

Lock the hubs, then test four low.

 

[MorganMcCann]

I will do that tomorrow, but my question is now, in the winter when there was snow on the ground. I'd put it into 4 high (with out touching the hubs) and I would get traction again. Traction as in, if I tried to do a doughnut in the snow, I could not.

 

[4x4junkie]

Maybe they are broken (in the locked position)?
Seems rather unlikely, but I say put it in 2WD w/hubs unlocked and see if you can turn the front driveshaft by hand. If it turns, you are NOT in 4WD.
If locking/unlocking the hubs makes no difference (the front driveshaft won't turn either way), then you've got a hub problem twice (or you didn't get the t-case out of 4WD).

 

[MorganMcCann]

I'll do some more investigating.
The weather finally warmed up a bit, so being outside isn't horrible.

 

[MorganMcCann]

Get stuck in my buddy's yard yesterday.
Found out that I wasn't in 4wd all winter.
They are manual hubs.
Now for another question: If I were to engage the hubs, but leave the transfer case disengaged would I hurt anything? Say if I were going to a place I had the possibility of getting stuck.

 

[triumphrider-1]

While I can't speak for those hubs, leaving them locked won't hurt the rest of the system. Mid-year 2000 and newer rangers come like that from the factory.

I'll lock my hubs sometimes in the winter when we get a bit of snow so I can engage 4x4 at intersections and hazardous spots on the roads.You would lose a little fuel economy also.

 

[MorganMcCann]

That sounds good. As long as I don't break shit.

 

[MorganMcCann]

Is that brand a good brand?

 

[pcollins]

I did a manual hub swap on my '97 with that brand, rugged ridge. They never gave me any issues and were MUCH more reliable than auto hubs. I left them locked in all winter and drove in 2wd when the weather was decent, never caused any harm. When spring rolled around I'd just unlock them unless I needed them.

 

[MorganMcCann]

If I leave the center caps off, will exposure to the elements hurt them?